Bleaching in the Florida Keys

[Alina Szmant]

Just when you think you understand the system....

This  week we noticed early signs of recovery of bleached corals at an
inshore patch reef known as the Rocks, where the corals have been SEVERELY
bleached since early June, and where water temperatures over 32 oC were
recorded with a Ryan thermograph.   This has happened about the same time as
corals (same species) have begun to  bleach  (only since mid-late August) at
offshore reef sites such at Little Grecian and Key Largo Dry Rocks.    At
this time, there does not appear to have been much bleaching mortality at
the inshore site despite the prolonged and severe state of bleaching there.   
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Dr. Alina M. Szmant
Coral Reef Research Group
RSMAS-MBF
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy.
Miami FL 33149

TEL: (305)361-4609
FAX: (305)361-4600 or 361-4005
E-mail:  ASZMANT at RSMAS.MIAMI.EDU
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