[Coral-List] Bleached sea anemones and clown fish

[Ruby M Pillay]

Dear Coral-listers
Following the high seawater temperature Mauritius experienced in January/February, many sea anemones in which the endemic fish amphiprion chrysogaster live, have bleached.
The fish are no more seen with their hosts. Could they have left the bleached anemones in search of unbleached ones or could they have been eaten up by predators since the anemones are no more protecting them?? Can these fish survive for long without their hosts?
Thanks


Ruby Moothien Pillay (Ph. D.)
Project Officer (Oceanography)
Mauritius Oceanography Institute
France Centre, Victoria Avenue
Quatre Bornes
Mauritius
Tel: (230) 427-4434
Mobile: (230) 723-8808
Fax:(230) 427-4433
Website: http://moi.gov.mu