[Coral-List] Coral bleaching at Cape Arhnem, The Northern Territory, Australi a

[Gomelyuk, Victor]

Greeting to everyone,

 

Signs of coral bleaching were found at Cape Arhnem (12o 19' S 136o 56' E),
The Northern Territory, Australia, ~ 30 km from Gove/Nhulunbuy town during
our survey of the area at 1 March 2005. Bleaching (so-called"shallow
bleaching") was probably resulted from series of short coral exposures
during low spring tides in October-December 2004 and in January-February
2005 (Seafarer Tides 2004-2005).  Fortunately, all exposures happened at
mid-afternoon hours between 3:30pm - 5:30pm.

Area bleached is restricted to the reef flat at the depth 0.5-2 m with
extremely rich coral reefs (chiefly Acropora spp, such as A. chytherea,
A.grandis, A. microphhtalmata, A. hyacinthus.   From 15 to 25% of coral
colonies still have some marks of bleaching during our survey at 1 of March
2005.

Corals were found in the state of recovery and no mortality as a result of
bleaching has been recorded.

 

 

 

Dr Victor Gomelyuk

Parks & Wildlife Service of the Northern Territory

PO Box 496 

PALMERSTON

0831

NT

ph: 08 89994820

fax: 08 89994793