The following image shows a diploria which is releasing egg bundles. The tissue becomes very swollen and there is an unusually clear distinction between sexually active and inactive tissue.
In Puerto Rico, palmata begins to release egg bundles around 9 oclock and diploria starts around midnight. When the broadcast spawning event draws near, there will be many postings on the coral-list about approximate spawning dates and time for differetn regions. the spawning nights will be long work for you and you will likely not hit the sack until 2-3 am.
The next morning you will have some rapidly developing embryos and you will need to determine the cleavage state and the fertilization rate. Healthy embryos will be full and round and inviable eggs will appear collapsed and they will begin to disintegrate. the following image shows a sample of palmata eggs the morning after spawning and the inset illustrates the difference between good and bad eggs.
