@article {324,
	title = {Detection of estradiol-17-beta during a mass coral spawn},
	journal = {Coral Reefs},
	volume = {11},
	year = {1992},
	month = {4/1992},
	pages = {33 - 35},
	abstract = {The steroid estradiol-17beta (E2) is associated with female gametogenesis in all vertebrates and many invertebrates. This is the first report of estrogens in scleractinian corals. Seawater and egg slicks were collected during a mass coral spawn at Ningaloo reef, Western Australia for the measurement of total phosphate (TP) and E2. Total P in the water column increased 600 times, from 0.5mgrM to 300mgrM. Concentrations of E2 increased nearly 8 fold during the spawn, from 55 to 420 pg/100 ml seawater. Coral eggs collected from egg slicks contained 368{\textpm}40 pg E2/g dry wt of eggs. Estrogen may be a key hormone in a simple endocrine system of scleractinian corals that synchronizes growth and development of coral oocytes. Its potential role in triggering spawning via chemical messengers in the water column warrants further research.},
	keywords = {coral, other},
	issn = {1432-0975},
	doi = {10.1007/BF00291932},
	url = {http://www.springerlink.com/content/m339h3v83p6j2437/},
	author = {Atkinson, S. and Atkinson, M. J.}
}
