Understanding the reproductive biology of corals is essential for assessing their population dynamics, particularly in the face of anthropogenic and natural disturbances. This study examines how intra-colonial variation (e.g., branch order) and depth affect the fecundity of two temperate octocoral species, Eunicella verrucosa and Paramuricea cf. grayi in southwestern Portugal. Additionally, we also assess the size at first reproduction and sexual maturity of E. verrucosa based on maximum height and Total Branch Length (TBL). The results reveal that polyp fecundity varies significantly with depth and branch order, with shallow-water colonies and lower-branch orders showing higher fecundity in both species. Paramuricea cf. grayi had significantly higher fecundity in female colonies but smaller oocyte diameter compared to E. verrucosa. In both species, oocyte diameter was significantly higher in shallow-water (12 – 18 meters) colonies compared to their circalittoral counterpart (80 – 95 meters). Preliminary evidence suggests that E. verrucosa colonies begin reproducing at approximately 10 cm in height and 49 cm in TBL, indicating a potential size threshold for first reproduction. These results provide new insights into the reproductive biology of these species, providing baseline data for conservation and monitoring plans.
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