The Taj

There's a restaurant in Palau - one of my favorites, actually - that turns into a night club after dinner. I've never been there late enough to see the transition, but the large bar, colored bathroom lighting, and dance area in the restaurant give it away. During the May spawn this year, I started personifying some of our corals - we've observed their spawning behaviors and responses to heat stress enough that some of them start to seem like they have personalities. With that in mind, let's do a little thought experiment. Let's pretend that each of our corals is a person showing up to The Taj for a night of dancing, and they're all looking to spawn. Which ones will be compatible? The story begins. 

A hush descends on Koror as the sun slips below the horizon. The Taj empties of diners, and the staff begin resetting for the night. The large, well-stocked bar stands ready for customers, and green strobe lights set a festive mood. Number 218 barges in the door, practically throwing it open with his arms. 

"I'm here!" he calls to nobody in particular. "Let us spawn!"

Confused, the Taj staff stare at 218, then decide it's better to avoid eye contact. This is awkward. It's only 7 pm, and nobody else is around. The bar was technically open, sure, but they weren't really expecting spawners tonight. Why is he even here? 

218 took his chance and spawned a night too early. He was the only one at the club. 

A male just beginning to release sperm. It looks like smoke.
Photo by Maikani Andres.

The next day, sunset marked the transition from dinner to dance club. According to routine, the staff stocked the bar, gathered their supplies, and mentally prepared themselves for a busy night. Just as they were finishing preparations, around 7:30 pm, Number 13 came through the door. All the waitresses' eyes were on 13. Oh, he was dreamy - strong, punctual, and an absolute stud. If 13 showed up, it was going to be a good night. A few minutes later, two more males came in. Both were just as handsome as 13 and in fact belonged to the same family - Lineage 3. Everyone knew the Lineage 3 males always showed up first. 

Around 8:30, more males began to arrive. Some were from Lineage 1 - all sensitive souls, boys who can't handle the heat. Others were from Lineage 2 - much more flexible and resilient individuals. There was a mix of personalities among the spawners, but no females yet. The first part of the night was a total bro fest. 

At 9:30, the first female sauntered into The Taj. Immediately, the staff started plying her with drinks, trying to get her to mix with the males on the dance floor. Was she compatible with Lineage 1 males? Would she prefer Lineage 2? After parading the female around a bit, it became pretty clear that she was incompatible with Lineage 3. There didn't seem to be a good reason why - Lineage 3 is strong and able to tolerate stress. She didn't even seem compatible with the stud, 13. The staff shrugged. Maybe she just came from a different breed. 

A female releasing eggs. 

Then the floodgates opened. Female after female came through the door of the club, all hoping to find a compatible male. The dance floor was absolute mayhem. The Taj manager kept close track of her watch and timed all the interactions. Exactly 45 minutes with each male, and then the females had to be separated from them. More time would only result in abnormalities. The staff kept close watch on the dance floor. Lineages 1 and 2 seemed to be pretty compatible. Males and females from both groups danced together happily, but the poor Lineage 3 males were all alone. Thirteen did manage to score a date by the end of the night, but that was it. 

As the dancers filed out of the club one by one, the staff reviewed the night's activities. It had been absolute madness for several hours, but their matchmaking efforts had been largely successful. They wiped down the bar, cleaned all the glasses, and finally went home about 3 am. They would be back at it the following night.