Coral bleaching in Belize
Melanie McField
Earth.Works at ucb.edu.bz
Tue Sep 26 21:43:00 EDT 1995
Report on Coral Bleaching: Belize Barrier Reef
On 9/23/95 coral bleaching was observed in shallow (0.5 - 1.5 meter) back
reef areas off Sergent's Caye, Central Belize Barrier Reef. In this area,
Millepora complanata was the most frequently observed coral bleached,
partial bleaching was prevalent in Montastrea annularis. The following
species were observed bleaching.
Millepora complanata ( ~30% of live coral bleached )
Millepora alcicornis
Agaricia agricia, f. tenuifolia
Porites porites, f. divaricata
Montastraea annularis (partial bleaching - creamy yellow)
Acropora palmatta ( probably white line disease)
Palythoa caribaeorum ??
This was observed in approximately 20 mins. Of swimming.
Further reports have been recieved from dive guides and marine park
personell along back reefs off northern Ambergris Caye ( as far north as
Xcalac, Mexico) and in central Ambergris Caye, near San Pedro in back
reefs, channels and fore reef( 50 - 70 feet) .
Water temperatures have reportedly been elevated for some time (with temps
of 32 - 34 C in shallow back reef areas)-
Sapodilla Cayes, Southern Barrier Reef: bleaching of
Montastraea, Diploria, Acropora, Millepora, Agaricia,
also noted at Roatan, Honduras, (esp. Montastraea annularis) on 9/25
Field trips are now being organized. Details to follow.
Melanie
Earth.Works at ucb.edu.bz
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