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<DIV><FONT size=2>I observed the first pale colonies of
<EM>D.labyrinthiformis</EM>, <EM>Porites </EM>and <EM>Montastraea </EM>last
week. This week, m</FONT>inor bleaching was observed at Turrumote, Pinnacles and
Media Luna reefs of La Parguera. Several colonies of <EM>M.franksi, M.cavernosa,
M.faveolata, M. annularis, P.astreoides, P.porites, C. natans, S.siderea,
M.memorialis, M.meandrites, S.intersepta</EM> and all three Milleporids
(<EM>alcicornis, squarrosa </EM>and <EM>complanata</EM>) showed bleached areas.
I also observed for the first time, completely bleached <EM>Scolymia
cubensis</EM>. Water temperatures are warm but not excesively warm (29 degrees).
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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Bleaching started at about the same time as last
year. Last year few colonies of different species were starting to show
signs of bleaching about two weeks before Hurricane George's hit us. After the
hurricane, bleaching was intense and widespread. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Cheers, </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Dr. Ernesto Weil<BR></FONT><FONT color=#000000
size=2>Depart. of Marine Sciences, UPR<BR>PO BOX 908 Lajas PR 00667<BR>Ph. (787)
899-2048 x. 241<BR>FAX (787) 899-2630/899-5500.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>