[Coral-List] Coral Reef Bleaching Event in San Salvador, Bahamas

Rollino, John John.Rollino at earthtech.com
Wed Nov 30 18:09:22 EST 2005


Coral Reef Bleaching Event in San Salvador, Bahamas

During the week of November 20th, 2005, an Earthwatch Institute Research
Team "The Bahamian Reef Survey" discovered a bleaching event in progress on
patch reefs around San Salvador, Bahamas. The bleaching was evident
primarily on Agaricia sp., Favia fragum, and Porites sp. (finger corals) -
although Porites asteroids, had limited bleaching. Limited bleaching of
Montastrea annularis was also observed; however, many coral heads of this
species displayed significant blanching. Water quality testing showed
physical and chemical parameters were within normal levels at the time.

The Bahamian Reef Survey has collected data since 1992, on the shallow patch
reefs surrounding the Island. This bleaching event is the third bleaching
event documented on San Salvador in that time period. Initially the data
suggest that the bleaching event is similar to a 1995/96 bleaching event in
both scope and affected species. While no proximal cause was found for the
earlier event, it appears that higher than normal sea temperatures have been
involved in precipitating this event.

Cheers,

 

John Rollino

 



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