The most enchanting feature of Dongsha is its ocean and coral reefs. Dongsha Atoll is the only atoll landscape in Taiwan and a world-class natural heritage site. Coral reefs take tens of millions of years to form, and the nearly circular atoll of Dongsha is particularly rare. The massive structural complexity of the reef supports a diverse range of marine life and plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem.
Most corals release mature eggs and sperm at a specific time each year. Fertilization occurs in the open sea, and the larvae drift until they find a suitable place to attach and begin the coral’s life cycle. To increase fertilization chances, corals release hundreds of thousands of eggs at a time. Therefore, the most significant and active event in coral reef areas each year is coral spawning. In southern Taiwan, this usually occurs in March and April of the lunar calendar, typically in late spring to early summer. On nights following a full moon, countless colorful eggs are released in bundles, forming a spectacular display in the deep blue sea, resembling a rainbow-colored meteor shower.
The Administration was established in 2007 and is responsible for managing Dongsha Atoll, with objectives including ecological conservation, resource restoration, and environmental monitoring. Observations from previous years indicate that coral spawning in Dongsha waters usually occurs around March 23 of the lunar calendar. Although coral spawning has a seasonal pattern, the exact timing cannot yet be precisely predicted. Long-term research by scholars has shown that spawning time is influenced by various factors, including light, tides, and seawater temperature. To document this important moment, on-site staff began monitoring water temperature and coral spawning conditions from mid-April this year. After several days of observation, they finally captured footage of coral spawning near Dongsha Island at 9:20 PM on May 5. All participants involved in this investigation were extremely excited to witness this mysterious reproductive phenomenon firsthand.
