Coral bleaching in Panama

[Andrew Baker]

CORAL BLEACHING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST OF PANAMA

Significant coral bleaching was observed on 17 September 1997 at Uva Island
in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Pacific Panama.  All zooxanthellate scleractinian
coral species were affected, at all depths (no corals present >20 m). The
most severely bleached (completely white) colonies still had extended
polyps and no signs of algal overgrowth, suggesting the event occurred
relatively recently. Most colonies of the hydrocoral Millepora intricata
(the only common species of the genus remaining after the 1982-83 ENSO)
were already dead and covered with a thin algal film, suggesting they may
have bleached earlier than the scleractinians.

Andrew Baker
Juan Maté
Peter Glynn




Andrew Baker
Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy.
Miami, FL 33149
USA

Tel: (305) 361 4145
Fax: (305) 361 4600
Email: abaker at rsmas.miami.edu