design for bleaching monitoring

[Shauna Slingsby]

Dear coral experts,

I am writing from Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico and have just rejoined the
list serve after a computer crash.  I have unfortunately missed a great deal
of the bleaching discussion.  We are experiencing massive bleaching here and
I would like some advice on how to best document the change and recovery.  

I have spoken with Pto. Morelos marine lab which is located a little north
of us.  I would like to ask for your advice and expertise in designing a
bleaching monitoring program.   Quadrants? Transects?  Size?  Number of
colonies/species?  

I have a rough plan but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Shauna Slingsby
Shauna Slingsby 
Program Director
Akumal Coral Reef Program
Centro Ecologico Akumal
Apdo. Postal #2
Akumal, Quintana Roo
Mexico   77760
tel: +52-987-59095
fax: +52-987-59091
email: oseana at mail.caribe.net.mx
website: http://www.geo.cornell.edu/cea/index.html