Kenya Coast Bleaching

[astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov]

Do not believe this info has yet been posted here:
AES

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Date: Mon, 27 Aug 1956 20:49:11 +0000
From: David Obura <dobura at africaonline.co.ke>
Reply-To: dobura at africaonline.co.ke
To: astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov
Subject: Re: HotSpots -- Tahiti area

Following my message of a few weeks saying there was as yet no coral 
bleaching in Kenya, it has now started!

I'll send slightly more comprehensive description shortly, but the two 
areas so far seen show the following conditions, with water temperatures 
over 32 C, probably for at least 2 weeks.  The northern area apparently 
has greater bleaching, perhaps due to its normally cooler waters under the 
influence of the Somali system upwelling.

Mombasa area - bleaching of individual colonies (Porites, Acropora, 
Pocillopora, Stylophora, Goniopora) and some patchy mortality in Porites 
nigrescens, but all in shallow (0-2 m) lagoon patch reefs, ie. where 
water is stable and well-heated for 3-4 hours a day.  A quick survey in 
deeper water apparently showed no bleaching.

Lamu-Kiunga area (at the Somali border, approx. 80 km of coastline) - 
extensive bleaching of large stands of Acropora and Porites in shallow 
water, with bleaching of Pocillopora, Stylophora, Echinopora, Millepora, 
Montipora, faviids ... you name it.  In some shallow patch reefs over half 
the coral colonies are bleached, and individual colony bleaching was 
common to 15 m on outer reef ledges, in particular Montipora and 
Pocillopora.  However, litle mortality evident, only a few sheltered corals, 
again, Porites nigrescens.
-- 
David Obura

Coral Reef Conservation Project
P.O.BOX 99470, Mombasa, Kenya
Tel: (0254-11) 485570, Fax: 487525
Email: dobura at africaonline.co.ke

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Alan E. Strong