From korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za Mon Sep 1 13:45:36 1997 From: korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za (Jan Korrubel) Date: Mon, 01 Sep 1997 19:45:36 +0200 Subject: YBD pictures by FTP - apologies.... Message-ID: Dear Coral-Listers, After posting a mail to this list about the availability of pictures and documnet on Yellow Band Disease (YBD), I am sorry to report a few problems. The log file of my machine tells me that all transactions were going fine till about 20:30 (GMT) on Friday night when my machine unexpectedly packed it in (yes, so early in the proceedings - where IS that Murphy fellow???). Due to the setup of my machine, it didn't automatically reboot so all access to my site was lost for the remainder of the weekend. By way of explanantion, I was (am) in the process of setting up my website last week so I fear that configuring this had a hand in the crash. For those of you that sent me emails saying that you couldn't get into my machine, please try again - I have now stopped the WWW part and hope that stable FTP access to my machine will be regained. In addition, I have modified the setup so that should my machine crash again (keeping those fingers crossed), it should automatically reboot and access will be restored about 10 min later. But let me know if you still don't have any success. Also: Dr Hendee has kindly offered to place the document and pictures on the CHAMP website so we can expect an announcement in due course. My thanks for your interest and patience. Jan Korrubel University of Natal South Africa. From korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za Mon Sep 1 13:29:08 1997 From: korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za (Jan Korrubel) Date: Mon, 01 Sep 1997 19:29:08 +0200 Subject: Looking for Arnfried Antonius..... Message-ID: Dear Coral-Listers, Before anybody shoots me down in flames for making this request to the list, let me explain that I have been through the Coral Researcher directory at the CHAMP website..... And I came across the following address from Dr Arnfried Antonius: Kupelwiesergasse 5 Vienna AUSTRIA However, I was under the impression that he was at the University of Vienna - so I am just checking. Anybody know if this is his home address? Anybody have an email address for him? Snail mail just doesn't cut it these days.... Thanks in advance, Jan Korrubel University of Natal South Africa. From coral at aoml.noaa.gov Tue Sep 2 09:50:24 1997 From: coral at aoml.noaa.gov (Coral Health and Monitoring Program) Date: Tue, 2 Sep 1997 09:50:24 -0400 (EDT) Subject: J. Korrubel's YBD photographs Message-ID: Jan Korrubel's note describing Yellow Band Disease, along with photographs, may be viewed at the following URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/themes/korrubel.html From iclarm at caribsurf.com Tue Sep 2 12:43:25 1997 From: iclarm at caribsurf.com (ICLARM CEPO) Date: Tue, 2 Sep 1997 13:43:25 -0300 Subject: Reef Encounter - call for contributions Message-ID: <9709021754.AA11645@radius.caribsurf.com> REEF ENCOUNTER No. 22 NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR REEF STUDIES CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS Dear all, We are currently looking for articles for the next issue of Reef Encounter. We would welcome contributions from a few hundred words to a couple of pages on any aspect of reef studies, including news, comments, short reviews (but not original scientific data) and also illustrations/cartoons. Our deadline is 1st October and text sent by email is strongly prefered. You can also send illustrations (and text if desired) to the address at the end of this message. Please email your articles to one of us at: Maggie Watson, iclarm at caribsurf.com Sue Wells Senior Editor, swells at wwfnet.org David Obura, dobura at users.africaonline.co.ke If you are interested in joining the International Society for Reef Studies and receiving Reef Encounter please contact Callum Roberts, cr10 at york.ac.uk Thanks, Maggie, Sue and David ____________________________________________ ICLARM Caribbean/Eastern Pacific Office, c/o Conservation and Fisheries Department, P.O. Box 3233, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Tel.:1-809-494 5681(office hours) or 1-809-496 6055 (mobile - any time) Fax: 1-809-494 2670 e-mail: iclarm at caribsurf.com ============================================ From eakin at ogp.noaa.gov Tue Sep 2 14:35:01 1997 From: eakin at ogp.noaa.gov (Mark Eakin) Date: 2 Sep 1997 14:35:01 U Subject: scleropathology?? Message-ID: Reply to: RE>scleropathology?? As a start, you might try: Leder, J. J., A. M. Szmant, et al. (1991). "The effect of prolonged "bleaching" on skeletal banding and stable isotope composition in Montastrea annularis . Preliminary observations." Coral Reefs 10(1): 19-27. -------------------------------------- Date: 8/29/97 8:26 AM To: Mark Eakin From: Francisco Kelmo O dos Santos Dear All, Have you ever heard anything on bad-formation, atrophy, or degeneration of the coral skeleton due to environmental or man-made stress? Thanks for your attention, Regards, Francisco. ******************************************************************* ** Francisco Kelmo ** ** Laboratorio de Estudos Costeiros ** ** Instituto de Geociencias ** ** Universidade Federal da Bahia - Campus de Ondina ** ** Av. Adhemar de Barros s/n. Salvador-Bahia-BRAZIL ** ** cep. 40170-290 ** ** e-mail:Kelmo at ufba.br ** ******************************************************************** ------------------ RFC822 Header Follows ------------------ Received: by ogp.noaa.gov with ADMIN;29 Aug 1997 08:25:21 U Received: by coral.aoml.noaa.gov (950413.SGI.8.6.12/930416.SGI) for coral-list-outgoing id LAA04874; Fri, 29 Aug 1997 11:27:39 GMT Received: from ufba.br by coral.aoml.noaa.gov via SMTP (950413.SGI.8.6.12/930416.SGI) for id HAA04869; Fri, 29 Aug 1997 07:26:58 -0400 Received: from localhost by ufba.br (AIX 4.1/UCB 5.64/4.03) id AA48290; Fri, 29 Aug 1997 08:16:48 -0200 Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 08:16:48 -0200 (GRNLNDDT) From: Francisco Kelmo O dos Santos To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: scleropathology?? Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: owner-coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Precedence: bulk From gussman_o at usp.ac.fj Wed Sep 3 07:56:41 1997 From: gussman_o at usp.ac.fj (gussman_o at usp.ac.fj) Date: Wed, 03 Sep 1997 11:56:41 +0000 Subject: carbonate budgets again Message-ID: <01IN7DSYN4GY90NG2F@usp.ac.fj> Dear Coral-Listers! I'd like to thank everyone who reponded to my earlier questions on carbonate budgets. I am currently compiling a list of established carbonate budgets world-wide, and have most of the classic papers by Stearn, Scoffin, Hubbard. However, after extensive search I haven't come up with much else, particularly recently (due to the difficulty of the exercise?). If you have done any such studies (published, unpublished) I would appreciate if you could send the follwong information to me personally ()(of particular interest would be any information on eroding reefs): (Example): Study Site: Nothern Red Sea Position: 29deg27'N Environment: shallow-water coral reefs (depth?) Stratigraphy: Holocene Organisms: constructors: corals eroders: scarids, echinoids Depositional setting: reef-crest, fore-reef Construction: coralgal framework 1.57kg/m2yr Destruction: Macro-bioerosion: 1.3kg/m2yr export: 0.4-0.6 kg/m2/yr status: net production preserved o.8 kg/m2yr - accreting Reference/Citation information: Dullo et al (1996)..... Obviously a carbonate budget is only as complete as the number of parameters measured (and the reliability of such measurements), and never can they be all measured systematically over one reef. However, it may be time to not only look at the health of the 'ecologic reef' (e.g., IYOR), but that of the 'geologic reef' as well. Thanks in advance to all. Best Wishes, Oliver Oliver Gussmann (PhD Student) Department of Marine Science University of Otago P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand fax: +643-479-8336 oliver.gussmann at stonebow.otago.ac.nz (in Fiji until end-November at) c/o Marine Studies Programme University of the South Pacific P.O. Box 1168, Suva, Fiji fax: +679-301-490 gussman_o at usp.ac.fj From coral at aoml.noaa.gov Wed Sep 3 09:21:22 1997 From: coral at aoml.noaa.gov (Coral Health and Monitoring Program) Date: Wed, 3 Sep 1997 09:21:22 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Yellow Band on the Rise! (fwd) Message-ID: forwarded message: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 13:57:33 -0500 From: Bob Steneck To: "James M. Cervino" cc: coral-list Subject: Re: Yellow Band on the Rise! Dear James and others, From most accounts, coral disease is increasing (although we saw no evidence of disease in the 16 reefs we surveyed in the Yucatan and northern Belize last March). In your 'Yellow Band on the Rise!' comment, you suggest that reefs are becoming eutrophic world-wide. Would you please point me to published accounts that give nutrient data supporting that assertion. I'm most interested in data from remote areas since point source and nonpoint source pollution from human activities is well documented. It seems to me that we need to objectively focus on potential stressors that match the scale of the disease. Thanks, Bob Steneck ======================== Dr. Robert S. Steneck Professor School of Marine Sciences University of Maine Darling Marine Center Walpole, Me 04573 U.S.A. Tele: 207 563- 3146 ext. 233 FAX: 207 563 - 3119 ====================== From j.reichman at mail.utexas.edu Thu Sep 4 11:14:22 1997 From: j.reichman at mail.utexas.edu (Jay Randall Reichman) Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 10:14:22 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Sponge Spawning at The FGBNMS Message-ID: <199709041514.KAA28652@mail.utexas.edu> Earlier this summer, sponges identified as Agelas clathrodes were oberserved spawning on two separate occasions in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. While coral spawning is well documented on these reefs, there have been few reports of spawning sponges. On June 17 at 14:30 Emma Hickerson, Research Coordinator for the FGBNMS, photographed apparent sperm release from colonies of this sponge on the East Flower Garden Bank. On June 28 at 11:00 I noted 13 of the same sponges releasing similar milky clouds of gamates on the West Flower Garden Bank, however, by 14:30 on the East Bank no spawning activity was observed. For reference, the water temperature was approximately 26-27 degrees C during the time frame mentioned above. The lunar phases for June 1997 were: New Moon on 5th at 07:04 First Quarter on 13rd at 04:52 Full Moon on 20th at 19:10 Last Quarter on 27th at 12:42 Cheers, Jay R. ------ Jay R. Reichman Department of Zoology Patterson Labs Bldg. University of Texas at Austin 78712 From raronson at jaguar1.usouthal.edu Fri Sep 5 17:07:00 1997 From: raronson at jaguar1.usouthal.edu (Richard B. Aronson) Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 16:07:00 -0500 (CDT) Subject: WHITE Band on the Rise! In-Reply-To: Message-ID: In response to recent messages regarding the incidence of various coral diseases: The question of whether coral disease outbreaks have increased in frequency in recent years is of obvious importance to reef scientists and managers. Bill Precht, Ian Macintyre and I are coring reefs in the central shelf lagoon in Belize in search of evidence of white band disease outbreaks preceding the the one that devastated Acropora populations in Belize in the late 1980s. From our evidence it appears that the recent epizootic was a unique event on a time scale of millennia. Some of this work is described in a paper that will be published this fall: Aronson, R. B. and W. F. Precht. 1997. Stasis, biological disturbance, and community structure of a Holocene coral reef. Paleobiology 23:326-346. Cheers, Rich Aronson ______________________________________________________________________________ Richard B. Aronson Dauphin Island Sea Lab P. O. Box 369-370 Dauphin Island, AL 36528 Voice: (334) 861-7567 Fax: (334) 861-7540 email: raronson at jaguar1.usouthal.edu From sgittings at ocean.nos.noaa.gov Fri Sep 5 20:13:59 1997 From: sgittings at ocean.nos.noaa.gov (Gittings, S.) Date: 5 Sep 1997 19:13:59 -0500 Subject: Spawning/Bleaching -NW Gulf of Mex. Message-ID: Mass spawning by reef corals and other organisms at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (northwest Gulf of Mexico) was observed on four consecutive nights in August. Sunday, 24 August 1997 Spawning began around 21:10 hrs CDT and continued until 22:30. Montastraea franksi and to a lesser extent Diploria strigosa, were the dominant spawners with one sighting of spawning by a female Stephanocoenia intersepta (formerly S. michelini) and M. cavernosa. Several Ophioderma rubicundum (ruby brittle stars) and Spirobranchus giganteus (christmas tree worms) were also spawning. Spawning activity by a congregation of approximately 40-50 black durgon (Melichthys niger) was observed during the early morning hours over a sand flat. Creole wrasse (Clepticus parrae) exhibited spawning behavior as usual at twilight. Monday, 25 August 1997 Spawning began around 20:20 CDT. D. strigosa was the dominant spawner (hundreds of colonies) of the early evening with peak activity around 21:00 hrs. Other spawners included M. franksi (abundant), both male and female M. cavernosa, one male Stephanocoenia intersepta numerous christmas tree worms, and brittle stars, and a banded coral shrimp with brood pouch was observed. All of this occurred primarily between 20:40-22:30 hrs CDT, with possible peaks around 21:00 for most corals, and 22:00 for other invertebrates. Between 22:30-23:30 CDT there was a different group of spawning corals that included M. faveolata and M. annularis. Both of these species were observed spawning during this time, although mostly it was M. faveolata. We also noticed other unusual levels of activity including several large grouping of Diadema antillarum (each with more than 6 large [test diameter ~ 16 cm] individuals within two square meters of each other). Tuesday, 26 August 1997 Spawning by D. strigosa and M. franksi was again observed on this evening between 21:30-22:40, with a surface slick forming around 21:00 hrs. Spawning activity was light however when compared with previous evenings. Most of the spawning on this evening was contributed by D. strigosa (more than 3 dozen colonies were observed spawning by a single dive team), with roughly 14 colonies of M. franksi observed either at the setting stage or spawning. Two male S. intersepta colonies were observed spawning around 22:30. Additional observations of M. faveolata spawning were made shortly after 23:00 hrs. Wednesday, 27 August 1997 First observations of gametes at the surface began around 20:05 CDT. Our divers witnessed spawning of Colpophyllia natans spawning between 20:40-21:00 hrs. Colonies down to roughly 12 inches (36cm) in diameter were spawning. In addition, a few individuals of several other coral species including D. strigosa (22:00 hrs), M. franski (22:10 hrs) and M. faveolata (22:30 hrs) were observed spawning. We also saw S. intersepta were spawning late in the evening. The ratio of males to females was estimated by one diver to be about 5:1. Both males (22:15 hrs) and females (22:30 hrs) of this species were observed spawning in numbers that were far greater than on previous evenings. Bleaching - as of 8/28, the Flower Gardens appeared to be experiencing more coral bleaching than normal, though it cannot be considered extensive. Most fire coral colonies (Millepora alcicornis) were either partly or completely white, as were portions of a number of colonies of Siderastrea siderea and Colpophyllia spp. The event seemed to increase in severity substantially between August 11th and the 28th. Temperature records will be made available after thermographs are collected and dumped in the next couple of weeks. From strong at nadn.navy.mil Fri Sep 5 22:13:22 1997 From: strong at nadn.navy.mil (Prof Alan E Strong) Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 22:13:22 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Spawning/Bleaching -NW Gulf of Mex. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Steve, Timing of bleaching in Flower Gardens seems in good agreement with HotSpot Chart depictions [NOAA/NESDIS]...conditions should be improving now. Was it more severe than in 1995? Al **** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ***** Alan E. Strong Phys Scientist/Oceanographer Adj Assoc Professor NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3 US Naval Academy NOAA Science Center -- RM 711H Oceanography Department -- US Postal Service -- -- UPS/FedEx -- Annapolis, MD 21402 4700 Silver Hill Road 5200 Auth Road 410-293-6566[V-mail] Stop 9910 Camp Springs, MD 20746 410-293-2137 [FAX] Washington, DC 20233-9910 strong at nadn.navy.mil Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov 301-763-8102 FAX: 301-763-8108 From anya at emu.su.oz.au Wed Sep 10 01:04:08 1997 From: anya at emu.su.oz.au (Anya Salih) Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 15:04:08 +1000 Subject: volunteer oportunities Message-ID: Dear coral listers, I would appreciate any information about volunteer work opportunities in marine parks, labs or research stations in South or Central America. This is a request on behalf of an Australian friend (Roberta Dixon), presently in Chile and travelling indefinitely around SAmerica. Her background is in marine education and conservation, with experience in managing marine reserves, developing/ implementing marine education and conservation programs (for the general community, formal education, ethnic communities, recreational and commercial users of marine reserves), field and lab work. She is particularly interested in joining teams involved in the collection of conservation related data or working with fisheries/marine conservation groups. I was also asked to inquire about opportunities for volunteer work related to next year?s Reef Check activities. I apologise for putting a personal request on the list. Please send any replies directly to my e-mail address and any information, leads, hints, suggestions or advice would be appreciated. Anya Salih Anya Salih Internet: anya at emu.su.oz.au Marine Physiology Lab Telephone:02-93513006 (Zool) Zoology AO8 02-93517540 (EMU) School of Biological Sciences Facsimile:02-93517682 The University of Sydney Sydney, 2006, AUSTRALIA From cnidaria at italy-c.it.earthlink.net Wed Sep 10 15:43:48 1997 From: cnidaria at italy-c.it.earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 12:43:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RWD is in US Territory! Message-ID: Dear Listers, I have just confirmed that Rapid Wasting Disease in in the US Virgin Islands. With the help of Ginger Garrison of the USGS we tracked this epizootic around the island of St. John. Belt transets again show a clumpped distribution at about 35-40 feet. Largest leasion was 14/4.1 inches. All RWD ws again on the same colony w/Yellow Band (all morphs of Montestrea). Largest leasion of Yellow Band was 26 inches /5in. along the side of M. faviolota I have also see what I think is RWD on Cavernosa, samples were collected and sent to Dr.Garriet Smith . Photos were taken in detail of both YB and RWD. Also to note I saw and photographed YB on Cavernosa, these were round rings and half moon rings along the side of the coral, however I did not see exposed skeleton (compared to other sites) in the middle of the ring that is usually covered w/fuzzy algae. Yellow Band was not seen on the opp9site side of the island, and there was only 2 sightings of RWD found in this area that is exposed to high diving and snorklers population. There is however high inc. of White Plague on 3 different species, markings were made and data will be forwarded to Dr. Laurie Richardson.( Laurie if you are getting this message please e-mail me). The site that we saw high indices of RWD had no human development and no signs of diver damage. However over abundance of dictiota and lobofera were evident, also cyannobacteria growing inbetween dead corals. Sea Fan Disease was affecting 99% of all fans see, evidence- deterioation of holdfast and gall formation, along with patchy leasions within the middle of the fan. Other Diseases: Dark Spot, BBD, WBD, W. Plague, and CLD (coraline lethal disease). Also one sighting of POX, important--- I only saw 2 Palmata at the 4 sites studied within 3 days. I have been told by locals that the Palmats have been wiped out. Mucus samples were taken, and whole samples were taken and frozen. Upon leaving the Virgin Islads a lecture and slide presentation was give to Dr. Jim Battey and the University of the V. Islands for feedback and future collaboration. Thanks Coral Listers, James ****************************** James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance 124-19 9th ave, College Point NY 11356 Phone/Fax 718-539-8155 ******************************* From RICHARDL at servms.fiu.edu Wed Sep 10 15:41:43 1997 From: RICHARDL at servms.fiu.edu (LAURIE L RICHARDSON) Date: Wed, 10 Sep 1997 15:41:43 -0400 (EDT) Subject: New York Times article Message-ID: <970910154143.20407931@servms.fiu.edu> I am posting a belated comment with regard to the recent article on coral reefs that appeared in the New York Times, and was distributed on this network. I wish to point out that I was quoted out of context concerning the use of vacuuming as a technique to treat diseased corals. I wholeheartedly endorse, and have frequently used, Harold Hudson's underwater vacuuming apparatus to treat corals with black band disease, with close to 100% success. My quote in the Times article saying I "couldn't imagine using this technique to treat corals" ienei was in the specific context of potentially treating plague type II epizootics, which at a given time may affect literally hundreds if not thousands of small (less than 10 cm diameter) coral colonies. Prior to this comment, I had discussed successful treatmejnt of the larger and fewer coral colonies usually affected in black band outbfeaks. Thank you for the opportunity to address this issue. If anyone is interested in Harold Hudson's technique, his offices are at the Florida Keys National Marine sanctuary in Key Largo. Laurie Richardson Associate Professor Florida International University Miami, FL 33199 305/348-1988 fax 348-1986 From smiller at gate.net Thu Sep 11 10:56:07 1997 From: smiller at gate.net (Steven Miller) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 07:56:07 -0700 Subject: Graduate Fellowship Opportunity Message-ID: <34180687.5D0@gate.net> I received many requests for information about the Fellowship, so I'm posting the notice again. Please pass this along to qualified graduate students - it's a great opportunity. International Society for Reef Studies 1998 Announcement Graduate Fellowship for Coral Reef Research SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15, 1997. Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, they are globally distributed, and they support various aspects of coastal economies. Yet coral reefs are widely recognized to be in decline and studies are needed to provide information to manage and understand processes that cause coral reef change. Funds are available, approximately US$13,500, to support one student to work toward a Ph.D. in the general area of coral reef ecosystem research. The focus of the Fellowship is to understand and predict coral reef response to management or disturbance-caused change (human-caused or natural). Research supported by the fellowship should emphasize an ecosystem approach, recognizing the complex interplay among many processes that shape the way coral reefs look and function. Work that identifies controls on productivity, biodiversity, abundance, biotic interactions, nutrient dynamics, carbonate accretion or erosion, fisheries recruitment, or utilization of other coral reef resources are examples of suitable topics. Work is not restricted to these topics, but controls should be emphasized because this information is important in construction of models that predict reef response to disturbance. Studies that include development or testing of such models are a priority. Who can apply? The Fellowship is available to students, worldwide, who are already admitted to a graduate program at an accredited university. The intent of the fellowship is to help students develop skills and to address problems related to relevant applications of coral reef ecosystem research and management. The fellowship can be used to support salary, travel, fieldwork, or laboratory analyses. Renewal of the fellowship is possible, but is based on annual resubmission. The student can work entirely at the host university, or can split time between developed and developing country universities. Priority in 1998 will be given to a student based at a university located in a less developed country with significant coral reef resources. Application materials A four page proposal, double spaced, in English, is required from prospective fellowship candidates that outlines the research program, emphasizing the mix of applied and basic issues addressed in the program. The proposal should include an overview, methods, expected results, and a budget; it is important that proposals follow this format exactly. Eight copies of the proposal must be provided. The student?s major professor is required to submit a CV (maximum length 3 pages) and a support letter, in English, that details cost sharing and facility support. If work will be conducted at a second university, a support letter is required from the sponsoring professor. Application materials will be reviewed by an ISRS/CMC panel; evaluation criteria include scientific merit, feasibility, cost sharing, and relevancy to the Fellowship guidelines. SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15, 1997. Submit proposals to the ISRS Recording Secretary, UNC-Wilmington, 515 Caribbean Drive, Key Largo, Florida 33037. For additional information contact SMiller at gate.net. SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15, 1997. Information about ISRS and CMS The International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) and the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) support the Fellowship through professional and administrative contributions. The mission of the ISRS is to promote for the benefit of the public, the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge and understanding concerning coral reefs, both living and fossil. The mission of the CMC is to protect ocean environments and conserve the abundance and diversity of marine life. Its programs focus on eliminating four major threats to the health of the marine environment: pollution, physical alteration of marine ecosystems as a result of human activity, overexploitation of marine resources, and loss of marine biodiversity. From pgharris at ix.netcom.com Thu Sep 11 09:02:12 1997 From: pgharris at ix.netcom.com (Paul G. Harris) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 09:02:12 -0400 Subject: Climate Change Policy Information Request Message-ID: <01BCBE96.34044C40@bst-ma13-05.ix.netcom.com> Dear Colleagues: We are compiling a list of employment opportunities in the areas of CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY and GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. If you are aware of positions in these and closely related areas, we would grateful if you could send us details. Thank you, and best wishes. Orion Worldwide Research From gap1 at acpub.duke.edu Thu Sep 11 12:59:57 1997 From: gap1 at acpub.duke.edu (Gregory Andrew Piniak) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 12:59:57 -0400 (EDT) Subject: No subject Message-ID: Hello coral-listers. I was wondering whether anybody might have an email address for Tomas Tomascik? I have searched the on-line archive at the CHAMP site, but no email address is listed. I also have done a web search, and come up empty. I'd greatly appreciate it if anybody can help. Thanks for your time. Greg Piniak From cibe at web.net Thu Sep 11 20:10:57 1997 From: cibe at web.net (Gary T. Gallon) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 20:10:57 -0400 (EDT) Subject: The Gallon Environment Letter Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970911201005.4b0f3480@pop.web.net> THE GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER SEPTEMBER 8, 1997 _________________________________________________________ ONTARIO DEREGULATION CONTINUES: ENDS ENFORCEMENT UNDER FEDERAL FISHERIES ACT The Government of Ontario continues the systematic dismantling of environmental protection in Ontario. This is not good news for Canada, given that Ontario generates almost half of the pollution in the country, and Ontario was found to be the third worst polluter out of 61 states and provinces in Canada the United States. But marching to its own drum, Ontario so far has: o cut the Ministry of Environment and Energy's budget 42% o eliminated almost 1,000 environmental officers positions o cut all provincial funding to environment groups o eliminated the Intervenor Funding Project Act o eliminated funding for beaches clean up o eliminated Environmental Compensation Corporation o eliminated funding for clean technologies (the Environmental Technologies Program) o slashed enforcement and abatement functions Now it has taken the next step. One of the strongest and oldest tools for protecting the environment within the provinces is the federal Fisheries Act. In most cases, the provincial agencies use the federal act to protect fish habitat and water quality. However, in an unusual move, the Government of Ontario issued a notice (EBR Registry No. PB7E4004.P) that it: "will no longer be providing enforcement of the habitat provisions of the federal Fisheries Act (Sec. 35)...". Further, it stated that it: "will no longer be providing mitigation advice on fisheries habitat on behalf of the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Ontario said it plans to return the responsibility for fish habitat in Ontario to the federal government. This is ironic considering that through the CCME Harmonization process Ontario has been arguing for the federal government to transfer its environmental responsibilities to the provinces. With the federal government cutting its environmental budget by 40 per cent (another 200 environment staff are being cut this month), it is in no longer in a position to re-assume responsibility for enforcing the Fisheries Act in Ontario. The Ontario government understands this. The move effectively ends the enforcement of the Fisheries Act in Ontario. Formal comments are being requested up to September 17, 1997 by the Ontario Environmental Commissioner for the Ministry of Natural Resources. EBR Website: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/ envision/ebr/index.htm. Paul Muldoon, senior lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA), based in Toronto, stated that: "the MNR's action is concrete evidence that the provincial government wants to get out of the environmental protection business. It continues to look for excuses not to enforce laws. The proposed (CCME) harmonization agreement effectively hands the federal environmental role to the provinces who, as evidenced by this decision, have no intention of doing anything with it." For a copy of their press release contact: CELA, 517 College St., Suite 401, Toronto, M6G 4A2, Ph. (416) 960-2284. Or download from the website: http://www.web.net/cela. *************************************************** ENVIRONMENT CANADA QUIETLY LAYING OFF ANOTHER 200 Following the Program Review of 1995, Environment Canada was ordered to cut its budget by close to 40 per cent. Part of the cut included more than 600 jobs. However, in an attempt to soften the cuts, Environment Canada promised to make profit centres and raise money from ministry activities to pay for part of its operations. But the expected revenues never materialized and Environment Canada is in the midst of cutting another 200 staff, since funding for these positions is not included in the budget allocation from the Ministry of Finance. ******************************************************** CANADA'S ENVIRONMENTAL GLOBAL WARMING POLICY STATEMENT MADE BY ENERGY MINISTER The U.S. news agency, Reuters, reported that Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, Ralph Goodale, made an environmental policy statement on global warming. They reported that he stated: "Canada will not promise big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions at the (Kyoto) summit in Japan." In an article written by Reuters' Jeffrey Jones, September 5th, it was reported that Goodale, after speaking to a Canadian conference on climate change in Calgary said: "the challenge for Canada to even stabilize emissions is particularly daunting because of its large land mass, increasing dependency on international trade and resource-based economy". For more information, contact: Hon. Ralph Goodale, Minister, Natural Resources Canada, 580 Booth St., Ottawa K1A 0E4, ph. (613) 996-2007; NRCan website: http://www.NRCan.gc.ca:80/home/page2_e.htm. This article and other Reuters' environment articles can be found on the Planet Ark web site: http://www.planetark.org. ********************************************** GREEN COMMUNITIES NETWORK MEETS WITH CANADA'S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER CHRISTINE STEWART The Green Communities Association (CGA) executive met with federal Environment Minister Christine Stewart for an hour and a half August 12, 1997 to brief her about the National Green Communities Initiative which promotes small business involvement in eco-efficiency for residential and commercial establishments. CGA reported that Stewart "cautioned us about the scarcity of funds but provided some helpful comments. She encouraged us to bring forward a five-year proposal for federal participation in community-based environmental activity.". Contact: Clifford Maynes, Coordinator, Green Communities Association, 4 Knox St., Peterborough, Ontario K9H 2A8; ph. (705) 745-7479; fax: (705) 745-7294; email: cmaynes@ web.net; website: www.ptbo.igs.net/~gca/. **************************************************************** ************************************************** GREEN GREEN GREEN JOBS JOBS JOBS ************************************************** PEMBINA INSTITUTE SEEKING ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY ANALYST FOR OTTAWA The Pembina Institute based in Drayton Valley, Alberta needs an Energy and Environment Policy Analyst to be based in Ottawa. The Pembina Institute is one of Canada's top think tanks on energy, environment and economics. Its policy staff concentrates on developing creative regulations, designing public education programs, and proposing economic instruments in areas of clean air and energy, and green economics. The candidate should have substantial experience in the field and be bilingual (French and English). Contact: Robert Hornung, (613) 235-2190 or email: rhornung at web.net. **************************************************** CANADA'S JOHN VAN NOSTRAND ASSOC. SEEKING INTERN FOR ZAMBIA PROJECT John van Nostrand Associates Limited (JVA) is a Toronto-based firm of urban planners, architects and engineers founded in 1978. JVA provides urban and rural planning and management services to Canadian municipalities, international development agencies and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Since 1995, JVA has been involved in the municipal decentralization process initiated by the Government of the Republic of Zambia. The intern will be required to produce the following deliverables: Progress Report: Including draft Municipal Profiles, and digitized basemaps ? Final Report: Including final Municipal Profiles ? Internship Evaluation Report: Outlining expenses, achievement of internship objectives, including relevant skills, knowledge and experience gained. The successful applicant will possess proficiency in the use of AutoCAD and/or GIS, familiarity with the urban development process and municipal governance issues, and have some overseas experience in a developing country urban environment. Candidates must be under the age of 30, and must be either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Contact: Michel Frojmovic, Tel. (613) 728-0335, Fax. (613) 728-2467, Email. frojmovi at istar.ca. ********************************************************* MORE ENVIRONMENT JOBS IN CANADA (COMPLIMENTS THE GLOBE AND MAIL) ********************************************************* SYNCRUDE WANTS TWO SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS Syncrude operates a large oil sands petroleum extract mining project in Fort McMurray, Alberta. It's Environmental Affairs Dept. Is seeking two full-time environmental scientists to work on land reclamation, environmental assessment, environmental monitoring, and air pollution control. You need at least a Masters Degree and 10 years experience. Deadline September 15, 1997. Contact: Syncrude Canada Ltd., fax (403) 790-7573, email: recruiting at syncrude.com; website: http://www.syncrude.com. COGEMA MINING CO. SEEKING VP ENVIRONMENT AND LICENSING Cogema Resources Inc., operates two uranium mines at Cluff Lake and McClean Lake in Northern Saskatchewan. It is looking for a Vice-President Environment and Licensing. He/she will be responsible for all environmentally related matters including the obtaining and compliance with federal and provincial licensing requirements and the development long and short term plans related to environment objectives. Competition No. 97037GM. Deadline for application September 24, 1997. Fax (306) 343-4656. EASTSCAN GEOMATICS LTD. NEEDS GENERAL MANAGER Eastcan Geomatics Ltd., a member of the MacDonnell Group is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It does GIS environmental mapping, digital geological and ecosystems analysis for regions in the Caribbean and Latin America. Eastcan needs a General Manager with at least five years senior management experience. Deadline September 23, 1997. Email: gerrypost at mgnet.ca. NWT WANTS TWO ENVIRONMENT POSITIONS: LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND POLAR BEAR BIOLOGIST The NWT Dept. of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Nunavut Headquarters wants to hire a Senior Advisor, Legislation & Enforcement (Salary $48,000 to $58,000; Ref. # 041-0027-0100) and a Polar bear Biologist (Salary: $54,000 to $64,000: Ref. # PB-97-0100). Deadline: September 15, 1997. Fax application to Shohil Kanji, Ph. (819) 979-5074, fax (819) 979-6026. CYANAMID WANTS ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY AFFAIRS ASSOCIATE Cynamid Crop Protection, manufacturer of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, based in Markham wants a regulatory affairs associate to report to the Director of Regulatory and Environmental Affairs. Prefer a Ph.D., but will accept M.Sc. With experience in environmental fate, environmental chemistry, aquatic/terrestrial ecology, and pesticide regulation. Deadline September 17, 1997; Mail resume to: Cindy Piggott, Director, Human Resources, Cynamid Crop Protection, 88 McNabb St., Markham, Ontario L3R 6E6. ********************* END OF JOBS ******************************* ************************************** INTERNATIONAL ************************************** BRITISH ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY FINDS U.K. BUDGET LACKING The British Environment Business Newsletter analyzed July 17th, 1997 the new U.K. federal budget regarding the environment. The environment business letter reports: "the first (Labour) budget has outlined the principles for environmental tax reform, but has largely failed to deliver on its environmental promise while fundamental changes have been put on ice until next spring at the earliest. Chancellor Gordon Brown's first Budget has held back from major green tax reforms" It reported that some bright spots in the federal budget include: " modest increases in levies on traditional motor fuels, with lower rates for clean fuels including natural gas, and important tax concessions to boost investment." From: Information for Industry Ltd., 18-20 Ridgway, London, England SW19 4QN, Tel: +44 (0) 181 944 2930, Fax: +44 (0) 181 944 1982. e-mail eb at cix.compulink.co.uk, Website http://www.ifi.co.uk. ****************************************** ENVIRONMENT SUMMIT ?98: PREPARING FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM A special international environment policy conference will be held the week of May 11, 1998 at Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. It will focus on emerging environmental issues including: voluntary environmental measures like Project XL, EPA's Environmental Leadership Program, and ISO 14000. It will also deal with cradle-to-grave factors for sustainable development of products being produced, distributed, used and disposed. It will look at alternative communication methods and tools for presenting environmental and safety data to special interest groups and the general public; and review the assessment of the relative risk of multimedia environmental impacts. Contact: Tammy Nielsen, Vice President, Environmental Resource Center, ph. (919) 469-1585 ext. 226. ********************************************************* 2% GROWTH IN U.S. ENVIRONMENT ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING INDUSTRY On average, environmental engineering consulting firms grew by about 2 percent in 1996, according to the Environmental Financial Consulting Group Inc. (EFCG) based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The EFCG's annual financial survey of CEOs of the engineering firms found that there was little change in median operating margins. They reported that overall profits for the industry are expected to be 35 percent to 40 percent lower in 1996 than what had been projected in 1995. The CEOs view municipal markets and water/wastewater work as the strongest market areas, while hazardous waste, lab services and federal government work are seen as the weakest areas. This report explores the financial themes of 1996 and looks at CEOs' predictions for 1997. The detailed financial survey was completed by 165 of the roughly 175 CEOs in attendance at the Seventh Annual Environmental CEO Conference, held in New York City. Among others, representatives of 48 of the top 50 engineering and consulting firms in the sector completed the three-page survey. Participating firms generated $15.4 billion in gross revenues from environmental engineering., consulting and remediation services. Source: International Environmental Information Network 4801 W. 81st St. ? Minneapolis, MN 55437 ? Ph: 612/831-2473 Fx: 612/831-6550. ********************************************************* ENVIRONMENT HIGH ON INTERNATIONAL POLLING RESULTS Canada as a major exporter of minerals, wood products, and pulp and paper faces a competitive disadvantage as a result of Europe's perception that Canadians are falling down in protecting their environment. A new international poll of some 27,000 people in 24 countries revealed that environmental concerns of the consumer remain very high. Conducted by the International Environment Monitor, called MORI, the poll found that "the environment should be given priority even at the risk of slowing down economic growth (56%). Only 17% say that economic growth should be given priority even if the environment suffers. Eight out of ten people say protecting the environment should be given at least equal priority to economic growth. Twenty two per cent said they both should be given equal priority." *************************************************** FRENCH MINISTER WANTS ECO-TAX TO FIGHT POLLUTION PARIS - French Environment Minister Dominique Voynet, the first Green to hold the post, said in an interview on Thursday she wanted to introduce an "eco-tax" on energy to fight against worsening air quality. Voynet told the daily Le Figaro that pollution alerts this week in Paris and other large cities were only "the tip of the iceberg" and that France had to take longer-term measures against rising pollution levels. Pollution alerts were in force for the third straight day during August in the French cities of Paris, Lyon, Lille and Strasbourg. She said she: "would like France to adopt an eco-tax on energy and carbon emissions to promote behaviour that respects health and the environment more,". She added that: "It would not be an extra tax, but a tax that could gradually replace part of the tax system." France's prime minister has set up a working group on this issue. All cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants would have to draw up an air pollution and global warming gases reduction plan by late 1998 to shift the emphasis towards public transport and non-polluting alternatives such as bicycles or walking. Voynet said she also favoured stricter automobile emission norms and supported efforts within the European Union to introduce them community-wide by the year 2000. (c) Reuters Limited 1997 ****************************************************** IRAN FOCUSES ON PROTECTING ITS ENVIRONMENT TEHRAN (Reuter) - Iran's first woman vice-president said on Monday she would be prepared to pass laws to protect the environment. "Special attention will be paid to the protection of the environment...If necessary we will approve new laws to protect the environment," Masoumeh Ebtekar, 37, told state television. Ebtekar, also appointed to head the Environmental Protection Organisation, stated: "We will try to acquire environmentally friendly technology and work closely with universities and research centres," (c) Reuters Limited 1997 ******************************************************* HUNDREDS DETAINED WHILE PROTESTING INDIAN SMELTER MADRAS, India (Reuter) - Indian police on Saturday detained hundreds of protesters demanding the permanent closure of a copper smelter which they said was spreading pollution. The protesters, demanded the shutdown of the Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd smelter in the southern port city of Tuticorin, police said. Sterlite operates India's only private-sector copper smelter, which began production in December 1996. The company was asked in early July to shut down its 100,000-tonne annual capacity smelter after suspected gas emissions. More than 100 workers of a nearby factory were taken to hospital. The company strongly denied any leak. On August 13, the firm received permission to reopen (c) Reuters Limited 1997 *********************************************************** INDIA DEMANDS FIRMS HAVE EFFLUENT TREATMENT SYSTEMS NEW DELHI (Reuter) - India ordered 2,026 industrial units, discharging wastes to rivers, to install effluent treatment systems in three months or be closed down. "We have given them three months' time starting fourth of August," Environment Minister Saifuddin Soz told reporters in the Indian capital. Soz said committees comprising senior officials from the Environment Ministry would be set up for the four zones in the nation to examine the level of waste discharge by the companies. Twenty-five percent of the cost of setting up the systems would be provided by the federal government and 25 percent by the state where a company was based. -- New Delhi Newsroom (91) 11-301-2024; Fax (91) 11-301-4043 (c) Reuters Limited 1997 ******************************************************* END Gary T. Gallon Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment 506 Victoria Ave. Montreal, Quebec H3Y 2R5 Ph. (514) 369-0230 Fax (514) 369-3282 email: cibe at web.net From cibe at web.net Thu Sep 11 20:14:29 1997 From: cibe at web.net (Gary T. Gallon) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 20:14:29 -0400 (EDT) Subject: There is No Global Warming Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970911201337.3b4fd5d4@pop.web.net> THE GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER AUGUST 18, 1997 _____________________________________________________________ GLOBAL WARMING DOES NOT EXIST: FRASER INSTITUTE, VANCOUVER Global warming does not exist as an environmental problem, suggests The Fraser Institute of Vancouver. The Institute states that: "the public has been barraged with apocalyptic predictions of global warming. This campaign has been so successful that global warming is now reported as fact...the evidence, however, does not support the predictions." This statement was quoted from the Institute's brochure advertising its new conference to debunk global warming. Called "the Science and Politics of Global Warming" conference, it will be held October 29, 1997 in Vancouver. The Fraser Institute is part of the "wise-use" movement of anti-environment associations in the United States which use environmentalists tactics to fight against environmental issues. Members of the wise-use movement in the U.S. include: the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE), Competitiveness Enterprise Institute, the Barry Goldwater Institute, CATO Institute, Reason Foundation, The Fraser Institute (Canada), and the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow. In 1990, they joined together to form the Earth Day Alternatives (EDA) coalition. Its motto: "Environment - as if people mattered". The wise-use institutes stated that "members of the Earth Day Alternatives (including Canada's Fraser Institute) believe that environmental policy took a turn for the worse when it was taken out of the hands of individuals and turned over to Congressmen, EPA bureaucrats, and nvironmental lobbyists." [Source: Earth Day Alternatives, Press Release, 233 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E., Suite 200, Ph. (202) 547-1010] The conservative institutes run a conservative email daily news service called C-NEWS. To subscribe to c-news send the message SUBSCRIBE C-NEWS to the email address: majordomo at world.std.com. Currently, it is running a six-part series called "Global Warming or Globaloney?" In the sixth article of the series, Phil Brennan writes about global warming concerns that: "driven into a state of near panic, the world's overnments are proposing to spend trillions of dollars and impose draconian regulations upon all of us in an all-out, Tower-of -Babel effort to counteract the perceived threat of Global Warming." Most of the speakers at the Fraser Institute Conference are from the United States. There is Patrick Michaels and Robert Davis from the University of Virginia, Robert Balling Jr. from Arizona State U., Thomas Moore with Stanford U., Sallie Baliunas Harvard University, and John Christie from the University of Alabama. The luncheon keynote speaker will be the Hon. Stephen West Alberta's Minister of Energy. Conference registration cost: $195 before September 29, and $225 thereafter. To register call Ph (604) 688-0221, fax (604) 688-8539. Visit the Fraser Institute's website: http://www.fraserinstitute.ca. ************************************************ 165 COUNTRIES FIND GLOBAL WARMING A PROBLEM: UNFCCC In 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit, Canada and 164 other nations agreed to sign onto the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It sets an "ultimate objective" of stabilising "greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) nterference with the climate system." Even the Canadian Ministers of the Environment, after consutlting their experts, came to the conclusion that global warming had to be taken seriously. Worldwide, governments, and their scientists, both conservative and liberal have come to the conclusion that "the problem is that human activity is making the global warming gases blanket thicker. The U.N. Convention authorities at the UNFCCC state that: for example, when we burn coal, oil, and natural gas we spew huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. When we destroy forests the carbon stored in the trees escapes to the atmosphere. Other basic activities, such as raising cattle and planting rice, emit methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases. If emissions continue to grow at current rates, it is almost certain that atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide will double from pre-industrial levels during the 21st century. If no steps are taken to slow greenhouse gas emissions, it is quite possible that levels will triple by the year 2100. The most direct result, says the scientific consensus, is likely to be a "global warming" of 1.5 to 4.5 C over the next 100 years." The UNFCCC states that the Convention "recognises that there is a problem. That's a significant step. It is not easy for the nations of the world to agree on a common course of action, especially one that tackles a problem whose consequences are uncertain and which will be more important for our grandchildren than for the present generation. Still, the Convention was negotiated and signed by 165 states in a little over two years, and over 100 have already ratified and so are legally bound by it. The treaty took effect on 21 March 1994." For more information contact the UNFCCC website: http://www.unfccc.de/fccc/conv/beginner.htm. *************************************************** CANADIAN GLOBAL CHANGE PROGRAM (CGCP) The CGCP coordinates state-of-the-art assessments of research results in areas of potentially high impact to Canadians, identifying information gaps and opportunities for Canadian contributions to reducing global warming gas emissions. These assessments take the form of expert panels, research/policy forums and commissioned studies. The CGCP secretariat are working on some of the strategic options for reducing global warming gases that ministers may wish to consider for the future evolution of climate change policy in Canada. After several reviews by the CGCP and CCP boards of directors, it was sent to the ministers, then to various media and other interested parties just prior to the December meeting. The submission is available from the CGCP . Visit the website at: http://www.cgcp.rsc.ca/english/ html_documents/eindex.html **************************************************** ENERGY EFFICIENCY MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR CANADIAN COMPANIES IN POLAND Before Ontario Hydro slashed its conservation program, B.C. Hydro dropped its "Power Smart" program, and Quebec Hydro walked away from energy conservation, Canada built a competitive advantage in energy efficiency technologies and services. Before the advantage is eroded by the advance of other countries' global warming gases reduction programs, Canadian companies can provide strong environmental technologies and services to Poland. Poland could save about $1.8 billion per year over the next 15 years through energy efficiency, the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) said in a report. "Poland still uses energy very inefficiently - 2-3 times as much as energy per unit of GDP - compared to Western Europe," said Stewart Boyle, Executive Director of the IIEC-Europe. Investment opportunities include cogeneration and gas technologies, energy efficient lighting and energy service companies (ESCOS), said the IIEC report. From January 1 1998 new environmental regulations will require investment to upgrade or replace aged boilers and stop the use of lignite burning. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Developement (EBRD) is financing energy efficiency schemes, the report said. The Polish government predicts that $53 billion is needed to upgrade the energy infrastructure by 2010. *********************************************** CEIA NATIONAL PRESIDENT MEET WITH CANADA'S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER Paul Antle, Chairman of the Canadian Environment Industry's (CEIA) Board of Directors, was invited to attend meetings with new Environment Minister Christine Stewart on Thursday, July 31 in Ottawa; and with former Environment Minister, now Minister of International Trade, Sergio Marchi on Friday, August 8 in Toronto. The informal luncheon meeting with Minister Stewart was attended by 13 other industry representatives. Minister Stewart expressed her belief in the need for a firm regulatory floor to ensure environmental standards, and emphasized her intention to build relationships between her department and the traditional industry sectors. For more information contact: Ron Portelli, President, CEIA National, Tel: 613-236- 6222, or Fax: 613-236-6850 or E-mail: ceia at capitalnet.com. Website: http://www.ceia-acie.ca. ********************************************* FILL OUT SURVEY ON FUTURE OF GREAT LAKES Emerging Issues Survey Great Lakes Science Advisory Board's survey on changes in environmental and social dynamics that may impringe upon the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. Go to website: http://www.ijc.org/whatsnew/ annoncem.html. Fill it out the form on the site. ********************************************** INTERNET WORKSHOP ON ECONOMIC ACCOUNTING RELATED TO FISHERIES HARVESTING AND MANAGEMENT A specialized workshop for economists and fisheries managers is being hosted 12 August to 11 October 1997 on the internet by the Fisheries Department and Statistics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University (UNU/IAS), and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). The workshop seeks multi-disciplinary advice on pertinent issues of integrated environmental and economic accounting in fisheries including definitional boundaries of production and capital formation; environmental satellite accounting (e.g. physical accounting, materials/energy balances, etc.); ocean accounts for areas outside of countries jurisdictions; valuation of aquatic resources and assessment of imputed environmental costs. The advice will be used in the drafting of written guidelines on this topic. To participate in this electronic workshop send an e-mail to mailserv at mailserv.fao.org with the following one line message and leaving blank the subject matter field: Subscribe FisheriesAcc-L For more information visit the Home Page of the FAO Fisheries Department http://www.fao.org/ waicent/faoinfo/fishery/fishaccl/fishaccl.htm) where a prospectus and discussion paper can be viewed and downloaded. These documents can also be obtained from the FTP site ftp.fao.org (193.43.36.7) at the \fao\fi\document\fishaccl path; or as Word Perfect 5.1 for MS-DOS files via Mailserv: address a message to mailserv at mailserv.fao.org leaving the subject blank and put in the following two lines :- send [fisheriesacc]prospect.wpf/mode=block send [fisheriesacc]discuss.wpf/mode=block If your Email system is not MIME-compliant with regards to attachments, then try adding "/encoding=UUENCODE" at the end of each line. In case of difficulties to subscribe to the workshop or download the documents, please contact either Rolf Willmann, FAO Fisheries Department or Pratap Narain, FAO Statistics Division < ******************************************* CHINA GETS SERIOUS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SHUTS DOWN 74,000 POLLUTING FACTORIES. China's work force is getting sick from too much pollution. The economic impacts of ignoring pollution can no longer be ignored. China has shut down 74,000 small factories with serious pollution problems, the Xinhua news agency said on Friday. The figure accounted for 86 percent of polluters targeted by an anti-pollution decree issued by the State Council, or cabinet, last year, it said. The plants, mainly in rural areas, included paper mills, tanning factories, printing and dyeing mills and coking plants using outdated equipment, Xinhua said. So far, 18 provinces have shut down all the polluters on their lists, it said. China has carried out two nationwide inspections of plants with serious pollution problems in the past few years, it said without giving further details. ****************************************** NEWS FROM ONTARIO'S GREEN COMMUNITIES Participants at the Ontario Green Communities pollution prevention meeting, in Niagara-on- the-Lake last Friday, agreed on steps to complete a P2 partnership between Environment Canada and Green Communities. Tasks include development of programs, a results measurement protocol, partnerships (e.g., to help pay for sample non-toxic cleaner kits), and a three-year plan. A full launch is proposed by the first of next year. The Green Communities Association (GCA) has received a request from Honolulu, Hawaii, for its nearly finished introductory guide, "How to Grow a Green Community". GCA's Jill Proud is in Santiago, Chile, this week representing the Ontario Green Communities Association in negotiations with groups and government officials there. The Chileans are looking into this Canadian model for the purpose of adopting it for their own use. Canada is seen as a leader in this field. The Peterborough Green-Up Group placed a display ad in the Yellow Pages Home Improvements section of its phone book promoting "Whole House Solutions" to various "house problems." Their slogan: "We know how your house works." Smaller ads were also placed under Heating Contractors, Windows, and Environmental Organizations. For more information about the Green Communities business group contact: Clifford Maynes, Coordinator, Green Communities Association, 4 Knox St., Peterborough, Ontario K9H 2A8; vox: (705) 745-7479; fax: (705) 745-7294; email: cmaynes at web.net; website: www.ptbo.igs.net/~gca/. ********************************************** ONTARIO'S ENVIRONMENT AND THE "COMMON SENSE REVOLUTION": A Second Year Report July 1997 The Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy released last its report providing a chronology and overview of the Ontario government's activities between June 1996 and June 1997. The report details the immediate and long-term environmental consequences of the government's actions and includes a discussion of its most likely next steps. The 160-pages report entitled Ontario's Environment and the "Common Sense Revolution": A Second Year Report is divided into chapters covering: public participation in decision-making; regulatory reform and standard setting; land-use; environmental assessment; environmental science and monitoring; air; water; waste; energy; pesticides; forestry; wildlife, wilderness and parks; non-renewable resources; mining; transportation; and underground storage tanks, pressure vessels and boilers. The report concludes that as of the end of the Legislative session in June, virtually every statute in the province dealing with the environment or natural resources management had been amended to: reduce environmental protection requirements; increase the discretion of ministers and the cabinet; eliminate opportunities for public participation in decision-making; permit the delegation of provincial authority to the private sector; and shield the Crown from lawsuits arising from damages caused by its repeal of environmental protection requirements. At the same time, the budgets of environmental agencies have undergone dramatic reductions. The report is available from CIELAP for $20.00 + 15% S&H. Founded in 1970, the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy is an independent, not-for-profit environmental law and policy research and educational organization. For more information or copies of the Ontario's Environment and the "Common Sense Revolution": A Second Year Report contact: Jan Rabantek , Project Officer, Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy Tel: (416) 923-3529, Fax: (416) 923-5949, E-mail: cielap at web.net ************************************************ AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES FALL ILL FROM SEVERELY POLLUTED RIVER AFTER BRIDGE COLLAPSE AT ISRAEL'S MACCABIAH GAMES According the Rueter's News Service Inc. journalist, Julian Linden, at least 10 Australian athletes fell ill in the wake of the Maccabiah Games bridge collapse in Israel due to health problems caused by poisons in the Yakron River under the bridge. The 10 athletes suffered respiratory problems after either falling or diving into the river after the bridge near Tel Aviv collapsed on July 14, 1997. "Some of these people had been saved from drowning after being resuscitated at the scene while others had dived into the water to try and save others." One of the three Australians that died did not die from the injuries sustained from the fall but died 12 days later in hospital due to lung damage caused by poisonous water. "I've barely eaten since the day of the bridge," Sumegi told an Australian newspaper on Thursday. "My stomach got infected and caused my oesophagus to ulcerate. I have been pretty ill.". ************************************************* US NORTHEAST STATES WANTS U.S. MIDWEST AIR POLLUTION STOPPED Canada is finding allies in its bid to reduce transboundary air pollution coming from the United States, writes Sonali Paul from the Rueters New Service. At least five northeastern states plan to ask the U.S. government to force power plants and factories in the Midwest to cut their pollution to help ease smog problems downwind, state officials said on Friday. The petitions, which could be filed in August 1997, are the latest attempt by the northeastern states to target sources of pollution outside their region in their struggle to meet federal air quality standards. The five states -- Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York -- were part of a group of 32 eastern states which agreed last June to take steps to help each other fight smog in cities with the dirtiest air. Pennsylvania also is considering filing a petition, a state environmental spokeswoman said. The northeastern states decided to break ranks with the other eastern states because they want air quality to improve faster than under the June agreement. "We feel we can't wait any longer, that we need immediate action," said Jennifer Post, a spokeswoman for New York's Department of Environmental Conservation. "We're trying to take every legal avenue available to address this problem," Post said. But they still have not been able to budge the big coal-fired utilities in the industrialized mid-west and the states that provide them with the coal. ****************************************** SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER Support the work of the Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment. Ssubscribe to "The Gallon Environment Letter". The four-page newsletter is distributed twice monthly. Send a cheque for $98.00 a year (GST included) and help finance the research that delivers inside information and breaking news on environment business in Canada and the world. Make cheque out to "Gallon Letter", send to CIBE, 506 Victoria Ave., Montreal, Quebec, H3Y 2R5. Gary T. Gallon Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment 506 Victoria Ave. Montreal, Quebec H3Y 2R5 Ph. (514) 369-0230 Fax (514) 369-3282 email: cibe at web.net From eweil at caribe.net Fri Sep 12 09:59:01 1997 From: eweil at caribe.net (Dr. Ernesto Weil) Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 09:59:01 -0400 Subject: RAPID WASTING DISEASE Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970912095858.006904c8@caribe.net> Dear Mr. Cervino and coral disease colleagues, We would like to share some important information with you all about the recently described "Rapid Wasting Disease". We are using Dr. Weil's e-mail at this point because our e-mail system is down. Any comments could be addressed to the e-mail address at the bottom or through Dr. Weil's address if there are problems. We have been following the coral-list information concerning the recent increase in coral disease and the discovery of a new disease, termed rapid wasting disease. We have monitored reefs in Jamaica and Puerto Rico over the last 6 years; we routinely spend 5 days per week in the field, which provides an excellent opportunity to follow the spread and impact of coral diseases. While our research indicates that disease is an important component contributing to a decline of live coral, we have occasionally identified corals with lesions (especially C. natans and M. annularis) devoid of tissue and skeletal material, and have attributed this damage to parrotfish. In June 1997 we ran a series of transects on reefs of Bonaire and Cura?ao to examine the apparent health of the star coral complex (Montastraea spp.), the major reef builder on these reefs. Our data from 6 reefs in Cura?ao indicate that star corals were infected primarily by yellow-band disease (YBD), with a low proportion of corals showing signs of other diseases as well as "rapid wasting disease" (RWD). While YBD was observed on up to 1 in 6 corals, and was found at all depths, RWD was rare (<0.1%), patchy in occurrence, and absent from deeper reef areas (>25 m). Surveys in Bonaire indicate that YBD is also the most severe affliction, although a high proportion of corals above 20 m exhibited signs characteristic for RWD. The most severe damage from RWD was observed on (but not confined to) reefs along the northwestern half of the island. We monitored colonies of M. annularis in Bonaire with recent tissue and skeletal destruction for up to 70 min each. We observed 2/3 of the colonies with fresh lesions being attacked by stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) at least once, and usually repeatedly. During these periods, 1-3 terminal phase male and several initial phase adult S. viride removed live coral tissue and skeleton from a single coral head, returning at 2-15 min intervals. In two cases, fish removed the majority of the tissue from one lobe, then began grazing on an adjacent lobe. S. viride also attacked C. natans; fish removed all tissue and skeletal material in a band, moving methodically across the coral. Bruggemann et al. (1994) investigated the ecology of stoplight parrotfish in detail on one of these reefs in Bonaire (Karpata), noting that these fish maintain and defend permanent territories in 3.5-25 m depth1. While Bruggemann et al. noted that most bites were taken on algal turf associated with dead coral, 9.3% of the bites taken by TP males were from living corals, primarily M. annularis, creating conspicuous white spots on the colony. Affected corals were located most frequently near territory boundaries; they believe these "'white spot' bites function in consolidating the social interrelationships between individuals and groups" 1. Parrotfish consumed most material bitten off, however "spilling of material that was scraped off but not ingested was occasionally observed in the field. Sometimes the entire potential food mass was spit out, which occurred mainly when bites were taken from live coral" 1. Predation by stoplight parrotfish was the most serious cause of chronic coral tissue loss to M. annularis in the U.S. Virgin Islands2. Parrotfish grazing on live coral was temporally variable; the most severe damage, affecting over 10% of the surface area of individual genets, and 25% of the monitored colonies, was observed during a one year period following Hurricane Hugo2. Frydl and Stearn (1978) concluded that stoplight parrotfish were the only species that caused significant bioerosion in Barbados3. They observed that a bite caused by the stoplight parrotfish "leaves a well defined scar even when afflicted by a medium sized fish"; when feeding on rubble encrusted with algae and forams, fish "peel off the encrusting layer, and remove part of the substrate beneath it" 3. On reefs in Puerto Rico we have observed C. natans and the species of Montastraea with signs of "rapid wasting disease" since 1995, although at a much lower abundance; this is most likely a result of intense fishing pressure here. Stoplight parrotfish is now predominant in the fish markets, as other, more desirable species are becoming rare. This is further evidence for the extreme numbers of corals being denuded of tissue and skeleton in Bonaire, where spear and trap fishing have been banned for 17 years. Our observations of M. annularis in Bonaire indicates this phenomenon has been occurring for years, as some colonies show sites of previous damage (months to years) where the coral has begun to grow up around the lesion. We believe that parrotfish bites have been mistaken for this newly described RWD and that fungus may be a secondary colonizing agent after the parrotfish produces the lesions. While the extent of damage caused by stoplight parrotfish may vary temporally and spatially between reefs, our data provide evidence that stoplight parrotfish can produce lesions on colonies of star coral which demonstrate all the characteristics of "rapid wasting disease" . Even though rapid wasting disease may in fact be the result of something other than a disease-causing pathogen, the importance of diseases in the coral reef ecosystem can not be stressed enough. Research is needed to investigate diseases such as YBD, white plague type II, and white pox, which may have appeared in this decade, and are thought to have increased in prevalence and severity over the last few years. Regular monitoring of the apparent health of reefs is necessary to understand the mechanics of coral disease spread and to properly identify other destructive agents. 1. Bruggemann, J.H., M.J.H. van Oppen and A.M. Breeman. 1994. Foraging by the stoplight parrotfish Sparisoma viride. I. Food selection in different, socially determined habitats. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 106:41-55. 2. Bythell, J.C., E.H. Gladfelter and M. Bythell. 1992. Ecological studies of Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Part II. P 40-61. 3. Frydl, P. and C.W. Stearn. 1978. Rate of bioerosion by parrotfishes in Barbados reef environments. J. sediment. Petrol. 48: 1149-1158. Andrew and Robin Bruckner Department of Marine Sciences University of Puerto Rico P.O. Box 908 Lajas, PR 00667 arbruckner at hotmail.com From korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za Fri Sep 12 11:49:09 1997 From: korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za (Jan Korrubel) Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 17:49:09 +0200 Subject: Info required: Coral pathology - in general and WIO..... Message-ID: Greetings Coral Listers: I am looking for information on coral pathology - more specifically, published references on stress in corals and likely causes of stress, and also stress indicators. I seem to have hit a dearth of papers pertaining to coral mortality for the Western Indian Ocean - if anybody has any papers referencing coral pathology / mortality for the WIO, I'd like to get 'em (mail them to the address below), or if anybody knows of references, email the references to me. Please. I'll be collating the responses (of course) and anybody who is intersted in the subsequent compilation, feel free to email me. Regards, Jan L. Korrubel Dept. of Applied Mathematics University of Natal Private Bag X01 3209 Scottsville Pietermaritzburg South Africa. From IYOR1997 at aol.com Fri Sep 12 17:01:37 1997 From: IYOR1997 at aol.com (IYOR1997 at aol.com) Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 17:01:37 -0400 (EDT) Subject: October IYOR update Message-ID: <970912170016_120874276@emout10.mail.aol.com> CORAL - The Coral Reef Alliance will be publishing the next IYOR update for October. Please send any updates about IYOR activities or programs to: IYOR1997 at aol.com The due date for inclusion in the next update is September 26. Please keep all submissions to less than 250 words. Thanks. Sincerely, Arielle Levine The Coral Reef Alliance From lesk at bio.bu.edu Fri Sep 12 18:20:01 1997 From: lesk at bio.bu.edu (Les Kaufman) Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 18:20:01 -0400 (EDT) Subject: RAPID WASTING DISEASE In-Reply-To: <3.0.32.19970912095858.006904c8@caribe.net> Message-ID: Regarding the identification of RWD and the possibility that it may actually be S. viride bitemarks.... Remember that if something else killed the coral and microturf started to grow, S. viride would be attracted to it and bite it. It would be very difficult to determine on inspection whether RWD preceded, or resulted from, an excavating bite mark. Also, there are of course other excavating scarines in the tropical west Atlantic. S. viride is the only Sparisoma that routinely does so, and the only parrotfish in the TWA that regularly eats, or at least bites, living coral. Can somebody remind me where the web page is that posts photos of RWD? From dbaker at tm.net.my Sun Sep 14 18:37:27 1997 From: dbaker at tm.net.my (Don E Baker) Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1997 06:37:27 +0800 Subject: Giant Clam Seminar Message-ID: <341C6727.2FFB@tm.net.my> Dear Coral-Lers, I have tentatively set this Seminar for the month of Feb98. This will give us time to develop a decent program. I would like to have at least 30 speakers that would like to present papers, posters, videos, slide shows, etc - all concerning various aspects of conservation, rehabilitation, commercial culture, and research. Additional details will be posted soon. Don Baker THE REEF PROJECT Sabah - Malaysia From kclark at iu.net Mon Sep 15 17:53:37 1997 From: kclark at iu.net (Kerry B Clark) Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1997 17:53:37 -0400 (EDT) Subject: collection device -- website now up Message-ID: As I promised earlier this year on the Coral-List, I have put together a website, with detailed pictorial instructions, on construction of a one-handed collection bottle for small aquatic animals. This device uses valves and a suction vortex to pull animals gently into the bottle with neglible effort. The device can be built in 15 min to an hour, depending on skill and practice, and costs about $10 to construct. This is ideal for underwater collection of quantities of soft-bodied things that go "squish" when trying to pick up with forceps or fingers, from hydromedusae to sea slugs. http://users.aol.com/metazoa/sucker/ - - Kerry Bruce Clark, F.A.A.A.S., Professor of Biological Sciences Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901-6988 Phone 1-407-768-8000 x8195 -- Proud Member of the Impoverished Gentry -- Visit the Cambrian in 3D at "http://users.aol.com/kbclark/cambrian" Metazoa website at "http://www.metazoa.com" -- "Bytes of Nature," producing the best in natural history software From cnidaria at earthlink.net Mon Sep 15 22:40:43 1997 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1997 19:40:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Sept 15 final version Message-ID: TO: Readers of Bruckner comments on RWD and parrotfish posted on Coral List FROM: T. Goreau, J. Cervino, K. DeMeyer, I. Nagelkerken, R. Hayes, G. Smith, M. Goreau A. Bruckner has posted on the Web a claim that the condition called Rapid Wasting Disease may actually be due to Parrotfish bites. Unfortunately Bruckner is criticizing data and interpretations which have not yet been published, and therefore readers are unable to assess the original information. We believe that his claim is in total error, and present below some of the reasons why we think he is mistaken. Rapid Wasting Disease (RWD) spreads several inches a day on coral heads in the field monitored every 24 hours, and also at a similar rate on coral heads in aquaria and buckets which contain no parrotfish (Cervino data). The parrotfish hypothesis was evaluated and rejected in a paper containing photographs, transect data, distribution data, histology, and microbiology. Because this is now under review at a leading scientific journal, we are unable to post that manuscript with all the data at this time, but the latest data will be available shortlyon the GCRA web site. Microscopic examination of affected tissue edges show epidermal inflamation and gastrodermal disruption which are consistent with a spreading necrosis and not with physical bite excavations. We are extremely familiar with parrotfish bite marks through detailed examination and photography. Parrotfish bites form characteristic and unmistakeable grooves and abrasion scars, and the affected skeleton lacks the crumbly, dissolving, etched appearance characteristic of RWD. The early stages of RWD are absolutely distinctive from parrotfish bites, as the tissue pales and thins while the underlying skeleton surface any physical damage. When the tissue disappears the excavation can be as small as a single polyp, an act of subtlety we have never seen parrotfishto perform. RWD lesions in Bonaire were not seen before December 1996, andwere absent at these sites until November 1996, according to regular long term monitoring dives by the staff of the Bonaire Marine Park. The major RWD and Yellow Band (YB) monitoring site in Bonaire has been the location of a large scale study of parrotfish abundances, territories, and behaviour for many years by researchers from the University of Groningen,who have documented in detail all parrotfish behaviour patterns. Despite this close observation the RWD lesions were not seen before December 1996. Parrotfish have been around all along, but the RWD type lesions are new. Parrotfish bites were not a major cause of coral mortality in the past, and parrotfish have declined greatly in most Caribbean reefs, especially the terminal males responsible for territorial markings on coral. RWD has increased hundreds of times in the last year. Once too rare to be noticed, it is now too abundant to be missed. RWD is so stark in appearance that there is no possibility that it was present but unnoticed in the past: we have large numbers of reef photographs from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s which demonstrate this. If parrotfish cause or transmit "RWD" it should have been common and widespread in the past and declined in overfished reefs. Instead the opposite has happened. RWD was not seen at all in Portobelo, Panama in July 1997 despite abundant large parrotfish (which are not eaten locally), and conversely RWD was very common in St. John in September 1997 despite a near absence of parrotfish. This is the opposite of what Bruckner would predict. Observations from other locations show no particular relationship betweenRWD lesions and parrotfish abundance. Large numbers of very old Colpophyllia colonies which are beautifully rounded had no signs of growth abnormalities or missing chunks until recently, yet have been rapidly killed by RWD this year. Have remaining parrotfish increased coral consumption hundreds or thousands of times and suddenly wiped out ancient corals which had never been affected before, based on their morphology? Parrotfish bite any available algal turf and calcareous algae more frequently than corals by orders of magnitude. Parrotfish which bite corals normally specialize on Porites, whose wounds heal over completely with no signs of infection. In the past when parrotfish did bite Montastrea the dead areas were surrounded by healthy tissue which overgrew the edges of the wounds without signs of necrosis. If parrotfish bites cause secondary diseases to develop why did this not happen before? Parrotfish rarely if ever bite Colpophyllia natans tissue (although they do bite algae growing on dead Colpophyllia skeletons). We observe parrotfish to frequently graze readily on the algal turf which overgrows portions of colonies previously killed by RWD and other diseases, but they confine themselves to the algae and do not attack the coral tissue. Close observation of the bite marks is needed to see where they actually bite. We suspect that Bruckner confused grazing on algae turf on dead portions of corals with attacks on the live coral. We have video documentation of this behaviour, and the bite scars were always found to be on algal turf and not on the coral tissue. Bruckner claims that only one coral out of six has YB and one out of a thousand have RWD. We are baffled at Bruckner's reports of very low disease abundances reported for Bonaire in June. We have tracked around 16 sites in Bonaire and Curacao between February to July and find verymuch higher numbers of incidence. We have hours of video transects from many sites in which the incidence of both diseases are between 30 and 80% or more. These abundances are corroborated by transect data taken by Cervino in Bonaire and St. John, by Nagelkerken at sites in Curacao, by obervations by the Bonaire Marine Park, and in numerous transects around Bonaire and Curacao in a monitoring project run by Project Reefkeeper. We suspect that Bruckner has failed to properly identify RWD and YB. We observe that RWD is underestimated by many because it is commonly mistaken for bleaching, other diseases, physical damage, and unknown causes of mortality. We note below some differences between RWD and YB, and why these have apparently been underestimated. RWD attacks the skeleton as well as tissue but YB attacks only tissue. RWD usually hits the tops of the coral heads, and YB usually hits the sides. Often after RWD has killed the tops, YB finishes off the sides. One must look very close up at the surface of the recently dead coral skeleton to distinguish these causes of mortality. After a suitable period after death from either cause, the coral is overgrown by calcareous encrusting red algae if nutrients are low, and by algal turf or cyanobacteria if nutrients are high, making identification of the original cause of death much harder. Transect data, diagnostic photographs, videos, and maps of all Caribbean reef diseases plus global data, will be posted on the Global Coral Reef Alliance web site within weeks. We will post the address as soon as it is up. We invite Bruckner to submit his photographs and videos to this site once it is running, so that he and other viewers can compare them with the data and images from a large network of observations from around the Caribbean. We regret that he did not contact us or the Bonaire Marine Park to discuss the observations, or look at the photographs before posting his claims, as these could have been easily resolved had he checked with us. James Cervino will be presenting this data in Woods Hole (tentative date Mon. Oct 6th 97), along with his photographs and Tom Goreau's videos. Photos of Parrot fish bite marks and photos of RWD in a 24 hour sequence will be shown which indicate the drastic differences. Data and photographs of the spread of the disease in the field, in aquaria, and in buckets will be shown. Please send comments to cnidaria at earthlink.net & goreau at earthlink.net Thomas J. Goreau, Ph.D., President Global Coral Reef Alliance 324 Bedford Road A non-profit organization for protection Chappaqua, New York 10514 and sustainable development of coral reefs USA e-mail: goreau at earthlink.net phone: 914-238-8788 fax: 914-238-8768 ****************************** James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance 124-19 9th ave, College Point NY 11356 Phone/Fax 718-539-8155 ******************************* From cnidaria at earthlink.net Tue Sep 16 16:36:55 1997 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 13:36:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Sept 15 final version Message-ID: I have gotten messages that this was only posted 1/2 complete, I will send again. Sorry for the inconvience. JMC. TO: Readers of Bruckner comments on RWD and parrotfish posted on Coral List FROM: T. Goreau, J. Cervino, K. DeMeyer, I. Nagelkerken, R. Hayes, G. Smith, M. Goreau A. Bruckner has posted on the Web a claim that the condition called Rapid Wasting Disease may actually be due to Parrotfish bites. Unfortunately Bruckner is criticizing data and interpretations which have not yet been published, and therefore readers are unable to assess the original information. We believe that his claim is in total error, and present below some of the reasons why we think he is mistaken. Rapid Wasting Disease (RWD) spreads several inches a day on coral heads in the field monitored every 24 hours, and also at a similar rate on coral heads in aquaria and buckets which contain no parrotfish (Cervino data). The parrotfish hypothesis was evaluated and rejected in a paper containing photographs, transect data, distribution data, histology, and microbiology. Because this is now under review at a leading scientific journal, we are unable to post that manuscript with all the data at this time, but the latest data will be available shortlyon the GCRA web site. Microscopic examination of affected tissue edges show epidermal inflamation and gastrodermal disruption which are consistent with a spreading necrosis and not with physical bite excavations. We are extremely familiar with parrotfish bite marks through detailed examination and photography. Parrotfish bites form characteristic and unmistakeable grooves and abrasion scars, and the affected skeleton lacks the crumbly, dissolving, etched appearance characteristic of RWD. The early stages of RWD are absolutely distinctive from parrotfish bites, as the tissue pales and thins while the underlying skeleton surface any physical damage. When the tissue disappears the excavation can be as small as a single polyp, an act of subtlety we have never seen parrotfishto perform. RWD lesions in Bonaire were not seen before December 1996, andwere absent at these sites until November 1996, according to regular long term monitoring dives by the staff of the Bonaire Marine Park. The major RWD and Yellow Band (YB) monitoring site in Bonaire has been the location of a large scale study of parrotfish abundances, territories, and behaviour for many years by researchers from the University of Groningen,who have documented in detail all parrotfish behaviour patterns. Despite this close observation the RWD lesions were not seen before December 1996. Parrotfish have been around all along, but the RWD type lesions are new. Parrotfish bites were not a major cause of coral mortality in the past, and parrotfish have declined greatly in most Caribbean reefs, especially the terminal males responsible for territorial markings on coral. RWD has increased hundreds of times in the last year. Once too rare to be noticed, it is now too abundant to be missed. RWD is so stark in appearance that there is no possibility that it was present but unnoticed in the past: we have large numbers of reef photographs from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s which demonstrate this. If parrotfish cause or transmit "RWD" it should have been common and widespread in the past and declined in overfished reefs. Instead the opposite has happened. RWD was not seen at all in Portobelo, Panama in July 1997 despite abundant large parrotfish (which are not eaten locally), and conversely RWD was very common in St. John in September 1997 despite a near absence of parrotfish. This is the opposite of what Bruckner would predict. Observations from other locations show no particular relationship betweenRWD lesions and parrotfish abundance. Large numbers of very old Colpophyllia colonies which are beautifully rounded had no signs of growth abnormalities or missing chunks until recently, yet have been rapidly killed by RWD this year. Have remaining parrotfish increased coral consumption hundreds or thousands of times and suddenly wiped out ancient corals which had never been affected before, based on their morphology? Parrotfish bite any available algal turf and calcareous algae more frequently than corals by orders of magnitude. Parrotfish which bite corals normally specialize on Porites, whose wounds heal over completely with no signs of infection. In the past when parrotfish did bite Montastrea the dead areas were surrounded by healthy tissue which overgrew the edges of the wounds without signs of necrosis. If parrotfish bites cause secondary diseases to develop why did this not happen before? Parrotfish rarely if ever bite Colpophyllia natans tissue (although they do bite algae growing on dead Colpophyllia skeletons). We observe parrotfish to frequently graze readily on the algal turf which overgrows portions of colonies previously killed by RWD and other diseases, but they confine themselves to the algae and do not attack the coral tissue. Close observation of the bite marks is needed to see where they actually bite. We suspect that Bruckner confused grazing on algae turf on dead portions of corals with attacks on the live coral. We have video documentation of this behaviour, and the bite scars were always found to be on algal turf and not on the coral tissue. Bruckner claims that only one coral out of six has YB and one out of a thousand have RWD. We are baffled at Bruckner's reports of very low disease abundances reported for Bonaire in June. We have tracked around 16 sites in Bonaire and Curacao between February to July and find verymuch higher numbers of incidence. We have hours of video transects from many sites in which the incidence of both diseases are between 30 and 80% or more. These abundances are corroborated by transect data taken by Cervino in Bonaire and St. John, by Nagelkerken at sites in Curacao, by obervations by the Bonaire Marine Park, and in numerous transects around Bonaire and Curacao in a monitoring project run by Project Reefkeeper. We suspect that Bruckner has failed to properly identify RWD and YB. We observe that RWD is underestimated by many because it is commonly mistaken for bleaching, other diseases, physical damage, and unknown causes of mortality. We note below some differences between RWD and YB, and why these have apparently been underestimated. RWD attacks the skeleton as well as tissue but YB attacks only tissue. RWD usually hits the tops of the coral heads, and YB usually hits the sides. Often after RWD has killed the tops, YB finishes off the sides. One must look very close up at the surface of the recently dead coral skeleton to distinguish these causes of mortality. After a suitable period after death from either cause, the coral is overgrown by calcareous encrusting red algae if nutrients are low, and by algal turf or cyanobacteria if nutrients are high, making identification of the original cause of death much harder. Transect data, diagnostic photographs, videos, and maps of all Caribbean reef diseases plus global data, will be posted on the Global Coral Reef Alliance web site within weeks. We will post the address as soon as it is up. We invite Bruckner to submit his photographs and videos to this site once it is running, so that he and other viewers can compare them with the data and images from a large network of observations from around the Caribbean. We regret that he did not contact us or the Bonaire Marine Park to discuss the observations, or look at the photographs before posting his claims, as these could have been easily resolved had he checked with us. James Cervino will be presenting this data in Woods Hole (tentative date Mon. Oct 6th 97), along with his photographs and Tom Goreau's videos. Photos of Parrot fish bite marks and photos of RWD in a 24 hour sequence will be shown which indicate the drastic differences. Data and photographs of the spread of the disease in the field, in aquaria, and in buckets will be shown. Please send comments to cnidaria at earthlink.net & goreau at earthlink.net Thomas J. Goreau, Ph.D., President Global Coral Reef Alliance 324 Bedford Road A non-profit organization for protection Chappaqua, New York 10514 and sustainable development of coral reefs USA e-mail: goreau at earthlink.net phone: 914-238-8788 fax: 914-238-8768 ****************************** James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance 124-19 9th ave, College Point NY 11356 Phone/Fax 718-539-8155 ******************************* From vicki at bigpond.com.kh Tue Sep 16 22:10:56 1997 From: vicki at bigpond.com.kh (Vicki Nelson) Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 09:10:56 +0700 Subject: Cambodian coral reefs Message-ID: <03161342165255@bigpond.com.kh> Hi everyone. I've just started working in Cambodia on a project to increase provincial governmental capacity in coastal zone management. I'm putting together training materials for courses in basic czm and natural resource assessment. Does anyone, anywhere have any information whatsoever on Cambodian coral reefs? We have nothing at all here apart from what you can pick up by looking at the skeletons people sell in the market! Any information gratefully received. Cheers, Vicki Vicki Nelson Wetlands International PO Box 2182 Phnom Penh 3 855-15-835-806 email: vicki at bigpond.com.kh From arbruckner at hotmail.com Wed Sep 17 16:43:15 1997 From: arbruckner at hotmail.com (robin bruckner) Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 13:43:15 PDT Subject: RWD response Message-ID: <19970917204317.3630.qmail@hotmail.com> To: T. Goreau, J. Cervino and other coral list readers From: Andrew and Robin Bruckner, University of Puerto Rico Response to comments from T. Goreau et al. posted on the Coral List: We regret that our remarks have been interpreted as criticism rather than as an avenue for the advancement of the general coral reef community, which is why we chose to post this information on the Coral List. We were simply responding to items appearing on the list, in the newspaper and in Science. We were unaware of any manuscript in review on RWD (and any data it may contain), and believe we have commented strictly upon our own observations. There are some points Goreau et al. addressed that deserves further comment. Goreau et al. have not acknowledged that we are speaking specifically about Sparisoma viride; they are correct in their generalization that parrotfish graze predominantly on algal turf. They are incorrect when they state that parrotfish rarely if ever bite Colpophyllia natans tissue. Hours of observation, photographs and video footage will confirm that the occurrence of S. viride biting Colpophyllia natans is NOT rare, although it may be an infrequent event, and possibly cyclic in its emergence. Sparisoma viride DO attack coral tissue, repeatedly, at the interface of tissue and denuded skeleton. Our data will substantiate that these fish are capable of destroying entire colonies rapidly in a manner resembling RWD, and that often the damage is a result of two or more fish. Is it a coincidence that this new disease and stoplight parrotfish share a characteristic denuding of coral tissue and degradation of skeletal material, and have manifested on the reefs at the same time? Having six years of continuous field experience specifically studying coral disease in the Caribbean, we are very familiar with the signs of YBD, now RWD, and other diseases, as well as damage caused by various corallivores, and we certainly know the difference between coral tissue and algal turf. We have been monitoring colonies of Montastraea spp. with YBD on an offshore island since 1995. Signs of coral destruction Goreau et al. attribute to RWD have manifested only infrequently in Puerto Rico. We are currently following several colonies of Colpophyllia natans exhibiting signs of rapid tissue and skeletal degradation from an area we survey routinely - this is the first incidence of intense predator-mediated damage we have observed on this reef in the four years we have been studying this site. One of these colonies has received over 150 bites ON LIVE TISSUE in four hours of observation on four consecutive days; damage was inflicted by three terminal phase stoplight parrotfish. On a second colony, two original lesions existed; one lesion increased in diameter by two centimeters from one day to the next. We placed utility mesh over the top half of the colony, covering the two lesions; the lower half of the coral was exposed. Four days later, two new sites of tissue and skeleton destruction had initiated on the same colony, outside of the caged area. No further progression of tissue or skeletal destruction has been observed to the two lesions under the cage. In contrast, one new lesion outside the caged area has continued to increase in diameter daily. Video of these lesions confirm that one terminal phase and one initial phase S. viride are biting on live coral tissue repeatedly at the interface of the lesion, returning at 3-10 minute intervals. This discrepancy generates some interesting questions that require further study: 1) Are stoplight parrotfish grazing diseased tissue? 2) Are these fish responsible for transmitting a disease? 3) Why have so few people observed such extensive and obvious damage? Is this a new phenomenon? It is possible that RWD/parrotfish lesions are not new. Since many coral reefs are suffering from decline, and more and more interest is being taken in them, researchers might simply be noticing more damaged and dying coral. S. viride damage is too obvious to be missed, if you catch the fish in the act. Algal colonization is a rapid process and obscures the causes of decline, as Goreau et al. point out. Without frequent observation, it would be impossible to tell whether this phenomenon existed in the past simply on the basis of old photographs. Goreau et al. refer to the same study team we cited that noticed "white spots" inflicted on Montastraea annularis by S. viride. We are not suggesting that stoplight parrotfish continuously bite at live coral; instead, they infrequently take bites on live coral, grazing most often on algal turf . If approximately 9% of their bites are taken from live coral, as observed by researchers from University of Groningen, considering that these fish spend a large part of the day feeding this would amount to a substantial amount of damage. Our observations from corals in Bonaire and Puerto Rico indicate that large terminal phase S. viride are extremely cautious, and easily disturbed. Initially, we attempted to monitor colonies with signs of RWD from closer than 2 m; parrotfish approached the colony, but swam off without biting. While it is crucial to examine a coral up close to identify signs of disease, it is also imperative to "stand back" and look at things from several perspectives. Goreau et al. have erroneously ascribed our YBD and RWD findings as characteristic of Bonaire; we would like to clarify that the low incidence of RWD mentioned was from Cura?ao. We recorded a higher proportion of RWD in Bonaire. Although we believe the two diseases are unrelated, we also have observed RWD and YBD on the same colony. As Goreau et al. point out, there are many disease signs that might be confused with YBD, including white plague, bleaching, predator damage, and other factors which may possibly result in overestimates as well as underestimates. We are aware of work in progress to assemble waterproof photographic cards with characteristic signs of specific diseases so more divers will be able to identify them. After studying and photographing thousands of corals with disease, we feel rigorous training is necessary before anyone other than coral reef specialists can collect meaningful, accurate data on coral disease. Goreau et al. are correct in their analysis that after a coral dies and is colonized by algae, it is difficult to determine a coral's cause of death. From our experience, frequent and continual monitoring is necessary to follow the progression of disease; diseases are plastic, and their abundance and severity can change rapidly. Without frequent surveys one cannot definitively attribute the mortality of a coral to a specific factor. We are excited to see the GCRA web site, and look forward to contributing photographs and video footage for public comparison with other sites in the Caribbean. This type of rapid information sharing is desperately needed to eliminate confusion and ensure a rapid response to such newly emerging phenomenon, which are affecting coral reefs today. Andrew and Robin Bruckner Department of Marine Sciences University of Puerto Rico PO Box 908 Lajas, PR 00667 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com From astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov Thu Sep 18 15:27:29 1997 From: astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov (astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov) Date: Thu, 18 Sep 97 14:27:29 -0500 Subject: Bleaching Message-ID: <199709181821.OAA12916@orbit8i.nesdis.noaa.gov> Our HotSpot Charts indicate SSTs have been exceeding the HotSpot threshold off Belize and Hondouras for the past week -- beginning Sep 13th. This would indicate that the potential for bleaching exists in that area of the western Caribbean. For those with Netscape animation capability you can view the last 4 months of twice-weekly HotSpot Charts on our temporary NOAA/NESDIS/ORAD HomePage: http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad >From the opening page link to: [1] Experimental Products and [2] Coral Reef Bleaching The loop is updated every week. AE Strong From cnidaria at earthlink.net Fri Sep 19 07:48:46 1997 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 04:48:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Parrotfish, again Message-ID: PARROTFISH AND RWD FROM: T. Goreau, J. Cervino, K. DeMeyer, I. Nagelkerken, R. Hayes, G. Smith, M. Goreau We will be delighted to look at Andy Bruckner's photos, and welcome >the constructive exchange. We have filmed many parrotfish bites that >appeared to be on corals, but on direct inspection of the scars, turned out >to always be on algae patches. RWD is turning the tops of the Montastrea >annularis heads into algal turf patches, and the parrotfish are >specializing in them with gusto because these are the major food resource >available. There is no doubt that they will once in a while nibble at >coral, but this is common only where there is not enough algae (e.g. in >oligotrophic reefs in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, Cayman, and Turks and >Caicos, and until recently, Bonaire). This behaviour is often seasonal >territorial marking on isolated heads by large males. We have always seen >the coral to recover afterwards, without spreading necrosis. This is why we >first evaluated the parrotfish hypothesis at the very start of our work, >and concluded that it was not the cause of RWD. Nor have we seen them >attack edges of Colpophyllia natans tissue, although we have repeatedly >seen them bite algal turf on the dead parts of the colony within a >centimeter of living remnants. The fact is that we are seeing beautiful >Colpophyllia heads hundreds of years old vanish in weeks on a large scale, >and this is certainly new. In the buckets and aquaria : the RWD was on the tops of annularis before I placed it in the tank, and some of the depressions I have are more than an inch. Each ridge and valley on the C. natans is depressed, however it is important to note that if it were Parrot fish, the fish would leave bite marks along the valley and ridge. Just think of the ridge and valley eroded down in size, there is no scraping out of the normal direction of the way the valley and ridge fall or have been originally formed by the coral. Any bite or excavation marks by a Parrot fish would disrupt the normal pattern of the valley and ridgedirection. And on M. annularis the septa and caylex are not disrupted in direction, just eroded and depressed. It is not possible that fish could do such damage to miles and miles of coral heads and not be observed? This would have looked like a massive attack by schools of fish! All of the Parrot fish scientists completly out rule RWD the result of Parrot fish grazing. We do see on occasion Parrot fish eat algae, however not deep excavation. I am marking my corals at the early stages or shall I say signs of RWD and following the spread. > Jim Porter and Craig Quirolo, have just found RWD in Florida. They >report that it was completely unlike anything they had ever seen before, >and that it had a distribution and appearance which could not possibly have >been due to parrotfish. The same conclusion has been reached independently >by more than a dozen researchers around the Caribbean, almost all of whom >at first sight thought they were seeing the biggest parrotfish bite of >their lives! > With regard to distribution we now have photographs, histological >samples, and microbial cultures from sites all around the Caribbean (St. >John, Grenada, Tobago, Venezuela, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, Colombia, >Cayman, Mexico, and Florida) with the exception of the central area, >including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. This disease is moving so >rapidly that we urge divers in that area to keep your eyes out for it. We >are afraid that Puerto Rico and other parts of the Central Caribbean will >not be far behind the affected sites all around the sides of the Caribbean. >Once you see it you will have no doubt that it is new. We will pleased to >have you join the group of researchers who have seen it and are tracking >it. Our collective inputs will soon be out on the web, at an url to be >posted here, which will contain photographs and distribution maps of all >the Caribbean reef diseases. Any replys send to cnidaria at earthlink.net, Tom is out in the field! ****************************** James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance 124-19 9th ave, College Point NY 11356 Phone/Fax 718-539-8155 ******************************* From cnidaria at earthlink.net Fri Sep 19 15:36:48 1997 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 12:36:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RWD lecture at WHOI Message-ID: The Posting For Rapid Wasting Disease in Woods Hole The U.S. Geological Survey and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are co-sponsoring a lecture by James M. Cervino, Marine Biologist from the Global Coral Reef Alliance in College Point, New York, on Monday, October 6, 1997, 507 Clark Building, Quissett Campus, at 1:30 p.m. Cervino, who works with Dr. Thomas Goreau, will discuss "The Impact of Rapid Wasting Disease on Coral Reefs of the Caribbean." Mary Ellen Williams U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program Quissett Campus Woods Hole, MA 02543 For Contact Info e-mail James M. Cervino for the details: cnidaria at earthklink.net ****************************** James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance 124-19 9th ave, College Point NY 11356 Phone/Fax 718-539-8155 ******************************* From cnidaria at earthlink.net Fri Sep 19 15:30:09 1997 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 12:30:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Parrotfish, again Message-ID: PARROTFISH AND RWD FROM: T. Goreau, J. Cervino, K. DeMeyer, I. Nagelkerken, R. Hayes, G. Smith, M. Goreau We will be delighted to look at Andy Bruckner's photos, and welcome >the constructive exchange. We have filmed many parrotfish bites that >appeared to be on corals, but on direct inspection of the scars, turned out >to always be on algae patches. RWD is turning the tops of the Montastrea >annularis heads into algal turf patches, and the parrotfish are >specializing in them with gusto because these are the major food resource >available. There is no doubt that they will once in a while nibble at >coral, but this is common only where there is not enough algae (e.g. in >oligotrophic reefs in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, Cayman, and Turks and >Caicos, and until recently, Bonaire). This behaviour is often seasonal >territorial marking on isolated heads by large males. We have always seen >the coral to recover afterwards, without spreading necrosis. This is why we >first evaluated the parrotfish hypothesis at the very start of our work, >and concluded that it was not the cause of RWD. Nor have we seen them >attack edges of Colpophyllia natans tissue, although we have repeatedly >seen them bite algal turf on the dead parts of the colony within a >centimeter of living remnants. The fact is that we are seeing beautiful >Colpophyllia heads hundreds of years old vanish in weeks on a large scale, >and this is certainly new. In the buckets and aquaria : the RWD was on the tops of annularis before I placed it in the tank, and some of the depressions I have are more than an inch. Each ridge and valley on the C. natans is depressed, however it is important to note that if it were Parrot fish, the fish would leave bite marks along the valley and ridge. Just think of the ridge and valley eroded down in size, there is no scraping out of the normal direction of the way the valley and ridge fall or have been originally formed by the coral. Any bite or excavation marks by a Parrot fish would disrupt the normal pattern of the valley and ridgedirection. And on M. annularis the septa and caylex are not disrupted in direction, just eroded and depressed. It is not possible that fish could do such damage to miles and miles of coral heads and not be observed? This would have looked like a massive attack by schools of fish! All of the Parrot fish scientists completly out rule RWD the result of Parrot fish grazing. We do see on occasion Parrot fish eat algae, however not deep excavation. I am marking my corals at the early stages or shall I say signs of RWD and following the spread. > Jim Porter and Craig Quirolo, have just found RWD in Florida. They >report that it was completely unlike anything they had ever seen before, >and that it had a distribution and appearance which could not possibly have >been due to parrotfish. The same conclusion has been reached independently >by more than a dozen researchers around the Caribbean, almost all of whom >at first sight thought they were seeing the biggest parrotfish bite of >their lives! > With regard to distribution we now have photographs, histological >samples, and microbial cultures from sites all around the Caribbean (St. >John, Grenada, Tobago, Venezuela, Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, Colombia, >Cayman, Mexico, and Florida) with the exception of the central area, >including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. This disease is moving so >rapidly that we urge divers in that area to keep your eyes out for it. We >are afraid that Puerto Rico and other parts of the Central Caribbean will >not be far behind the affected sites all around the sides of the Caribbean. >Once you see it you will have no doubt that it is new. We will pleased to >have you join the group of researchers who have seen it and are tracking >it. Our collective inputs will soon be out on the web, at an url to be >posted here, which will contain photographs and distribution maps of all >the Caribbean reef diseases. Any replys send to cnidaria at earthlink.net, Tom is out in the field! ****************************** James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance 124-19 9th ave, College Point NY 11356 Phone/Fax 718-539-8155 ******************************* From jgarzon at santamarta.cetcol.net.co Sat Sep 20 03:41:00 1997 From: jgarzon at santamarta.cetcol.net.co (Jaime Garzon) Date: Sat, 20 Sep 1997 12:41:00 +0500 (GMT) Subject: RWD vs Sparisoma Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970920125948.24872130@santamarta.cetcol.net.co> Dear colleagues: Regarding RAPID WASTING DISEASE (RWD) vs PARROTFISH GRAZING discussion, I would like to share my observations and tell you that I think both Goreau et al. and Bruckners are rigth about the existence of these two agents of coral mortality. Since early 1980's I have studied coral reef organisms in the Colombian Caribbean, and from that time I observed intense coral predation by Sparisoma viride, especially on large Colpophyllia natans coral heads. I saw many times big specimens of this parrotfish removing large portions of the soft upper layer (2-3 cm deep) of living tissue + skeleton of C. natans, as described by the Bruckners ("... in a band, moving methodically across the coral"). The recently exposed large skeleton areas were clean white, and large heads of this coral were totally denuded and superficially eroded within a couple of weeks. On the other hand, while evaluating coral reef health of several Colombian Western Caribbean atolls, we observed RWD since 1994, but it was initially confused with bleaching. On May-June 1995, I realized that "White Patches" (as we named it by then) was a different condition. So we obtained separated data on the incidence and distribution of this new disease only from Roncador atoll, where it was present only at the lagoonal reefs on about 24% of Montastraea annularis (sensu stricto) colonies. This coral is probably the most abundant at this environment there, so the incidence of RWD was considerable. As has been described by Dr. Goreau and colleagues, RWD is characterized by leaving white irregular patches without tissue in the coral surfaces, with a very sharp boundary between the colored living areas and the white dead areas. Nevertheless, I observed these conspicuous "white patches" principally near the margins of living portions of the colonies, and good preserved skeletal surfaces in the recently dead areas. If both RWD and S. viride are causing similar surface erosion of the skeleton while attacking living coral surfaces, it is something that needs to be confirmed and studied in detail. Meanwhile, we have to be very cautious when trying to assign responsability for recently dead eroded areas of coral surfaces. Best regards, Jaime Garzon-Ferreira INVEMAR, Santa Marta, Colombia Jaime Garzon-Ferreira Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras - INVEMAR A.A. 1016, Santa Marta, Colombia (S.America) Tel. (57-54) 214774 or 214775 or 211380 - Fax (57-54) 211377 E-mail: jgarzon at santamarta.cetcol.net.co From rootmur at twics.com Sat Sep 20 23:29:31 1997 From: rootmur at twics.com (Ed & Becky) Date: Sun, 21 Sep 1997 12:29:31 +0900 Subject: Fishes of Chesapeake Bay Message-ID: <3424949B.6AC@twics.com> I wish to announce the publication of a new book, Fishes of Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries form the largest estuary in the United States. The first new work in nearly 70 years on Chesapeake Bay fishes, this guide incorporates updated nomenclature, natural histories, and fisheries information. The book stands as a comprehensive reference to western Atlantic coastal fishes from southern New England to North Carolina not only for ichthyologists and aquatic ecologists but also for fishery managers, Bay enthusiasts, and professional and recreational fishermen. Book title: Fishes of Chesapeake Bay Authors: E.O. Murdy, R.S. Birdsong, and J.A. Musick Year of Publication: 1997 Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN: 1-56098-638-7 Price: USD 49.95 Orders can be placed by calling the SI Press at 800-782-4612 From afdcd1 at UAA.ALASKA.EDU Mon Sep 22 21:05:18 1997 From: afdcd1 at UAA.ALASKA.EDU (Dr. David Duffy) Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 16:05:18 -0900 Subject: EL =?iso-8859-1?Q?Ni=F1o?= update # 4, 22 September 1994 Message-ID: Because of concerns about the growing size of the reports on ENSO 1997, we have moved it to a homepage: http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/~sustain/ENSO.html which is maintained by Peter J. BRYANT , at the the Interdisciplinary Minor in Global Sustainability at the University of California, Irvine. If you wish to receive the report and do not have access to the Web, please let me know, as we will continue to send the report directly to those who request it. From wes at ihe.nl Tue Sep 23 04:51:45 1997 From: wes at ihe.nl (Ineke Wesseling) Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 10:51:45 +0200 (W. Europe Daylight Time) Subject: g.e.petrie?? Message-ID: Sorry to bother all of you. I am trying desperately to find the e-mail address of G.E.Petrie or Peterie at the Cayman Islands. Who can help me out? Thank you very much. Ineke Wesseling E-mail: wes at ihe.nl _________________________ ____ ____ ___________ ______ | I.H.E. - Delft | |_ _||_ _||_ ________| | | Infrastructure | P.O.Box 3015, 2601 DA | || ||____||__||__ | | Hydraulics | DELFT, The Netherlands | _||_ _||_ _||__||____ | | Environment | http://www.ihe.nl | |____||____||___________| |______| `-------------------------' D E L F T From horta at servidor.unam.mx Tue Sep 23 11:19:53 1997 From: horta at servidor.unam.mx (HORTA PUGA GUILLERMOJAVIER) Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 09:19:53 -0600 (CST) Subject: Requesting Diploria Growth Rates Message-ID: Sorry for your time to read this request. I performing some studies to evaluate the population structure of the scleractinian coral Diploria spp. in the Veracruz Reef System (off the Port of Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico). As long as I know there are two articles that recorded growth rates for Diploria spp. (Logan and Tomascik, 1991. Extension growth rates in two coral species from high-latitude reefs of Bermuda. Coral Reefs 10:155-160. And Shen, Boyle and Lea, 1987. Cadmium in corals as atracer of upwelling and industrial fallout. Nature 328:794-796.). The questions are: Do You know some other information about Diploria growth rates or population studies? Thanks in advance for your help. Please answer directly to me. Guillermo Horta-Puga Mailing Address: INVEMAR, UBIPRO, Iztacala Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico AP 314, Tlalnepantla, Mexico 54000 Voice: +52(5)6231219 Fax: +52(5)6231212, 3905900 E-mail: horta at servidor.unam.mx From atinker at u.washington.edu Wed Sep 24 14:49:42 1997 From: atinker at u.washington.edu (Aaron Tinker) Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 11:49:42 -0700 Subject: Troubled Waters Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19970924114942.00687ce8@accessone.com> September, 1997 Scientists Speaking Out for the Sea (Sorry for any cross-postings) When scientists speak with one voice, the media, the public and decision makers pay attention. The time is ripe for scientists to make a public statement on threats to marine biodiversity and the need for action to conserve it. A statement was drafted by Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) and sent to prominent scientists who offered many improvements and signed-on. MCBI is now circulating the Troubled Waters statement for signatures to marine scientists and conservation biologists (senior scientists and scientists-in-training as well); upon gaining 1000 endorsements, Troubled Waters will be released to the media. More than 400 endorsements were gathered at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology in June, and over the past several months hundreds of additional scientists have joined on from over 33 countries and territories! It is hoped that this statement will serve as a ?wake-up call' for the general public and policy makers, and carry the message that significant changes are required in how we treat and manage the oceans. The sooner we can reach our goal the better, as 1998 is the International Year of the Ocean, offering a unique opportunity to raise awareness for marine conservation biology issues. For those who have not had an opportunity to read the statement, please do so and add your name in support (confirming by e-mail to MCBI Program Assistant Aaron Tinker is fine; his address is atinker at u.washington.edu). Please include your NAME, TITLE, and AFFILIATION. Endorsements are considered as representative of the views of experienced individuals, not of their affiliated institutions. A copy of the statement can also be found at MCBI's website: http://www.mcbi.org ******************************************************************** TROUBLED WATERS: A CALL FOR ACTION We, the undersigned marine scientists and conservation biologists, call upon the world's citizens and governments to recognize that the living sea is in trouble and to take decisive action. We must act quickly to stop further severe, irreversible damage to the sea's biological diversity and integrity. Marine ecosystems are home to many phyla that live nowhere else. As vital components of our planet's life support systems, they protect shorelines from flooding, break down wastes, moderate climate and maintain a breathable atmosphere. Marine species provide a livelihood for millions of people, food, medicines, raw materials and recreation for billions, and are intrinsically important. Life in the world's estuaries, coastal waters, enclosed seas and oceans is increasingly threatened by: 1) overexploitation of species, 2) physical alteration of ecosystems, 3) pollution, 4) introduction of alien species, and 5) global atmospheric change. Scientists have documented the extinction of marine species, disappearance of ecosystems and loss of resources worth billions of dollars. Overfishing has eliminated all but a handful of California's white abalones. Swordfish fisheries have collapsed as more boats armed with better technology chase ever fewer fish. Northern right whales have not recovered six decades after their exploitation supposedly ceased. Steller sea lion populations have dwindled as fishing for their food has intensified. Cyanide and dynamite fishing are destroying the world's richest coral reefs. Bottom trawling is scouring continental shelf seabeds from the poles to the tropics. Mangrove forests are vanishing. Logging and farming on hillsides are exposing soils to rains that wash silt into the sea, killing kelps and reef corals. Nutrients from sewage and toxic chemicals from industry are overnourishing and poisoning estuaries, coastal waters and enclosed seas. Millions of seabirds have been oiled, drowned by longlines, and deprived of nesting beaches by development and nest-robbing cats and rats. Alien species introduced intentionally or as stowaways in ships' ballast tanks have become dominant species in marine ecosystems around the world. Reef corals are succumbing to diseases or undergoing mass bleaching in many places. There is no doubt that the sea's biological diversity and integrity are in trouble. To reverse this trend and avert even more widespread harm to marine species and ecosystems, we urge citizens and governments worldwide to take the following five steps: 1. Identify and provide effective protection to all populations of marine species that are significantly depleted or declining, take all measures necessary to allow their recovery, minimize bycatch, end all subsidies that encourage overfishing and ensure that use of marine species is sustainable in perpetuity. 2. Increase the number and effectiveness of marine protected areas so that 20% of Exclusive Economic Zones and the High Seas are protected from threats by the Year 2020. 3. Ameliorate or stop fishing methods that undermine sustainability by harming the habitats of economically valuable marine species and the species they use for food and shelter. 4. Stop physical alteration of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems that harms the sea, minimize pollution discharged at sea or entering the sea from the land, curtail introduction of alien marine species and prevent further atmospheric changes that threaten marine species and ecosystems. 5. Provide sufficient resources to encourage natural and social scientists to undertake marine conservation biology research needed to protect, restore and sustainably use life in the sea. Nothing happening on Earth threatens our security more than the destruction of our living systems. The situation is so serious that leaders and citizens cannot afford to wait even a decade to make major progress toward these goals. To maintain, restore and sustainably use the sea's biological diversity and the essential products and services that it provides, we must act now. **end of statement** A few of the over 400 endorsements gathered include: Jane Lubchenco, Michael Soule, Jim Carlton, Sylvia Earle, Jon Lien, Elliott Norse, Robert Paine, Winston Ponder, Stephen Palumbi, Carl Safina, Paul Dayton, Gary Meffe, John Ogden, Jeff McNeely, Victorin Mallet, Judith and Fred Grassle, George Rabb, Jeff Levinton, Les Watling, Liana and John McManus, Dee Boersma, Les Kaufman, Bruce Robison, Dennis Murphy, Paul Ehrlich, Elizabeth Flint, Julia Parrish, Richard Brusca, Don McAllister, Rod Fujita, Cheryl Ann Butman, Gary Davis, John Terborgh, Ed Bowlby, Joshua Sladek Nowlis, Michelle Paddack, Callum Roberts, Anson Hines, Chris Glass, Monte Hummel, JoAnn Burkholder, Andrew Cohen, Jeremy Jackson, Yuvenaly Zaitsev, Sabine Jessen, Deborah Crouse, Jack Sobel, Robert Spies, Katherine Ralls, Larry Dill, Judith Weis, Nancy Turner, Peter Auster, Michelle Wood, Timothy Werner, Stuart Pimm, Bruce Menge, Marjorie Reaka-Kudla, Bruce Leighty, David Schindler, Jack Williams, Devra Kleiman, Richard Harbison, Shao Kwang-Tsao, Tundi Agardy and many others. From reefchck at uxmail.ust.hk Thu Sep 25 02:27:57 1997 From: reefchck at uxmail.ust.hk (HODGSON GREGOR) Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 14:27:57 +0800 (HKT) Subject: Reef Check Update - September Message-ID: By the end of August, it was clear that we had achieved one of our twin goals of raising public awareness about the value of coral reefs. Reef Check has fired enthusiasm among the public, media, business and governments in all corners of the globe!! But it was not yet clear whether all those teams who had pledged to carry out surveys had actually done so and would send us their data. As of the close of 23 September, we have received data from well over 200 sites around the world. This is more than double our goal. Reef Check has been a real success thanks to the hundreds of individuals who pitched in to help! Together we have proved that a volunteer global reef monitoring program is not only possible -- it is one of the best ways to involve the community in coral reef education and conservation. We are extremely grateful to Reef Check sponsors, and for the thousands of hours of hard work by our volunteer recreational divers, National and Regional Coordinators, Team Leaders, Team Scientists, and the Scientific Advisory Committee. Reef Check 97 field work ended officially on 31 August and we have been racing to process the data both for the press conference and for publication. While Reef Check has been relatively easy to organize by Internet, the distribution of blank data sheets and collection of completed data sheets by means of e-mail and FTP has stretched everyone's ability to mesh gears with modern technology. We, and especially Suzie and Tai here at HQ, appreciate everyone's patience and help in accomplishing this task and the data checking that follows. We are now gearing up for the presentation of summary results to an international press conference here in Hong Kong at 3:00 pm on Thursday 16 October. We expect to get good coverage by CNNI, BBC, CNBC etc. CNN also is planning to use the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Reef Check Team (Ben Haskell et al) for a special segment on "Earth Matters." We would like to encourage each regional and national organizer to carry out their own press conference to help disseminate the results preferably the following day or later in the week. It will be important to involve the Reef Check Teams and Team Leaders in the Press Conference to show that "regular" people care about coral reefs, not just scientists. Note that we will not be in a position to release the full results for some time (it is the unsnarling that takes time). Each team is, of course, free to analyze their data as they like, however, to attain some consistency, we give the following guidelines. Since this is the first year of Reef Check, obviously there is no way to compare results with previous years (unless there are similar data available). For Regional and National Coordinators, bear in mind that the local press is interested in how your results measure up. This can be answered by comparing sites within each country or region -- best and worst, and to discuss what the results mean in relation to what is know about the area. Reporters will not be interested in lots of obscure numbers such as the number of large grouper per square meter. One option is to present total numbers of animals or damage per site and what this means (especially if it is zero). We will be using very simple descriptive statistics e.g. percentage of sites where no lobster were recorded, highest number recorded per site etc. For the press conference we will not use much of the line transect data. We will send out our press release "teaser" invitation several days in advance of our press conference, and then the major release will be handed out to the press on 16 October and distributed to all sites by e-mail. The Press Release will give the results that we will present. The results will allow some simple comparisons to be made among sites. A quick scan of the available results suggests that the situation is worse for target species in many areas than expected. The results will be a wake-up call. Once again we thank all of you who have made Reef Check 97 an impressive success in the International Year of the Reef. As soon as the Press Conference is out of the way, the more detailed scientific analysis will be submitted for publication. Plans are already being formulated for an even bigger and better Reef Check 98! Finally, a hearty thanks to Prof. Robert Ginsburg, who led the way to Reef Check 97. As ususal, if you have questions, please contact Suzie at: -- Gregor Hodgson, PhD Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development Research Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, HONG KONG e-mail: rcgregor at usthk.ust.hk tel: (852) 2358-8568 fax: (852) 2358-1582 Reef Check: http://www.ust.hk/~webrc/reef.html From Michael.S.Roy at pop.zi.ku.dk Thu Sep 25 06:34:32 1997 From: Michael.S.Roy at pop.zi.ku.dk (Michael S. Roy) Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 12:34:32 +0200 Subject: Tourist impact on coral Message-ID: While visiting the Great Barrier Reef at Cairns recently as a tourist, I went on a diving trip organised by a local company. Although the diving was as fantastic as expected (my first time to this reef) I was appalled by the general level of conservation awareness that this particular tour company provided its customers. It appears common practice for companies to offer non divers the opportunity to learn how to dive at the reef. I personally witnessed groups of beginners falling all over corals through lack of bouyancy control, breaking and damaging corals as they went. Our tour guide never once told people to stay away or not to touch the corals, or not to take home souvenirs (although I never witnessed anybody doing this). My question is whether anybody knows the impact tourism has on the Great Barrier Reef and what is the general policy for conservation of the Reef. Is it targeted disturbance to small areas or is it small and widespread disturbance over large areas. Is there any regulation out there at all? The Government has recently introduced a $2 tax for all tourists which our tour operator was quite angry at. Where does this money go? Cheers Mike ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael.S.Roy at pop.zi.ku.dk From Cindy.S.Barger at NWS01.usace.army.mil Thu Sep 25 10:27:12 1997 From: Cindy.S.Barger at NWS01.usace.army.mil (Cindy S Barger) Date: 25 Sep 1997 14:27:12 Z Subject: Tourist impact on coral Message-ID: <01670342A74C000A*/c=us/admd=attmail/prmd=gov+usace/o=NWS01/ou=CENWS-OP-RG/s=Barger/g=Cindy/i=S/@MHS> An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19970925/4a3069bc/attachment.pl From paul.marshall at jcu.edu.au Thu Sep 25 21:21:00 1997 From: paul.marshall at jcu.edu.au (Paul Marshall) Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 11:21:00 +1000 Subject: Effects of Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef Message-ID: <342B0DFB.49EBC6B5@jcu.edu.au> Information on Effects of Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef........ A large amount of research on issues relating to tourism on the Great Barrier Reef is being conducted at the various institutes based in Townsville, Australia (there is also work being done at other Australian Universities). These institutes include James Cook University, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and the Cooperative Research Centre for Ecological Sustainable Development of the Great Barrier Reef (CRC Reef). To find out about research areas of interest, visit the Web sites of these various organisations. WWW links for all these organisations can be found on the Web site of the Australian Coral Reef Society (go to Coral Reef Links) at: http://www.tesag.jcu.edu.au/acrs/ A particularly relevant site is that of the CRC Reef, which can be found at: http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/~crcreef/ For information relating specifically to efforts in eco-tourism and environmental interpretation, see the following report: http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/~crcreef/4news/Exploring/feat12.html Cheers Paul Marshall -- CRC Reef Research Centre Dept of Tropical Environment Studies James Cook University of North Queensland Townsville 4811 QLD Australia Phone: (077) 81 5253 Email: paul.marshall at jcu.edu.au Member of the Australian Coral Reef Society http://www.tesag.jcu.edu.au/acrs From gdjd at cathar.tesag.jcu.edu.au Fri Sep 26 03:24:39 1997 From: gdjd at cathar.tesag.jcu.edu.au (JOHNSTON DAVIDSON) Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997 17:24:39 +1000 Subject: ACRS 75th Anniversary Message-ID: <12E6062521C@cathar.tesag.jcu.edu.au> Dear All, This year not only marks the International Year of the Reef, but also the 75th Anniversary of the Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS), the oldest organisation in the world concerned with the study and protection of coral reefs. To commemorate this anniversary, the Society is holding its annual conference (Oct. 2 - 6) at Heron Island (southern GBR) where the ACRS founded AustraliaAEs first coral reef field research station. For those of you who have fond memories of field work on the GBR and would wish to express best wishes for the future work of the Society, the email address is - ACRS at JCU.EDU.AU. For those of you who have had particularly memorable experiences during the course of working on the GBR (including interactions with the fauna/flora, boating, weather, other scientists, locals, bureaucracy, etc) weAEd love to hear from you (especially if it involves some other unnamed but clearly recognisable character from your scientific peer group!). Observations on interesting behaviour or interactions of fauna would also be welcome. Remember, a good proportion of the eerewardAE you feel for spending so much time researching on coral reefs is reflected in the anecdotes you bring back from the field and share with a few like-minded individuals. These rarely make it into international journals. HereAEs your chance to share with us your personal anecdotes. The intention is for us to present some of your shorter stories at the ACRS Conference (if you can do that with such short notice) and to compile a Web Site eebookletAE of all the responses over the next month. Our web site address is - http://www.tesag.jcu.edu.au/acrs/ Remember, email us at ACRS at JCU.EDU.AU. You can include your story as an attachment (e.g. Word.doc or *.txt). For those of you who would like to know more about the ACRS but have no access to the Internet, youAEll find more information below. We do encourage an international membership and if you would like to join the ACRS, follow the instructions on our web site or email us at the address above. Thank you. The Australian Coral Reef Society Coral Reefs are one of the most complex and poorly understood of ecosystems. Around the world coral reefs are facing increased pressures and in many places they are showing signs of significant degradation. Scientific research on coral reefs is central to the understanding, management and ultimately the protection of these unique systems. The ACRS plays a key role by promoting scientific research on Australian coral reefs. It is a forum for discussion and information transfer among scientists, management agencies and reef-based industries that are committed to ecological sustainability. Because it is not aligned to any vested interests, the Society's views are sought by government policy makers, conservationists and all those interested in coral reefs who need impartial and expert advice. The Society invests in the future by providing financial assistance for Australian post-graduate students. The history of the ACRS The Australian Coral Reef Society is the oldest organisation in the world concerned with the study and protection of coral reefs, and it has played a significant role in the nation's history. The society evolved from the Great Barrier Reef Committee, founded in 1922 to promote research and conservation on the Great Barrier Reef. The committee facilitated the historic 1928-1929 Great Barrier Reef Expedition and it founded, then managed, the Heron Island Research Station - Australia's first coral reef field research station. The ACRS has played a prominent role in bringing major conservation issues to the attention of governments and the general public, notably the crown-of-thorn starfish outbreaks and the Royal Commission into oil drilling on the Great Barrier Reef which was the catalyst for the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. While the Society has historically concentrated on the Great Barrier Reef, its focus has expanded to include all coral reefs in Australian waters, particularly in Western Australia. In changing times, and with the introduction of the concept of ecologically sustainable development, the Society encourages members of management and commercial/industrial communities to join academic researchers in contributing to the scientific knowledge of coral reefs. *************************************************** Johnston Davidson Dept. Tropical Environmental Studies and Geography James Cook University Townsville, QLD 4811 Telephone: 61 77 814325 Fax: 61 77 814020 E-mail: Johnston.Davidson at jcu.edu.au or Gdjd at cathar.tesag.jcu.edu.au "Johnston Davidson" From Ron.Hill at noaa.gov Fri Sep 26 09:34:16 1997 From: Ron.Hill at noaa.gov (Ron Hill) Date: 26 Sep 1997 09:34:16 -0400 Subject: RWD vs Sparisoma Message-ID: <03285342BB9D8013*/c=US/admd=ATTMAIL/prmd=GOV+NOAA/o=CCNMFS/s=Hill/g=Ron/@MHS> Colleagues, I would also like to add some of my own observations into this complex problem (debate) although I have just joined the list-server in the last few days and have not been able to follow the entire debate thus far. While in Puerto Rico (over the last 3-4 years), I also witnessed the chewing of corals by parrotfish (S. viride), as discussed by Jaime Garzon-Ferriera from Columbia. Although the most common occurences I noted were in the shallow forereef crest and the coral species was Acropora palmata. The parrotfish chewed a horizontal strip along the edge of the "branch" about 2-3 cm deep into the skeleton, 5 cm across, and often the entire length of the branch (maybe 50 cm long) on horizontal branches. Another graduate student at UPR told me that this was caused by parrotfish when I initially saw it. I argued with him for more than 6 months, thinking he was sadly mistaken, until I saw it happening myself. I understand that RWD was seen to continue to eat away at the corals after they had been transferred to buckets, was there any evidence that this disease could infect either healthy or physically damaged corals in the bucket, or could spread to healthy areas of the infected coral (by jumping over heathy tissue)? Is there a change in pH under the diseased area, by any chance? This is not uncommon under biofilms in pipelines where the local environment is set up and protected by the biofilm or mucus of bacteria even in very fast flowing systems. Keep up the flow, Ron Hill (recently of UPR-Mayaguez) Sea Grant Fellow National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Habitat Conservation From sister at scf-fs.usc.edu Sun Sep 28 18:39:12 1997 From: sister at scf-fs.usc.edu (chona sister) Date: Sun, 28 Sep 97 15:39:12 PDT Subject: looking for Dr. Rogers' e-mail Message-ID: Hi! Does anybody have Dr. Caroline S. Rogers' e-mail address? I do have her mailing address, but haven't found her e-mail. If you have it, can you possibly forward the address to sister at scf.usc.edu? Thanks very much! chona From korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za Mon Sep 29 07:16:18 1997 From: korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za (Jan Korrubel) Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 13:16:18 +0200 Subject: Full reference required..... Message-ID: Dear CORAL-LIST'ers, Does anybody have the full reference for the partial one I have below: PEARSON, R.G. 1981. Recovery and recolonization of coral reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series **. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Jan Korrubel University of Natal South Africa. From korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za Mon Sep 29 11:04:06 1997 From: korrubelj at math.unp.ac.za (Jan Korrubel) Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 17:04:06 +0200 Subject: Attn: Message for Dr A. KUSHMARO..... Message-ID: Dear Dr Kushmaro, I would like to obtain reprints/copies of the following of your papers: KUSHMARO, A.; LOYA, Y.; FINE, M. & ROSENBERG, E. 1996. Bacterial infection and coral bleaching. Nature 380: 396. KUSHMARO, A., ROSENBERG, E.; FINE, M. & LOYA, Y. 1997. Bleaching of the coral Oculina patagonica by Vibrio Ak-1. Marine Ecology Progress Series 147: 159-165. In addition, if you have any other such papers - dealing with infections of corals - I would like to request copies of those papers too. I look forward to hearing from you Sincerely, Jan Korrubel Department of Applied Mathematics University of Natal Private Bag X01 3209 Scottsville Pietermaritzburg South Africa. From Environmental_Services at compuserve.com Tue Sep 30 00:06:23 1997 From: Environmental_Services at compuserve.com (Anthony J. Hooten) Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 00:06:23 -0400 Subject: Coral Reef Conference Oct 9-11, Washington, D.C. Message-ID: <199709300006_MC2-223F-1370@compuserve.com> Dear Coral Listers: The Environment Family of the World Bank, in cooperation with International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), the Smithsonian Institution, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) will hold a three day Conference on coral reefs associated with the Fifth Annual World Bank Conference on Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development, and the 1997 International Year of the Reef. The Conference is dedicated to the memory of Captain Jacques Yves Cousteau, and will be held at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 10 and 11, 1997. An exhibit accompanying the conference will take place in the Main Complex Atrium and will be on display October 6. It will include videos and interactive computer models, photographs exemplifying sustainable and non-sustainable use of coral reef ecosystems. The World Bank will publish the proceedings of the Conference and may also organize a press Conference to discuss the Conference conclusions and recommendations. The goal of the Conference is to apprise World Bank staff, other development professionals, environmental journalists, and the general public of key issues associated with coral reefs, their degradation, sustainable use options, and conservation. The Conference will provide a framework for discussion of follow-up actions in areas such as sustainable marine enterprise, consumer education and marketing, policy and regulatory frameworks, and examine regional and local strategies to combat coral reef degradation. The Conference will also provide a forum to help set an agenda for the International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposium (ITMEMS), a quadrennial event to be launched in Australia in 1998. The Conference is structured around plenary and working group sessions. The working groups will focus on the themes discussed in the plenary sessions, taking into account regional priorities identified in earlier ICRI Regional Workshops. In the plenary sessions, participants will focus on the following selected themes: 1. Reef Destructive Practices (e.g., dynamite and cyanide fishing; coral mining), vs. Opportunities for Sustainable Reef-based Mariculture (e.g., sustainable production in situ, community-based production) and Low-Impact Extraction (alternative fishing methods/product substitution) 2. Illegal and Unsustainable Trade in Reef Products (e.g., in the live food fish, aquarium and ornamentals trade) vs. Certified Trade and Sustainable Bioprospecting 3. Marine Protected Areas (especially when underrepresented and inadequately managed) vs. Self-financed Marine Management Areas (e.g., through sustainable marine eco-tourism, fisheries stock enhancement, and options for income-generating activities) 4. Marine Information Management and Environmental Education (for example, the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, Reef Check and electronic databases such as ReefBase, FishBase, CoralBase; role of the civil society in information dissemination and public awareness) 5. Economic Valuation of Coral Reefs (this session will provide an overview of analytical tools for strategic decision-making, such as application of cost-benefit analysis and valuation methods for coral reefs) Recognized scientists and practitioners from the field will present overview papers introducing each of the themes. Speakers, panelists and invitees come from a wide range of interest groups to ensure as broad a coverage of the issues as possible. Public participation is welcome; however, registration is required. You can register for this conference on-line at http://www-esd.worldbank.org/coralreef97/registration.shtml. For more information on the Conference, including the Conference Agenda and list of invited panelists, please refer to: http://www-esd.worldbank.org/coralreef97/home.shtml Questions can be e-mailed to Marea Hatziolos at Mhatziolos at Worldbank.org, Martin Fodor at MFodor at Worldbank.org or Andy Hooten at either AHooten at Worldbank.org or Environmental_Services at Compuserve.com. Andy Hooten AJH, Environmental Services 4005 Glenridge Street Kensington, MD 20895-3708 301-942-8839 (V/F) Environmental_Services at Compuserve.com. From GLilley at wwfnet.org Tue Sep 30 01:50:29 1997 From: GLilley at wwfnet.org (Gayatri Lilley) Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 12:50:29 +0700 Subject: potential effects of post-forest fires on marine life, particularly coral reefs Message-ID: An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19970930/58c46d76/attachment.pl