From anya at emu.usyd.edu.au Wed Apr 1 09:04:22 1998 From: anya at emu.usyd.edu.au (Anya Salih) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:04:22 GMT Subject: bleaching on GBR Message-ID: <199804011404.OAA29664@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Re: More on bleaching on Great Barrier Reef Between 1-14 March, I was able to join one of the GBRMPA crown-of-thorn starfish survey cruises to GBR mid-shelf reefs, between Cairns and Innisfail. At each visited reef I made video and coral spp cover/bleaching-condition transects, which I'm now analysing. Briefly, the coral bleaching situation on these reefs was as follows: - Seawater temperatures (taken in 7-15 m of water at backreef moorings) was 27C to 30C, and mostly 30C throughout the day. - A variable degree of bleaching was recorded on all reefs; was most pronounced in shallower water, on reef flats and reef tops (1-3m depth); and extended to 15m and possibly deeper. The degree of bleaching (complete vs partial) and the numbers of spp affected, sharply declined with depth. At shallow depths almost all corals had some degree of bleaching and many were completely bleached. Deeper (below 2m depth), bleaching was more pronounced on unshaded coral surfaces while undersides of branches and other shaded colony parts were still pigmented. This indicates that solar radiation such as high PAR (and possibly PAR+UV or UV) played a role in this mass bleaching episode. - Bleaching was generally less severe in front-reef rather than back-reef zones. - The degree of bleaching on the 5 surveyed reefs (in a line approx 100 km) was variable: 1.The northern-most reef surveyed, Elford Reef (at approx. 35km from shore), was moderately bleached, with most corals showing partial rather than full bleaching; 2.Coates Reef,in the middle of that line of reefs (and about 43 km from Mulgrave and Russel Rivers) was the most affected, with approximately 90% bleaching on reef tops and reef edges; and 60-70% on upper slope in backreef areas and approx. 70% bleaching of reef top corals in reef-front areas. 3. Hedley Reef, close to Coates reef (and approx 50km from mainland), less than 60% bleaching. 4. About 30 km south and approx. 42km from the mainland, Cayley Reef was severely bleached on reef tops to 3m depth (approx. 80% of corals partially or fully bleached) and less severely bleached on slopes, with many Pocillopora damicornis and Porites bommies remaining unbleached. 5. Feather Reef, (about 33 km from Johnstone River) - mostly only partial bleaching of corals in shallower depths and only a few spp with complete bleaching (P. damicornis and S. hystrix); and relatively little bleaching on slopes. - Some rough estimates of bleaching susceptibilities of some spp: P. damicornis, S. hystrix and S. pistillata were the mOst affected species, (70-100% fully bleached); less so, but also strongly bleached (60-90%) were tabular (A. hyacinthus group) and digital (A. humulis group) acroporiids; faviids were 50-90% bleached in shallow reef areas and less than 40% on slopes; massive Porites were only partially bleached, with many unbleached, while approx. 70% of encrusting poritiids (P.lichen, P. annae) were fully bleached; very fleshy corals were least affected, e.g. Symphyllia spp less than 5% bleached. - Bleaching appeared to be induced by combined effects of elevated temperature and solar radiation. Low salinity, caused by heavy rainfalls a few weeks prior to the onset of bleaching, may have contributed to stress, particularly on inner-shore reefs, but seems unlikely to be the main cause of bleaching on mid-shelf reefs. regards Anya PLEASE NOTE MY SLIGHT CHANGE IN EMAIL ADDRESS - NOW anya at emu.usyd.edu.au Anya Salih Internet: anya at emu.usyd.edu.au Marine Physiology Lab Telephone:02-93513006 (Zool) Zoology AO8 02-93517540 (EMU) School of Biological Sciences Facsimile:02-93517682 The University of Sydney Sydney, 2006, AUSTRALIA From eakin at ogp.noaa.gov Wed Apr 1 09:55:49 1998 From: eakin at ogp.noaa.gov (Mark Eakin) Date: 1 Apr 1998 09:55:49 U Subject: Coral Bleaching in Panama Message-ID: Subject: Time: 6:09 AM Coral Bleaching in Panama Date: 4/1/98 El Nino Related Coral Bleaching in Panama On a recent research cruise in Panama, a group of scientists from the University of Miami's Marine Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observed coral bleaching in the waters off the Pacific coast of Panama. El Nino related temperature anomalies greater than one degree C are continuing along the Panama coast. In Panama's Gulf of Chiriqui region, bleaching was seen in almost all species of corals present. At six sites, including reefs at Uva Island and the Secas Islands that have been part of long term studies, 50% to almost 90% of corals had experienced at least partial bleaching. Most species were partially bleached with most bleaching on the upper surfaces of colonies. This was the second wave of bleaching, following earlier bleaching seen in the Fall of 1997. However, bleaching is not as severe as it was observed in 1983. Sea surface temperatures in the area are currently 29 to 31 degrees C, nearly a degree and a half warmer than normal. Data from temperature monitors on the reefs indicate that elevated temperatures have existed periodically since mid-summer 1997. These agree with observations from NOAA satellite and blended sea surface temperature data. Corals from this area begin to bleach when temperatures are maintained above 29 degrees C. While we suspect that the bleaching extends north into areas off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, we know of no one that has made observations to test this. Images of weekly and monthly sea surface temperatures in the area from Costa Rica to the Galapagos can be found at: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/misc/coral/oisst/ Cheers, Mark __________________________________________________________ C. Mark Eakin, Ph.D. NOAA/Global Programs, 1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 1210 Silver Spring, MD USA 20910-5603 Voice: 301-427-2089 ext. 19 Fax: 301-427-2073 Internet: eakin at ogp.noaa.gov Check out the El Nino at http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/enso From gcarter at orf.org Wed Apr 1 15:15:46 1998 From: gcarter at orf.org (Greg Carter) Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 12:15:46 -0800 Subject: Cabo Pulmo Message-ID: <3522A072.BC34A4BA@orf.org> Greetings, 1) Does anyone have any information about coral spawning at the Cabo Pulmo reef in the Sea of Cortez (Baja California peninsula)? Past events, frequency, time of year, etc. 2) Would anyone be interested in posting a short current article (previously published or otherwise) with photos on coral research to the tecnical page of the Oceanic Resource Foundation website? Bleaching, disease, spawning, etc. Cheers, Greg -- Greg L. Carter Oceanic Resource Foundation gcarter at orf.org Celebrate the Year of the Ocean 1998 http://www.orf.org From aocjd at mail.wizard.net Wed Apr 1 11:00:27 1998 From: aocjd at mail.wizard.net (Jennifer Dianto) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 16:00:27 +0000 Subject: Info request Message-ID: <199804012057.PAA24529@radagast.wizard.net> Attention Coral-List members: The American Oceans Campaign is requesting your assistance to contribute any reports, resources, brochures, curricula, posters, etc. regarding fish habitat conservation. AOC, a national environmental organization dedicated to the protection of the marine environment, is launching an extensive public education campaign to enhance fish conservation efforts. The outreach program will work to coordinate the efforts of conservation groups, government agencies, marine educators, and other interested parties to develop an educational resource warehouse to enable increased public awareness regarding the following major themes: Fish habitats are in danger Habitats are vital links to a healthy marine ecosystem Our actions impact these delicate habitats We can take action to protect and restore fish habitat AOC's Fisheries Outreach Program aims to compile materials relative to these themes into a vast database to create a Fish Habitat Web Site that will serve as a clearinghouse of materials and information for public accessibility. Please contact us for more information: Jennifer Dianto, Fisheries Outreach Coordinator American Oceans Campaign 201 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Suite C-3 Washington, D.C. 20002 Email: aocjd at wizard.net Phone: (202) 544-3526 Fax: (202) 544-5625 From edlocruz at biologia.univalle.edu.co Wed Apr 1 05:49:54 1998 From: edlocruz at biologia.univalle.edu.co (Edgardo L. Cruz) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 15:49:54 +0500 (GMT) Subject: Scleroseptum In-Reply-To: Message-ID: On Wed, 1 Apr 1998, Edgardo L. Cruz wrote: Dear All Does anybody know which part of the polip secrete the scleroseptum? and How many years can a single polip live?. Thanks everyone. ****************************************** Edgardo Londono Cruz Biologo (Biologia Marina) Maestria Ciencias Biologicas Universidad del Valle Cali. Colombia e-mail: edlocruz at biomarina.univalle.edu.co Interest: Coral Reefs and Rocky Shores Ecology Mollusks. ****************************************** BBB I OO L OO GGG I SSS TTTTT B B I O O L O O G I S T BBB I O O L O O G GG I SSS T B B I O O L O O G G I S T BBB I OO LLLL OO GGG I SSS T From K.FABRICIUS at email.aims.gov.au Wed Apr 1 20:09:00 1998 From: K.FABRICIUS at email.aims.gov.au (KATHARINA FABRICIUS) Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 11:09:00 +1000 Subject: extensive bleaching of soft corals on near-shore reefs of the GBR Message-ID: <199804021142.LAA03014@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Dear coral listers, In response to Goetz Reinicke's question: Soft corals have experienced extensive bleaching on the near-shore reefs of the central Great Barrier Reef. Affected are almost all zooxanthellate orders and families (Briareum is one exception), but the taxa show varying degree of susceptibility. Many near-shore areas are 100% bleached within the upper 5 m, and ~ 20% bleaching is still observed at 8 - 12 m depth. The rate of mortality is high even among otherwise very persistant alcyonacean taxa (such as Sinularia). We are about to conduct a 2-weeks AIMS survey to determine the extent of bleaching on the central GBR, as well as species-specific and habitat-specific susceptibility in soft corals to bleaching. Results should be available in a month time. Regards, Katharina Fabricius -------------------------------- Goetz Reinicke wrote: Dear list members and bleaching observers, Has anyone of you observed Bleaching in Alcyonacean (soft and gorgonian corals) during the various recent events reported ? I haven't noticed any mention in the reports on the list during last 2 years. The only note in my hand is P. Glynn's (1993) report in Coral Reefs 12: 1-18, showing a photograph of bleached Erythropodium caribaeorum from Florida. However, many of the reef dwelling alcyonacean species are in fact zooxanthellate, many soft corals in particular. No Bleaching observed or reported to date from the Indo-Pacific ? Does it mean that it doesn't occur ? Or does it reflect limited attention payed to this group ? Goetz Reinicke ______________________________________________________________________ Dr. Katharina Fabricius Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), CRC for the Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Great Barrier Reef Postal address: AIMS, PMB No 3, Townsville MC Qld 4810, Australia Fax: (+ 61) 7 47725852, Phone: (+61) 7 47534412 Email: k.fabricius at email.aims.gov.au Web: http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/~crcreef/4news/Exploring/feat18.html From astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov Thu Apr 2 13:15:35 1998 From: astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov (astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 13:15:35 -0500 Subject: Kenya Coast Bleaching Message-ID: <199804021815.NAA15196@orbit8i.nesdis.noaa.gov> Do not believe this info has yet been posted here: AES <---- Begin Forwarded Message ----> Date: Mon, 27 Aug 1956 20:49:11 +0000 From: David Obura Reply-To: dobura at africaonline.co.ke To: astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov Subject: Re: HotSpots -- Tahiti area Following my message of a few weeks saying there was as yet no coral bleaching in Kenya, it has now started! I'll send slightly more comprehensive description shortly, but the two areas so far seen show the following conditions, with water temperatures over 32 C, probably for at least 2 weeks. The northern area apparently has greater bleaching, perhaps due to its normally cooler waters under the influence of the Somali system upwelling. Mombasa area - bleaching of individual colonies (Porites, Acropora, Pocillopora, Stylophora, Goniopora) and some patchy mortality in Porites nigrescens, but all in shallow (0-2 m) lagoon patch reefs, ie. where water is stable and well-heated for 3-4 hours a day. A quick survey in deeper water apparently showed no bleaching. Lamu-Kiunga area (at the Somali border, approx. 80 km of coastline) - extensive bleaching of large stands of Acropora and Porites in shallow water, with bleaching of Pocillopora, Stylophora, Echinopora, Millepora, Montipora, faviids ... you name it. In some shallow patch reefs over half the coral colonies are bleached, and individual colony bleaching was common to 15 m on outer reef ledges, in particular Montipora and Pocillopora. However, litle mortality evident, only a few sheltered corals, again, Porites nigrescens. -- David Obura Coral Reef Conservation Project P.O.BOX 99470, Mombasa, Kenya Tel: (0254-11) 485570, Fax: 487525 Email: dobura at africaonline.co.ke <---- End Forwarded Message ----> **** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ***** Alan E. Strong From hendee at aoml.noaa.gov Fri Apr 3 10:50:05 1998 From: hendee at aoml.noaa.gov (Jim Hendee) Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 10:50:05 -0500 (EST) Subject: Program Coordinator position opening Message-ID: My apologies for cross posting. This message regards a position announcement for a Program Coordinator for the Florida Bay Interagency Program Management Committee. For those of you who are interested, please see http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/flbay/. Click on the button located on the lower right corner of the page to read the announcement. Please respond to Dr. Tom Armentano (Tom_Armentano at nps.gov; phone 305 242-7801), not to me, since I have no further information. Cheers, Jim Hendee ---------------------------------------------------- James C. Hendee Ocean Chemistry Division Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, FL 33149-1026 Voice: (305) 361-4396 Fax: (305) 361-4392 Email: hendee at aoml.noaa.gov Web: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/ocd From dobura at africaonline.co.ke Sat Apr 4 04:00:35 1998 From: dobura at africaonline.co.ke (David Obura) Date: Sat, 04 Apr 1998 09:00:35 +0000 Subject: Bleaching of non-hard corals Message-ID: <3525F6B3.634C@africaonline.co.ke> Extensive bleaching is also underway among alcyonaceans and anemones on Kenyan reefs that are showing hard coral bleaching. Genera in the former group include Sinularia and Alcyonium, and in fact I tend to see more sporadic and patchy bleaching, and mucus sheaths w. trapped sediment, in these than in hard corals. Anemones bleach less frequently, though extensive stands of Heteractis (large anemone w. anemone-fish) can be found v. bleached. These notes from Mombasa and Lamu-Kiunga area, bleaching in the last 2 weeks. -- David Obura Coral Reef Conservation Project P.O.BOX 99470, Mombasa, Kenya Tel: (0254-11) 485570, Fax: 487525 Email: dobura at africaonline.co.ke From guillaum at cimrs1.mnhn.fr Sun Apr 5 12:17:40 1998 From: guillaum at cimrs1.mnhn.fr (Mireille Guillaume) Date: Sun, 5 Apr 1998 17:17:40 +0100 Subject: Soft coral bleaching Message-ID: Dear coral listers, In response to Goetz Reinicke's question concerning bleaching in Alcyonacean : During a short survey in 1993, we observed a limited bleaching event concerning mainly stony corals but also some soft corals only belonging to the genus Sinularia, on shallow fringing reefs located to the North of Great Hanish Island (Southern Red Sea). Regards Mireille Guillaume Dr. Mireille GUILLAUME Curator of the Stony Coral Collection Mus?um National d'Histoire Naturelle Laboratoire de Biologie des Invert?br?s marins et Malacologie 55 rue Buffon 75005 Paris FRANCE Until April, 9th : Tel : 00 33 (0)1 40 79 30 90 Fax : 00 33 (0)1 40 79 30 89 E-mail : >From April, 10th to May, 31st : Tel/Fax only : 00 291 1 12 23 57 From C.Wilkinson at aims.gov.au Sun Apr 5 20:06:35 1998 From: C.Wilkinson at aims.gov.au (Clive Wilkinson) Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 10:06:35 +1000 Subject: Law, Economics, Politics and Reef Conservation Message-ID: <2.2.32.19980406000635.00702c48@email.aims.gov.au> Calling on Lawyers, Economists, Policy Makers, Politicians, Social Scientists A major theme of the World Bank coral reef meeting last October was the need to involve other disciplines in reef conservation. Dr Ismail Serageldin, a Bank Vice President, stressed this and I asked for lawyers, economists, policy makers etc. to join an informal grouping of such professionals. Some in the audience volunteered immediately. This is a call to people from those disciplines to join an e-mail list, probably attached to coral-list, to provide advice for coral reef managers and scientists on conservation measures. Advice required will vary from a response to a basic question of law, economics or politics, to becoming involved in project teams to advise governments or plan MPAs, possibly requiring time in the field. I cannot say until we have tested the waters. This will be a people resource listing and should be self regulating, with those on the list determining the nature of appropriate enquiries, the limit of personal involvement etc. How it is managed should be decided by those subscribing. Please pass this to those not on coral-list who may be interested. Reply to my address and I will compile the answers for a later list posting. Please indicate whether you are willing to assist in list coordination. Thank you ~~><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ~~~ <>< <>< <>< <>< <><~~ Clive Wilkinson, Coordinator Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network c/o Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No. 3, TOWNSVILLE QLD 4810 AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 7 4772 4314; Fax: +61 7 4772 2808 or 4772 5852 ~~<>< <>< <>< <>< <><~~~~~><> ><> ><> ><> ><>~~ From davidwa at gbrmpa.gov.au Sun Apr 5 22:23:43 1998 From: davidwa at gbrmpa.gov.au (David Wachenfeld) Date: Mon, 06 Apr 1998 12:23:43 +1000 Subject: Bleaching in Alcyonaceans ? References: <199804011533.PAA00065@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Message-ID: <35283CAF.6A200DEF@gbrmpa.gov.au> Hi Goetz Yes. There is a great deal of soft coral bleaching and associated mortality here in the GBR. Notably, Sarcophyton, Sinularia and Lobophytum. There are biologists from James Cook University and Australian Institute of Marine Science currently surveying the extent of soft coral bleaching. If you email me privately, I will give you their email addresses so you can get more detailed information if you would like. Cheers, David -- Dr David Wachenfeld Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority PO Box 1379 Townsville Qld 4810 Australia Tel +61 7 4750 0896 Fax +61 7 4772 6093 d.wachenfeld at gbrmpa.gov.au http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au From caricomp at santamarta.cetcol.net.co Mon Apr 6 02:06:17 1998 From: caricomp at santamarta.cetcol.net.co (Caricomp - Invemar Colombia) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 11:06:17 +0500 (GMT) Subject: An address Message-ID: I'm looking for the E-mail address of Dr. Raymond L. Hayes. Does anybody can help me with this? Thanks a lot. Diego L. Gil From saiuj at ncll.com Wed Apr 1 15:57:09 1998 From: saiuj at ncll.com (saiuj at ncll.com) Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:57:09 -0600 Subject: marine conservation Message-ID: <199804071349.NAA18152@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> > >I would like to let you know that I am working for the marine conservation >specially for marine turtles and the corals around the offshore island St. >Martin's of Bangladesh. It is a very small island in the Bay of Bengal. You >can the map in big size just at the southern tip of teknaf peninsula. Very >rich in coral and other related flora and fauna. But mostly overexploited >due to illiterate people along with the turtles eggs. We started the program >in 1996. But severe difficulties due to shortage of fundings. I am doing the >job without salary for several months. Just for the interest of nature >saving tasks I am doing so. >Besides, due to lack of educational materials and other documentary >materials it going to extreme difficulties day by day, as people do not >understand what really nature is and what it shold be as. We have no scuba >diving equipment. I was enthusiastic initially for the job but If due to >lack of materials what could I do in the best. So if you can help me please >inform me what sort of cooperation. >I prefer #you manage educational materials of marine resources (I will >translate them into Bangla for the local people); # send some video >documentary of underwater world for peoples understanding; # It will be more >helpful for me if you provide me an opportunity to get in some sort of >training in marine conservation any where you like that I can apply my >experience here in our country resources conservation. I hope you will >decide in the best way to help me and the environment. >Looking forward to hearing from you. > >Sincerely yours >Mohammad Zahirul Islam >Marine Conservation Program >House no 15/22, Munshi bari >South Sortha, Comilla 3500 >BANGLADESH. > From jogden at seas.marine.usf.edu Tue Apr 7 13:13:34 1998 From: jogden at seas.marine.usf.edu (John Ogden) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 13:13:34 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Coral pathogen Message-ID: <199804071848.SAA19049@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Check Dr. Laurie Richardson (Florida International University) et al.'s letter ("Florida's mystery coral-killer identified") in this week's Nature on identification of a coral pathogen and proving Koch's Postulates. Bravo! This is one of only a very few times that this sort of thing has been done, but it is the path that we must take if we are ever to understand coral diseases. John C. Ogden Director Phone: 813/553-1100 Florida Institute of Oceanography Fax: 813/553-1109 830 First Street South St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 From tissot at hawaii.edu Tue Apr 7 19:25:02 1998 From: tissot at hawaii.edu (Brian N. Tissot) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 13:25:02 -1000 Subject: RFP Hawai`i Coral Reef Initiative Research Program Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980407132502.00a89a60@128.171.3.53> I apologize for any cross-postings. Please contact Dr. Michael Hamnett, (808) 956-2884 or hamnett at hawaii.edu if you have questions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hawai`i Coral Reef Initiative Research Program Request for Pre-Proposals Congress has appropriated $500,000 for the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative Research Program through NOAA?s National Ocean Service. NOS and Senator Inouye?s office have asked the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research of the University of Hawaii to develop an integrated program that includes projects or program elements focusing on: 1. Monitoring and assessment of coral reefs in the Hawaiian Islands to improve (coral reef ecosystem) management capabilities; and/or 2. Scientific studies of the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems to improve such capabilities. Pre-proposals are being solicited from university faculty and private sector and non-profit organizations for projects to be considered for funding through this program. Pre-proposals must be submitted by April 19, 1998. Pre-proposals will be reviewed by an advisory committee to the CRI Research Program being convened by the UH Office of the Senior Vice President for Research. Individuals and organizations submitting pre-proposals that are favorably reviewed will be asked to submit full proposals by May 13, 1998. In some cases, individuals and organizations that submit favorably-reviewed pre-proposals may be asked to jointly submit full proposals with other organizations and individuals. Full proposals will be peer reviewed prior to submissions of a funding request to the National Ocean Service on June 1, 1998. It is anticipated that three to five program elements or projects will be funded under this program by September 30, 1998. Priority will be given to integrated, interdisciplinary monitoring, assessment, and research activities or activities that make the results of previous work useful and available to researchers and resource managers. Priority will also be given to projects or program elements that can be completed in twelve to eighteen months and contain a significant amount of cost-sharing. Additional projects and program activities will be supported under this program in the future if funds are appropriated by the Congress. However, projects or program elements proposed in response to this request must be completed with funds granted during this funding cycle. Projects and program elements funded through future appropriations may include follow-on activities and monitoring activities recommended by the coral reef ecosystem monitoring workshop being co-sponsored by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the East-West Center, June 9-11, 1998. Suggestions for activities to be considered for funding under this program are contained in the record of a meeting held on April 1, 1998 in Senator Inouye?s office. However, no funding priorities within the general parameters of the program have been determined and those who wish to propose projects or program elements not raised at that meeting are encouraged to do so. Pre-proposals should be submitted to Dr. Michael Hamnett, Director, Social Science Research Institute, Porteus Hall, Room 704, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. Pre-proposals can be faxed to (808) 956-2884 or sent by e-mail to hamnett at hawaii.edu. Pre-proposals must include a narrative and curriculum vita(e) of the principal investigator(s). Pre-proposal narratives of three pages or less must include the following elements: (1) a brief description of the problem to be addressed by the project, (2) purpose or objectives of the project, (3) approach and methods to be used, (4) anticipated outcomes or results, (5) how the outcomes or results will contribute to improvements in coral reef ecosystem management capability, and (6) a budget that includes cost to be funded from the program and cost-sharing. Curriculum vitae must be two pages or less. Pre-proposals must be received by April 19, 1998. ================================================== BRIAN TISSOT Associate Professor of Marine Biology Director, Kalakaua Marine Education Center Chair, Marine Science Department University of Hawaii at Hilo 200 West Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720-4091 Ph: 808-974-7383; FAX: 808-974-7693 E-mail: Tissot at Hawaii.edu Web: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~tissot/ http://www.coralreefs.hawaii.edu ================================================== From owner-coral-list at aoml.noaa.gov Wed Apr 8 11:21:00 1998 From: owner-coral-list at aoml.noaa.gov (owner-coral-list at aoml.noaa.gov) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 15:21:00 GMT Subject: No subject Message-ID: <199804081521.PAA22117@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 07:18:40 +0800 (SGT) From: Harinder Rai singh To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: Re: corals and impacts Sender: owner-coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Precedence: bulk Dear Sir/Madam/Dr., I am looking for information on the impacts of coastal power plants on corals, fisheries, benthos and plankton. I will appreciate any form of help from your organization in the form of reprints, reports, lit. citation, further contacts. Thank you. sincerely Harinder Rai Singh ADP-PPP, ITM Section 17 40200 Shah Alam Malaysia From coral at aoml.noaa.gov Wed Apr 8 11:18:03 1998 From: coral at aoml.noaa.gov (Coral Health and Monitoring Program) Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 11:18:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: BBC Natural History Unit RADIO (fwd) Message-ID: Dear Coral-Listers, I received the following message, which some of you may be able to answer by responding directly to Sandra (sandra.sykes at bbc.co.uk). The message concerns the effects of El Nino on coral reefs. I have already given her some input, as regards who to contact in NOAA, but defer to your decision as to whether or not you want to contact her. Please respond directly to Sandra at sandra.sykes at bbc.co.uk, not to coral at coral.aoml.noaa.gov. Cheers, Jim Hendee ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 14:11:57 +0000 From: sandra.sykes at bbc.co.uk To: hendee at aoml.noaa.gov Subject: BBC Natural History Unit RADIO Dear Jim Hendee, I have been given your name by Alastair Harborne of the Coral Cay Foundation. I hope you don't mind me contacting you like this but we are currently working on a radio special about the effects of EL NINO on wildlife to go on air in the sumer. Our presenter, Julian Pettifer has travelled to Peru, Panama ( end of 1997) and Zimbabwe (February 1998) and has brought back first hand reports from these areas. I am wondering if you have up to date information about the effects of El Nino on coral reef health - and in particular who in various parts of the world would be best to contact. I have looked at several of your web pages but it is not obvious who are the key people to get in touch with. In addition to effects on coral we are also keen to get up to date information from around the globe about the effects of El Nino on wildlife generally. . We are keen to know about specefic animals, either land or marine that have been affected and to speak to someone who could give us up to date and accurate information as to what has happened to numbers this year and what they're predicting for next. eg The National Marine Mammal Laboratory are certainly doing work on effects of El Nino on fur seals and sea lions However I wondered if you knew of other key centres of study and do you any suggestions of who to contact? I am sorry to add more to your busy schedule, but I would very much appreciate your thoughts and very much look forward to hearing from you. It may be I should be contacting a press officer for the infromation that is not related to coral reefs. If so who is that person? With every good wish, Sandra Sykes Producer BBC NaturalHistory Unit Radio Broadcasting House, Bristol, England, UK Tel 00 44 117 974 6678 Fax 00 44 117 923 8174 e-mail : sandra.sykes @ bbc .co.uk From osha at pobox.com Wed Apr 8 16:26:56 1998 From: osha at pobox.com (Osha Gray Davidson) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 1998 15:26:56 -0500 Subject: Bolca fishes Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980408152656.006d7314@soli.inav.net> With the usual apologies for cross-listings: I'm interested in contacting researchers who are currently using, or have recently used, specimens from the Bolca fish fossils in their work. (Or if you know of someone working with them, please either let ME know or let THEM know I'm interested and they can contact me by E-Mail.) Thanks in advance for the help, Osha Osha Gray Davidson 14 South Governor St. Iowa City, IA 52240 USA Ph: 319-338-4778 Fax: 319-338-8606 osha at pobox.com Scholar Affiliate, University of Iowa From reefnet at cerf.net Thu Apr 9 15:55:45 1998 From: reefnet at cerf.net (reefnet at cerf.net) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1998 12:55:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: new issue of Reefnet Message-ID: Announcing the 6th issue of Reefnet: http://www.reefnet.org REEF RESEARCH Anticancer Activity in Marine Organisms Dr. Valerie Paul Discovers the Virtues of Blue Green Algae on Guam's Reefs NGO NEWS The Nature Conservancy at Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea Shannon Seeto Reports on the Mahonia Na Dari Research and Conservation Center CONSERVATION STRATEGIES South of the Philippines, East of Kalimantan and West of the Malukus Brian Crawford Reports from Manado From coral at aoml.noaa.gov Fri Apr 10 08:16:25 1998 From: coral at aoml.noaa.gov (Coral Health and Monitoring Program) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 08:16:25 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Biological Invasions Journal Message-ID: This message, forwarded from the marbio listserver, may be of interest to some of you. Sorry if you got this already. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 06:39:20 -0400 From: "James T. Carlton" Subject: marbio: Biological Invasions (a new journal): Call For Papers Apologies for cross-postings, but a great many folks are on only one of these lists. Papers are now being accepted for the new journal BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS, to be published by Kluwer Academic Publishers (Netherlands). The Editorial Board includes James Carlton (Editor), Ted Case, Mick Clout, Bruce Coblentz, James Drake, Henri Dumont, Bella Galil, Francesca Gherardi, Peter Kareiva, Mark Lonsdale, Richard Mack, Harold Mooney, Peter Moyle, Petr Pysek, Maria Ribera, David Richardson, Daniel Simberloff, Ronald Thresher, Jeff Waage and Mark Williamson. BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS seeks to publish research papers from many disciplines, and we hope to achieve a broad representation from work done in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial systems. Research papers are welcome on the patterns and processes of biological invasions (including both human-mediated introductions and natural range expansions), the ecological consequences of invasions in terms of both interspecific interactions as well as alterations to community and ecosystem structure (such as energy flow modifications, biodiversity, and invasion-mediated extinction), the factors that influence inoculation, establishment, and persistence of invasions and the mechanisms that control the abundance and distribution of invasions. Papers are further encouraged on biogeography, invasion genetics, dispersal vectors, the evolutionary consequences of invasions, and analytical syntheses and overviews of invasive biotas. Also of interest are papers on the theoretical bases of biocontrol, and the release of genetically modified organisms, as these disciplines illuminate the science of biological invasions. Scholarly papers on management and policy issues as they relate to conservation programs and the global prevention or control of invasions are invited as well. Please note that, relative to biocontrol, a new journal (BIOCONTROL) is also being established by Kluwer, under the editorship of Jeff Waage. The Editor and the members of the Editorial Board will also consider proposals for devoting special issues, or a special section of an issue, to papers resulting from conferences or workshops on invasions. We also intend to have a section on "Research Notes", facilitating rapid publication of short papers on topics such as new techniques, the recording of remarkable new invasions, and so forth. The cover of the journal, which will begin as a quarterly, will have with each issue a new photograph (black-and-white, at the moment, unless funds are available for color production from the authors or their institutions) and thus provide an opportunity for workers to submit cover photos for each issues. There are no page charges, and the first 75 reprints are free. For Instructions to Authors, further technical information about the journal, and a free sample copy (available by December 1998 -- January 1999) please contact: Dr. Rene Mijs Kluwer Academic Publishers Dordrecht, The Netherlands email: rene.mijs at wkap.nl Please submit manuscripts to: Journal Editorial Office: Biological Invasions Kluwer Academic Publishers P. O. Box 990 3300 AZ Dordrecht The Netherlands For information about the scope of the journal and the suitability and types of papers being sought please contact me (address below). We are looking forward to a successful and we think very timely journal! Thank you, and my apologies again for multiple postings. James T. Carlton Editor-in-Chief, Biological Invasions Williams College -- Mystic Seaport P. O. Box 6000, 75 Greenmanville Avenue Mystic, Connecticut 06355 U.S.A. email: jcarlton at williams.edu telephone: 860 572 5359 From 106422.2221 at compuserve.com Mon Apr 13 06:23:47 1998 From: 106422.2221 at compuserve.com (Simon Wilson) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 06:23:47 -0400 Subject: Diaseris fragilis Message-ID: <199804130624_MC2-39B7-17C1@compuserve.com> Dear Coral-listers In Oman there are plans to build a large fertiliser manufacturing plant on the coast. During the baseline survey, a Fungiid coral, identified by a leading coral taxonomist as Diaseris fragilis, was found. This appears to be the first record of this species in the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman or the Arabian Gulf. The coral was found in depths of between 16 and 20m on a drowned fossil reef. The substrate was a rock platform with a veneer of coarse sand and rubble. The benthos also supported a wide range of sponge species, algae, and hydroids, as well as a sparse coral community including Turbinaria mesenterina, Pavona explanulata, Coscinaria monile, Stylocoeniella guntheri amongst others. The issue: This appears to be a regionally rare coral species, and special measures may be necessary to mitigate against the impacts of construction including extensive dredging. The issue is how rare is this species on a regional scale and what would be the appropriate measures to reduce the mortality to this population. Translocation may be possible in small areas where the coral is densest. Questions: Is anyone aware of other records of Diaseris fragilis in the Arabian region other than in the Red Sea ? Is anyone aware of a case of translocating rare corals (or other species) to sites remote from pending construction activity ? Can someone pass on the e-mail addresses of D.A. Fisk and Bert W Hoeksema ? With thanks and regards Simon Wilson OMAN From samjones at idt.net Mon Apr 13 11:25:52 1998 From: samjones at idt.net (Sam Jones) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 11:25:52 -0400 Subject: iodine/dide test Message-ID: <35322E80.2934@idt.net> Dear Coral-listers, Does anyone know of a reliable, accurate Iodine/dide test? Results from commercial kits have been unsatisfactory. Does anyone have information on the DPD method? Please resond directly to my e-mail address: samjones at idt.net Thank you in advance!, Sam Jones, Research Assistant, WCS From carlson at soest.hawaii.edu Mon Apr 13 14:47:19 1998 From: carlson at soest.hawaii.edu (Bruce Carlson) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 08:47:19 -1000 (HST) Subject: Diaseris fragilis In-Reply-To: <199804130624_MC2-39B7-17C1@compuserve.com> Message-ID: Simon, I'm sure there are others more knoweldgeable than I about this species, but I know that in Fiji, Diaseris fragilis is locally very abundant. This species ranges here to Hawaii too but I have not encountered it here. Bruce Carlson Waikiki Aquarium ******************************** On Mon, 13 Apr 1998, Simon Wilson wrote: > Dear Coral-listers > > In Oman there are plans to build a large fertiliser manufacturing plant on the coast. > During the baseline survey, a Fungiid coral, identified by a leading coral taxonomist > as Diaseris fragilis, was found. This appears to be the first record of this species in > the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman or the Arabian Gulf. > > The coral was found in depths of between 16 and 20m on a drowned fossil reef. > The substrate was a rock platform with a veneer of coarse sand and rubble. The > benthos also supported a wide range of sponge species, algae, and hydroids, as > well as a sparse coral community including Turbinaria mesenterina, Pavona explanulata, > Coscinaria monile, Stylocoeniella guntheri amongst others. > > The issue: This appears to be a regionally rare coral species, and special measures > may be necessary to mitigate against the impacts of construction including extensive > dredging. The issue is how rare is this species on a regional scale and what would > be the appropriate measures to reduce the mortality to this population. Translocation > may be possible in small areas where the coral is densest. > > Questions: > Is anyone aware of other records of Diaseris fragilis in the Arabian region other than in > the Red Sea ? > Is anyone aware of a case of translocating rare corals (or other species) to sites remote > from pending construction activity ? > Can someone pass on the e-mail addresses of D.A. Fisk and Bert W Hoeksema ? > > With thanks and regards > > Simon Wilson > > OMAN > > > From dougmcd at home.com Tue Apr 14 11:23:32 1998 From: dougmcd at home.com (Doug McDonough) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 11:23:32 -0400 Subject: Importing of Cyanide caught fish Message-ID: <35337F74.FA1957FA@home.com> I am assisting in the real world implementation of a project aimed at reducing the profitability of catching fish using cyanide and increasing the profitability of catching fish via nets. I am looking for information on companies that import aquarium fish into the United States from the Philipines. I am trying to reach these companies and ask them about possibiliy importing net-caught fish for us, and also general information about the importation process. Lastly, I apologize for any cross-posting you might encounter with this message. Very truly yours, Douglas McDonough From astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov Tue Apr 14 13:02:52 1998 From: astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov (astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov) Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 13:02:52 -0400 Subject: Bleaching SSTs at Maldives/Sri Lanka/Chagos Message-ID: <199804141702.NAA16125@orbit8i.nesdis.noaa.gov> We are beginning to see exceptionally high temperature surface waters develop over the Maldives and Sri Lanka [14 Apr 98] in our satellite data. An area of high SST that has covered much of the tropical Southern Indian Ocean for the past few months, is showing signs of progressing northward [with the sun], from the Seychelles over Chagos Archipelago into the Maldives. This northward trend is also continuing up the African coastline from Kenya to Somalia. For more information see: http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html or: http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad/sub/noaarsrc.html Confirmations of any bleaching observations are sought. Cheers, Al **** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ***** Alan E. Strong Phys Scientist/Oceanographer Adj Assoc Res Professor NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3 US Naval Academy NOAA Science Center -- RM 711W Oceanography Department 5200 Auth Road Annapolis, MD 21402 Camp Springs, MD 20746 410-293-6550 Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov 301-763-8102 x170 FAX: 301-763-8108 http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad From reefchck at ust.hk Wed Apr 15 00:39:11 1998 From: reefchck at ust.hk (HODGSON GREGOR) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 12:39:11 +0800 (HKT) Subject: Reef Check Update April 1998 Message-ID: <199804151022.KAA24639@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Hello Coral Listers: While 300+ surveys was a remarkable achievement in 97, it is a small sample of the world's reefs. An improved and expanded Reef Check 98 kicked off on 1 April 1998. We have been fairly quiet at Reef Check HQ while we have been completing our "left-over" tasks from 1997 while quietly making plans for 1998. Here is the situation: 1) 97 Left-overs: Like any program, we have suffered some ups and downs. After successful completion of Reef Check 97, we suffered a temporary loss of funding and staff. This delayed finalization of the global dataset, analysis and the writing of the global analysis paper. This manuscript is now complete and has been submitted for publication. The presubmission reviews of the manuscript have been encouraging and we thank Clive Wilkinson, Bob Kinzie, Chuck Birkeland and Bill Hamner for their help. We are also working on publication of a more detailed analysis than can be carried out for a journal article as a technical report. We do not want to jeopardize publication by sending either manuscript out to the public, however, if you have a keen need to cite the results of Reef Check 97 now, please let Suzie know and she can send you a copy. We are also encouraging national and regional coordinators to prepare papers for presentation at upcoming meetings. In particular, there will be special Reef Check sessions at the coral reef meetings in Perpignan, France in September 1-4 (Contact: Michel Pichon) and in Townsville in November 23-27 (Contact: Clive Wilkinson) 1998. As in 1997, a major Reef Check 98 activity will be the Save Our Seas Clean Oceans event in Maui in June 9-13 (Contact: Carl Stepath). Please contact the organisers and us if you would like to make a presentation at these events. 2) 98 Funding: Thanks to Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development Director, Professor Gary Heinke (ex-Dean of Engineering, U Toronto), who stuck his neck WAY out for us in 1997 against some very serious opposition, we have a pledge from the Institute to cover partial costs of Reef Check HQ operations in 1998. In addition to Suzie, we have two new RAs, Keith Kei and Terence Fong to assist with data management etc. On the bad news side, we submitted a proposal to the US NSF's NCEAS in Santa Barbara for US$30,000 to cover the costs of a workshop to review Reef Check methods with respect to scientific goals as well as operational management (including financing). This center was set up among other things to produce guidance for managers and policy makers. Our application was rejected because the review comittee felt that our proposal was "premature." I wonder if the fish currently targeted by cyanide fishermen in PNG share this feeling and are willing to wait for five more years of data before we provide guidance to policy-makers? Reef Check still has bugs. We need to fix them before we collect five years of data. We have not given up and are still looking for funds to do this. On the good news side, we have had a positive response from private US funders for modest funding of Reef Check 1998. This should allow us to provide small grants to selected teams in developing countries by mid-summer here. We may also have funds to produce training materials and to send a few trainers out for regional training sessions. 3) Documentary: In 1997, we managed to get excellent media coverage just about everywhere and in many languages, however, we failed to get a documentary film made, with two production companies dropping the ball in succession. We now have a HK-based ex-BBC producer/director, Libby Halliday, on the job and some local investors lined up. The plan is to film a series of up to six segments, each showing various coral reef problems and solutions. If this team has more luck than the last two, we will be looking for sites with special "problems" and "solutions" to film beginning this summer. Send a note to us if you have a site of interest. This is one good way to pay back sponsors e.g. resorts who offer accomodation. 4) Cooperation: Reef Check policy is to promote collaboration and cooperation in coral reef monitoring and management on a global scale. One reason that collaboration is helpful is that funding agencies have often responded negatively to what they see as too many different groups claiming their method is the ONLY way to survey reefs. We don't claim that Reef Check is the best, but it does provide sufficient scientific information to detect human impacts of various types. By joining forces, we can improve all groups' chances of gaining funding. Collaboration gives reef conservationists a bigger voice. Since Reef Check is not an NGO, we can channel funds directly to field teams with no overhead. And of course, all Reef Check teams are free to publish their own papers using their data. In 1997, Reef Check and GCRMN (the government led effort) worked in parallel to promote each other. In 1998, GCRMN under the leadership of Dr. Clive Wilkinson, has made a decision to adopt the Reef Check program as its official community-based monitoring program. While the exact details of this arrangement are still being worked out, this closer relationship will allow GCRMN to make use of the global Reef Check methods and teams, and in turn, if GCRMN obtains funding from UN or government sources, some funds may be shared with Reef Check teams. We are also working on the design of a non-scuba Reef Check to be tested this year and launched in 1999. As in 1997, we have received pledges of cooperation from many individual groups already engaged in reef monitoring that they will use Reef Check methods in 1998. If you are aware of a reef monitoring group (NGO etc) which is not using Reef Check, we would be grateful if you would suggest to them that they join with us. No one needs abandon their prized methods; most groups find that it is easy to adopt Reef Check methods without a lot of extra work, thus building up a larger database of comparable data. 5) New and Improved Methods: For 1998, we have responded to suggestions for improving Reef Check methods. To participate in Reef Check 98, please download a new set of 1998 instructions from our website posted after April 1, 1998. In brief, we have removed a few organisms that were problematic due to distributions, identification or other reasons. We have added a few organisms as regional and worldwide indicators. In particular, the Caribbean inverts have been improved. We have also extended the sampling period to 1 April -- 30 September to try to help our friends in the southern hemisphere. We have expanded the depth contours to (shallow 2-6 m) and mid-depth (>6-12 m) to allow more selection for areas of higher coral cover to acheive our goal of including the "best" reefs in the survey. Later this month, we plan to add an option "back-reef/seagrass" habitat in the Caribbean to capture info on many inverts that are harvested there. 6) New countries: Many new countries have already pledged to join Reef Check 98. If your country was not involved last year -- sign up. For only a couple of days of your time, you can join the biggest (and we hope one of the more useful) coral reef surveys in the world. Gregor Hodgson, PhD Reef Check Coordinator Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development Applied Technology Centre Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, HONG KONG -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reef Check 1998 Registration Form Team Leader Name: Address: Tel/Fax: E-mail: Dive Club or other organization name : Number of other team members excluding scientist: Team Scientist Name: Highest academic degree, year and university: (e.g. Ph.D. 1985 UCLA) Institutional Affiliation: Tel/Fax: E-mail: Site(s): Country, State/Province, Nearest town, Reef name, Planned survey date: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- By submitting this registration form, our team gives HKUST, IESD, permission to use any data submitted for public relations and in summary form for a published global summary report. Note: When submitting a hard copy of this form, please include a signature. Please e-mail to: reefchck at ust.hk and airmail a signed original copy to: Reef Check Coordinator Gregor Hodgson, PhD Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development Applied Technology Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, HONG KONG From astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov Wed Apr 15 09:47:27 1998 From: astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov (astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 09:47:27 -0400 Subject: Bleaching SSTs at Maldives/Sri Lanka/Chagos Message-ID: <199804151347.JAA01958@orbit8i.nesdis.noaa.gov> From: oneocean at comcen.com.au Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 10:12:03 +1000 Subject: Re: Bleaching SSTs at Maldives/Sri Lanka/Chagos Just returned from the Maldives - personally sighted the damage - lots of green algae coverage. Water temperature average 30C and in lagoon area up to 35C. Like taking a warm bath on each dive. Michael Aw PO Box 2138, Carlingford Court Post Office Carlingford, NSW 2118, Australia **** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ***** Alan E. Strong Phys Scientist/Oceanographer Adj Assoc Res Professor NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3 US Naval Academy NOAA Science Center -- RM 711W Oceanography Department 5200 Auth Road Annapolis, MD 21402 Camp Springs, MD 20746 410-293-6550 Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov 301-763-8102 x170 FAX: 301-763-8108 http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad From astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov Wed Apr 15 09:44:46 1998 From: astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov (astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 09:44:46 -0400 Subject: Bleaching -- Reunion & Mauritius Message-ID: <199804151344.JAA01947@orbit8i.nesdis.noaa.gov> From: Michel PICHON Subject: Bleaching Just read your message re high temperature in the Maldive area. I can report that , during the last 2 weeks of March, I observed significant bleaching on the reef flats at La Reunion, Mascarene islands. Genera most affected were Acropora, Galaxea and Pocillopora. According to information obtained locally, bleaching is also evident on the reef slopes. I do not have temperature reading, but obviously the SST were high. Also, very heavy rainfall did occur in La R?union for most of February. Michel PICHON Laboratoire de Biologie Marine et Malacologie E.P.H.E., Universit? de Perpignan 66860 PERPIGNAN Cedex. FRANCE Ph: 33 4 68 66 20 55 Fax: 33 4 68 50 36 86 Email : pichon at univ-perp.fr **** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ***** Alan E. Strong Phys Scientist/Oceanographer Adj Assoc Res Professor NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3 US Naval Academy NOAA Science Center -- RM 711W Oceanography Department 5200 Auth Road Annapolis, MD 21402 Camp Springs, MD 20746 410-293-6550 Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov 301-763-8102 x170 FAX: 301-763-8108 http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad From thomassi at com.univ-mrs.fr Wed Apr 15 10:39:29 1998 From: thomassi at com.univ-mrs.fr (Bernard A. THOMASSIN) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 16:39:29 +0200 Subject: Bleaching in SW Indian Ocean Message-ID: Dears, Contrarily to the nice girls who tan with the sun, after the Kenya and La R?union I. (Michel Pichon's record), the hard corals began to bleach at Mayotte I., Comoro Archipelago, north middle of the Mozambique Channel (13? S), as we expected few days ago. The bleaching started by the southern area of the island (the side exposed to the tradewinds, but also the part of the lagoon the more enclosed), when the north (more opened to the oceanic waters, with waters a little bit cooler) is not yet affected. One of our guy is on the field to observe the phenomenon and made seawater analysis, help by the scuba diver clubs and the Fisheries and Marine Environmental Office we created there in 1988. The survey will be pursued until June, to have a general idea of the impact and recovering. For those who want to have general informations of these coral reefs and their conservation, a paper just issued (in French !, sorry) in the scuba divers journal "La plong?e - Oc?ans", n? 242, Mars-Avril 1998, n? ISSN 0475 171X. All informations coming from Aldabra group (Southern Seychelles), Comoro Islands and Mozambique coast (Delagoa Cap) will be wellcomed. Thanks for your cooperation. "Amicalement v?tre" Bernard A. Thomassin From kikuchi at ufba.br Wed Apr 15 17:10:29 1998 From: kikuchi at ufba.br (Ruy Kenji Papa de Kikuchi) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 19:10:29 -0200 (GRNLNDDT) Subject: bleaching in Brazil Message-ID: Dear coral-listers, Following the communications on bleaching around the world, here goes another one. On April 14th 1998 (yesterday), I witnessed a mass bleaching on patch reefs at the northern coast of Bahia State (around 12deg30secS/38degW). These reefs are at a depth of 9-12m, and bottom temperature was 29,5 deg C. This is the highest temperature measured in the area in the last three years. More than 90% of Mussismilia hispida (endemic coral) colonies were white to gold yellow. About 80% of Agaricia agaricites was in the same situation. Siderastrea stellata (endemic) was a little less bleached than the former (around 70%). Favia gravida (endemic) seemed to me less affected but I did not see enough colonies of this species to say something with confidence. After that, I'd like to know if anybody has any information on hotspots in this area of the Atlantic. Cheers, Ruy Kenji **************************************** Ruy Kenji Papa de Kikuchi Curso de Pos-Graduacao em Geologia Laboratorio de Estudos Costeiros Instituto de Geociencias Universidade Federal da Bahia R Caetano Moura, 123 Federacao CEP 40.100-010 Salvador Bahia BRASIL e-mail: kikuchi at ufba.br **************************************** From dipal at ibw.com.ni Wed Apr 15 17:29:44 1998 From: dipal at ibw.com.ni (Pdipal) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 14:29:44 -0700 Subject: Cayos Perlas, Nicaragua Message-ID: <199804161202.MAA01345@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> I am working on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. About 20 km offshore are a group of islands with fringing reefs on the south east side (the Cayos perlas). There is a tremendous amount of sediments on the reefs (viz. is about 3 meters). It seems likely that the amount of sediment is having an adverse effect on the reefs (coral cover is approx 5% and corals frequently appear to be smothered by algae/sediment). Some people believe that this amount of sediment is a recent phenomenon (perhaps due to land use practices in the watershed). Can anyone advise me on how I could (1) trace the source of the sediment, and (2) determine whether this amount of sediment really has only started in the recent past. We are have a fair amount of time, but not a vast amount of money, so very hugh-tech methods are probably not going to be suitable. For background... The islands lie on the big continental plateau stretching from the border with Costa Rica to Honduras with an average depth of 30 meteres. North of the islands there is a big rivermouth carrying tons of sediments. The prevailing currents tend to keep the main sediment plume close to shore, but during the rainy season the sediment travels further offshore. During calm days you can clearly see the border between the murky coastal water and the blue seawater. However, visibility around the islands is very low, 3 to 5 meters and during the rainy season even worse. Judging from the 'graveyards' of Acropora palmata and the number of large boulders that appear once to have been coral but are now overgrown by algae, it seems that there had once been more healthy reefs. We don't know if white-band disease has been a factor, but certainly the last major hurricane (1989) has done a lot of damage to the reefs. I would like to find out the origin of the sediments and whether or not it got/is getting worse due to land activities upstreams. Is the plateau a sort of 'sink', acumulating sediments and do they get stirred up and transported to the islands and back again? TO find a solution I was thinking of the possibility of (1) taking coralcores to compare annual growth rings (what drills would one need?), and (2) possibly coring sediment from the coastal shelf between the river and the offshore islands to see if the type of sediment has changed over the years. Once again, equipment is hard to get but time is plenty (2 years). Do you have any suggestions?? Thanks very much, Mariska Weijerman DIPAL (collaborative project between Holland and Nicaragua to help the artisanal fisherman in the region) RAAS, Nicaragua tel/fax: +822 1777 From Bugwotro at upandang.wasantara.net.id Thu Apr 16 12:59:05 1998 From: Bugwotro at upandang.wasantara.net.id (Bugwotro at upandang.wasantara.net.id) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 00:59:05 +0800 Subject: "Diaseris fragilis" in the Gulf Area and at Hawaii Message-ID: <199804161840.SAA03222@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Hello Bruce and other coral-listers, If the specimen of "Diaseris fragilis" recorded by Simon Wilson would belong to Fungia (Cycloseris) fragilis, then this would indeed be a first record for the Gulf area. There is probably no earlier record of any auto-fragmenting mushroom coral species from that area. The only Fungia (Cycloseris) species that I know of from that area, is F. (C.) curvata, which is rarely found in fragmenting stage (only known from Galapagos). According to me, the only two fungiid species showing fragmentation at Hawaii are Fungia (Cycloseris) vaughani and F. (C.) distorta. Corals dredged at Hawaii have remained very small, either in complete or fragmented shape. These diminutive specimens are in coral collections at the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington DC and probably also at the B.P. Bishop Museum at Hawaii. The type locality of F. (C.) vaughani is Hilo, Hawaii. The lectotype is a relatively large specimen (5 cm in length). Specimens of Fungia (C.) cyclolites have also been collected from Hawaii, but so far not in the fragmenting "Diaseris" shape. Bert W. Hoeksema Buginesia Program WOTRO-UNHAS PO Box 1624 Ujung Pandang 90016 Indonesia Bugwotro at Upandang.wasantara.net.id starting July 1998 I can be reached at: National Museum of Natural History Naturalis PO Box 9517 Leiden, The Netherlands Hoeksema at Naturalis.nnm.nl Bruce Carlson wrote: > > Simon, > > I'm sure there are others more knoweldgeable than I about this species, > but I know that in Fiji, Diaseris fragilis is locally very abundant. This > species ranges here to Hawaii too but I have not encountered it here. > > Bruce Carlson > Waikiki Aquarium > ******************************** > Bruce Carlson wrote: > > Simon, > > I'm sure there are others more knoweldgeable than I about this species, > but I know that in Fiji, Diaseris fragilis is locally very abundant. This > species ranges here to Hawaii too but I have not encountered it here. > > Bruce Carlson > Waikiki Aquarium > ******************************** > > On Mon, 13 Apr 1998, Simon Wilson wrote: > > > Dear Coral-listers > > > > In Oman there are plans to build a large fertiliser manufacturing plant on the coast. > > During the baseline survey, a Fungiid coral, identified by a leading coral taxonomist > > as Diaseris fragilis, was found. This appears to be the first record of this species in > > the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman or the Arabian Gulf. > > > > The coral was found in depths of between 16 and 20m on a drowned fossil reef. > > The substrate was a rock platform with a veneer of coarse sand and rubble. The > > benthos also supported a wide range of sponge species, algae, and hydroids, as > > well as a sparse coral community including Turbinaria mesenterina, Pavona explanulata, > > Coscinaria monile, Stylocoeniella guntheri amongst others. > > > > The issue: This appears to be a regionally rare coral species, and special measures > > may be necessary to mitigate against the impacts of construction including extensive > > dredging. The issue is how rare is this species on a regional scale and what would > > be the appropriate measures to reduce the mortality to this population. Translocation > > may be possible in small areas where the coral is densest. > > > > Questions: > > Is anyone aware of other records of Diaseris fragilis in the Arabian region other than in > > the Red Sea ? > > Is anyone aware of a case of translocating rare corals (or other species) to sites remote > > from pending construction activity ? > > Can someone pass on the e-mail addresses of D.A. Fisk and Bert W Hoeksema ? > > > > With thanks and regards > > > > Simon Wilson > > > > OMAN > > > > > > From susan.burr at saipan.com Thu Apr 16 23:27:38 1998 From: susan.burr at saipan.com (Susan Burr) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 13:27:38 +1000 Subject: dredging & coral spawning Message-ID: <03273862516290@saipan.com> The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island's (CNMI- Saipan) Coastal Resources Management office has a permit condition that requires all dredging operations to cease during and five days after the yearly hard coral spawning event. They have recently been asked by a permittee to provide scientific justification for this permit condition. The dredging operation in question is an archaeological excavation that will be using a suction dredger to remove sand and a clamshell dredger to remove boulders. The immediate site has approximately ten percent coral cover and the adjacent reef has 10-60 percent coral cover. The site has a relatively strong longshore current and wave action is high. Does anyone know of any citations to justify or refute this permit condition? Is the CNMI's condition more or less stringent than other jurisdictions? Should dredging operations be required to cease during the soft coral spawning as well? Thanks for everyone's help. You can reply directly to me at susan.burr at saipan.com. \\ \\\ |/// // \\ \\\|/// // \\ ~ ~ // ( @ @ ) ---------------------oOOo-(_)-oOOo---------------- | Susan Burr | | CNMI Division of Environmental Quality | | PPP 171 Box 10000 | | Saipan, MP 96950-9504 USA | | | | Phone: 670.234.1011 | | Fax: 670.234.1003 | | E-mail: susan.burr at saipan.com | | | | Oooo | --------------------------oooO-----------( )------- ( ) ( / ( ) (_/ \_) From reefchck at ust.hk Fri Apr 17 00:44:16 1998 From: reefchck at ust.hk (HODGSON GREGOR) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 12:44:16 +0800 (HKT) Subject: Reef Check Update April 1998 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Dear all, The Reef Check web site is located at: http://www.ust.hk/~webrc/ReefCheck/reef.html Suzie Geermans Assistant Reef Check Coordinator E-mail: reefchck at ust.hk From Michael.Noah at poj.usace.army.mil Fri Apr 17 03:28:10 1998 From: Michael.Noah at poj.usace.army.mil (Noah, Michael POJ) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 16:28:10 +0900 Subject: dredging & coral spawning Message-ID: <34395B1239B6D111A49900A0246D38AA06FAB7@pojmail02.poj.usace.army.mil> Susan, I'd check with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Waterways Experiment Station (WES) in Vicksburg, Mississippi (USA). I don't have those particular references with me here in Japan, but whatever I'd have would have probably come out of WES anyway. The Manager of the Environmental Effects of Dredging Program is: Dr. Robert M. Engler U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station ATTN: CEWES-EP-D 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199 His e-mail address is: englerr at ex1.wes.army.mil , or you can call him in the U.S. at (601) 634-3624. Mata ne, Michael <<...>> US Army Corps of Engineers Japan District Michael D. Noah, Ecologist DSN 263-5065 COMM 011-81-311-763-5065 Box 81 (CEPOJ-PP-E) DSN 263-8869 COMM 011-81-311-763-8869 FAX APO AP 96338-5010 Michael.Noah at poj.usace.army.mil -----Original Message----- From: susan.burr at saipan.com [mailto:susan.burr at saipan.com] Sent: Friday, April 17, 1998 12:28 PM To: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov Subject: dredging & coral spawning The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island's (CNMI- Saipan) Coastal Resources Management office has a permit condition that requires all dredging operations to cease during and five days after the yearly hard coral spawning event. They have recently been asked by a permittee to provide scientific justification for this permit condition. The dredging operation in question is an archaeological excavation that will be using a suction dredger to remove sand and a clamshell dredger to remove boulders. The immediate site has approximately ten percent coral cover and the adjacent reef has 10-60 percent coral cover. The site has a relatively strong longshore current and wave action is high. Does anyone know of any citations to justify or refute this permit condition? Is the CNMI's condition more or less stringent than other jurisdictions? Should dredging operations be required to cease during the soft coral spawning as well? Thanks for everyone's help. You can reply directly to me at susan.burr at saipan.com. \\ \\\ |/// // \\ \\\|/// // \\ ~ ~ // ( @ @ ) ---------------------oOOo-(_)-oOOo---------------- | Susan Burr | | CNMI Division of Environmental Quality | | PPP 171 Box 10000 | | Saipan, MP 96950-9504 USA | | | | Phone: 670.234.1011 | | Fax: 670.234.1003 | | E-mail: susan.burr at saipan.com | | | | Oooo | --------------------------oooO-----------( )------- ( ) ( / ( ) (_/ \_) From eakin at ogp.noaa.gov Fri Apr 17 09:15:17 1998 From: eakin at ogp.noaa.gov (Mark Eakin) Date: 17 Apr 1998 09:15:17 U Subject: EL NINO CAUSING CORAL BLEACHING IN PANAMA Message-ID: Subject: Time: 9:11 AM EL NINO CAUSING CORAL BLEACHING* Date: 4/17/98 NOAA 98-022 CONTACT: Patricia Viets, NOAA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 1998 EL NINO CAUSING CORAL BLEACHING IN PANAMA El Nino's warm waters in the Pacific Ocean have caused coral bleaching in the waters off the Pacific coast of Panama, according to a team of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Marine Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami. Panama is the tenth site reported to experience coral bleaching related to El Nino. Warmer than normal sea surface temperatures are continuing along the Panama coast. El Nino forecasts from NOAA's National Center for Environmental Prediction call for the warmer tan normal temperatures to continue into the summer. Scientists on a recent research cruise to islands in Panama's Gulf of Chiriqui region observed bleaching in almost all species of corals present. In observations at six sites, 50% to almost 90% of corals had experienced at least partial bleaching. This indicates that a second wave of bleaching has followed earlier bleaching seen to begin in September of 1997. Fortunately for the corals, bleaching in Panama has been much less intense than was seen in 1983. Sea surface temperatures in the area are currently 29 to 31 degrees Celsius, nearly a degree and a half warmer than what is normally observed at that site. Data from temperature monitors on the reefs indicate that elevated temperatures have existed periodically since mid-summer 1997. These agree with observations from NOAA satellite and blended sea surface temperature data and predictions of bleaching released in June 1997. The recent observations and temperature monitoring have been supported by awards from the National Science Foundation and conducted in cooperation with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Corals from the Pacific coast of Panama thrive as long as temperatures remain at or below 29 degrees Celsius -- the normal maximum sea surface temperature at this site. An increase of one or two degrees above the usual maximum temperatures can be deadly to these animals. The temperature range for corals to thrive varies from site to site by only a few degrees. Corals from the nearby Gulf of Panama showed much less evidence of bleaching. Coral reefs -- the "rainforests of the oceans" -- support a variety of sea life and provide resources of significant economic importance such as fishing and recreation. Coral bleaching, induced by high water temperatures, has raised concerns about these fragile ecosystems. Coral bleaching occurs as coral tissue expels zooxanthellae, algae that reside within the coral, and are essential to the coral's survival. Corals normally recover, unless high ocean temperatures persist for too long a period or become too warm. During the 1997-98 El Nino, NOAA has also received reports of coral bleaching at sites in the Great Barrier Reef, French Polynesia, Kenya, Galapagos Islands, Florida Keys, Baja California, the Yucatan coast, Cayman Islands, and the Netherland Antilles. Video animations of coral reef Hot Spots and sea surface temperatures are available on the World Wide Web at: http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad Images of sea surface temperatures and anomalies for this region can be found at: http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/misc/coral/oisst/ Predictions of bleaching in response to this El Nino were raised as early as last summer. See 1997 EL NINO A POTENTIAL THREAT TO CORAL REEFS at http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs/iyorwk26.html From jnaughto at honlab.nmfs.hawaii.edu Fri Apr 17 16:24:41 1998 From: jnaughto at honlab.nmfs.hawaii.edu (John Naughton) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 10:24:41 -1000 (HST) Subject: dredging & coral spawning In-Reply-To: <03273862516290@saipan.com> Message-ID: Susan: As you know I've been in the middle of this whole dredge/coral spawn issue, in particular for the IOTA salvage project in Rota, CNMI. The condition was based on information from Bob Richmond at U of Guam, Marine Lab. He feels strongly that this is an important condition. As I recall, his justification is that high turbidity/suspended sediment in the water column will have an adverse impact on the ability of hard corals to spawn successfully. I also would be very interested if anyone out there has a position on this subject. John Naughton NMFS, Honolulu Phone: 808/973-2940 FAX: 808/973-2941 On Fri, 17 Apr 1998, Susan Burr wrote: > The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island's (CNMI- Saipan) Coastal > Resources Management office has a permit condition that requires all > dredging operations to cease during and five days after the yearly hard > coral spawning event. They have recently been asked by a permittee to > provide scientific justification for this permit condition. The dredging > operation in question is an archaeological excavation that will be using a > suction dredger to remove sand and a clamshell dredger to remove boulders. > The immediate site has approximately ten percent coral cover and the > adjacent reef has 10-60 percent coral cover. The site has a relatively > strong longshore current and wave action is high. > > Does anyone know of any citations to justify or refute this permit > condition? Is the CNMI's condition more or less stringent than other > jurisdictions? Should dredging operations be required to cease during the > soft coral spawning as well? > > Thanks for everyone's help. You can reply directly to me at > susan.burr at saipan.com. > \\ \\\ |/// // > \\ \\\|/// // > \\ ~ ~ // > ( @ @ ) > ---------------------oOOo-(_)-oOOo---------------- > | Susan Burr | > | CNMI Division of Environmental Quality | > | PPP 171 Box 10000 | > | Saipan, MP 96950-9504 USA | > | | > | Phone: 670.234.1011 | > | Fax: 670.234.1003 | > | E-mail: susan.burr at saipan.com | > | | > | Oooo | > --------------------------oooO-----------( )------- > ( ) ( / > ( ) (_/ > \_) > From bma at interplanet.com.br Mon Apr 20 15:16:39 1998 From: bma at interplanet.com.br (Biomonitoramento e Meio Ambiente Ltda.) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 09:16:39 -1000 Subject: [Fwd: Brazilian Corals Monitoring] Message-ID: <353B9F17.3A99@interplanet.com.br> Dear all This is my first message. I would be grateful if anyone could provide some info on the attached topic. Sincerely Pablo Cotsifis Bma LTDA - BRAZIL -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Biomonitoramento e Meio Ambiente Ltda." Subject: Brazilian Corals Monitoring Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 08:46:37 -1000 Size: 1750 Url: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19980420/3f797fdf/attachment.mht From bma at interplanet.com.br Mon Apr 20 15:16:39 1998 From: bma at interplanet.com.br (Biomonitoramento e Meio Ambiente Ltda.) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 09:16:39 -1000 Subject: [Fwd: Brazilian Corals Monitoring] Message-ID: <353B9F17.3A99@interplanet.com.br> Dear all This is my first message. I would be grateful if anyone could provide some info on the attached topic. Sincerely Pablo Cotsifis Bma LTDA - BRAZIL -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Biomonitoramento e Meio Ambiente Ltda." Subject: Brazilian Corals Monitoring Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 08:46:37 -1000 Size: 1750 Url: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19980420/3f797fdf/attachment-0001.mht From reefkeeper at earthlink.net Mon Apr 20 11:24:52 1998 From: reefkeeper at earthlink.net (Alexander Stone) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 15:24:52 +0000 Subject: Tortugas 2000 Message-ID: <353B68C6.3A6@earthlink.net> Dear friend of coral reefs and reef fisheries: A Tortugas 2000 two-year process to design and establish a no-take reserve west of the Dry Tortugas has just been initiated under the auspices of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. If you're concerned about coral reef biocommunities or sustainable reef fisheries, ReefKeeper International would like to send you periodic e-mail updates on how Tortugas 2000 is progressing. These updates will also inform you of opportunities that may arise for your input, contribution or support. To be placed on our Tortugas 2000 e-mail update list, just send the message "subscribe Tortugas 2000-list" to reefkeeper at reefkeeper.org. Thanks so much, Alexander Stone ReefKeeper International From william.gardiner at exchange.pnl.gov Mon Apr 20 13:23:12 1998 From: william.gardiner at exchange.pnl.gov (Gardiner, William W) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 10:23:12 -0700 Subject: Tropical Marine Ecotoxicology at 1998 SETAC Meeting Message-ID: <199804211416.OAA00790@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Fellow Coral-ers, At this years Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry annual meeting, there is a proposed session on Tropical Marine Ecotoxicology. The abstract for this session is presented below. We are hoping bring some focus within SETAC regarding anthropogenic effects on tropical mairne ecosystems. If you would like to present a paper at the 1998 Meeting in North Carolina this fall (November 15-19), I would encourage you to submit an abstract. Abstract forms can be found at http://www.setac.org/call4pap.html. Please note that the abstracts are due to SETAC on May 1, 1998. I hope to see you at the meeting. Bill Gardiner This proposed session would highlight research conducted in Tropical Marine Ecotoxicology. Coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and seagrass beds are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems worldwide, hosting a myriad of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Recent research indicates that coastal development and resource extraction are now threatening these ecosystems, with new discoveries of seagrass die-off, coral diseases, and mangrove abnormalities. Physical and chemical factors are being attributed to the degradation and loss of tropical marine habitat; however, there is still a scientific "black-hole" regarding toxicology in the tropics. It is urgent that SETAC address this information gap. Tropical Marine Ecotoxicology is an area of rapidly growing research and an area of growing SETAC participation; however, previous presentations have been fragmented into incongruous sessions. The goals of this session would be: 1) provide a focal point for those working in tropical marine ecosystems, 2) review the current state of tropical marine ecosystems, 3) present recent ecotoxicological developments, and 4) determine areas of future research. This session would be of interest to members working in tropical-subtropical marine science, would mesh with the "contaminant-disease interaction" session, and would encompass the disciplines of toxicology, chemistry, ecology, histopathology, fisheries, risk assessment and climate change. William W. Gardiner Research Scientist Battelle Marine Sciences Laboratory 1529 West Sequim Bay Road Sequim, WA 98382 ww_gardiner at pnl.gov From rcgregor at uxmail.ust.hk Mon Apr 20 23:08:34 1998 From: rcgregor at uxmail.ust.hk (Gregor Hodgson) Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 11:08:34 +0800 Subject: Dredging Conditions and Corals Message-ID: <199804211414.OAA00388@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> The effects of dredging on corals depends on many factors e.g. type of dredge, duration of dredging, depth of dredging, size distribution of dredged material, typical water currents, typical background sediment load, wave action, species and growth forms of corals etc so it is best to set limits on dredging activities that match the specific conditions at the site. When faced with this situation in HK we have found that an exclusion zone of 500 m, when carefully enforced, has prevented visually observable damage to corals even with high volume discharges of very fine materials. This can be carried out very safely if the dredging contract limits dredging to periods when currents are moving away from sensitive areas (if the configuration permits). The HK government has often used a limit of 100 mg/l to control sediment load in plumes impinging on sensitive areas and this seems to have worked well. -- Gregor Hodgson, PhD Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, HONG KONG e-mail: rcgregor at ust.hk tel: (852) 2358-8568 fax: (852) 2358-1582 Reef Check: http://www.ust.hk/~webrc/ReefCheck/reef.html From gcarter at orf.org Wed Apr 22 15:18:29 1998 From: gcarter at orf.org (Greg Carter) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:18:29 -0700 Subject: (no subject) Message-ID: <353E4284.408DE45D@orf.org> I am trying to locate Tracy Baynes, last email address I have is tracy-baynes at ccgate.ssp.nmfs.gov. Tracy, if you are out there, please contact me. Thanks! -- Greg L. Carter Oceanic Resource Foundation gcarter at orf.org Celebrate the Year of the Ocean 1998 http://www.orf.org From cnidaria at earthlink.net Sat Apr 25 11:15:04 1998 From: cnidaria at earthlink.net (James M. Cervino) Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 08:15:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: No subject Message-ID: Dear Coral Listers, Two weeks ago the Discovery News channel ran a segment that focused on the Parrot fish and Rapid Wasting Syndrome. ABC News produced this for the Discovery channel, and interviewed myself along with all the other scientists involved on location in Bonaire. They made some grave errors, and took what I said out of context. ABC was contacted immediately, and to correct their error, they conducted another interview. The corrected verion aired last night (Friday (EST) 9pm on the Discovery Channel). The new segment, airing now, CLEARLY explains what is going on reguarding this issue. They stopped airing the old segment, and are showing the correct version on Discovery News all week (check your local listing times). They will be mentioning a corresponding letter on the issue, that is published in the Journal of Science. This letter, which explores the relationship between the parrotfish and fungus, has been co-written by 9 coral reef scientists who have been working very hard to understand this complex syndrome. More work is needed to understand this syndrome, along with all the other coral diseases that exist in the field today. I thank Esther Peters and Harry McCarty for all of her help through this, along with Gerard Geertjes of University of Groningen and Kalli DeMeyer (and staff) of the Bonaire Marine Park for all of their help in the field. ************************************ James M. Cervino Marine Biologist Global Coral Reef Alliance 124-19 9th ave. College Point New York, N.Y. 11356 Phone/Fax-(718) 539-8155 ************************************ From davward at gate.net Fri Apr 24 13:56:35 1998 From: davward at gate.net (Dave Ward) Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1998 13:56:35 -0400 Subject: St. Croix field station?? Message-ID: <199804271211.MAA04692@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Seaward Research Inc. has provided logistical and technical support to the science community in the Florida Keys since 1995. We are considering returning to St. Croix, USVI and opening a field research station. The proposed facility would be located next to the ocean on the West End of the island. We propose to have: Dormitory style accommodations Covered space to work A modest running seawater system Dive tanks and weights Air compressor Small boats for rent A 35' vessel for island wide work At this time we are trying to determine if the interest within the science community is strong enough to support a small facility on St. Croix. We would appreciate a response to the following Questions: 1. How strongly would you consider working in St. Croix if a field station were available? 2. Would you be interested in working on St. Croix in 1999? 3. Would you consider a trip to the island for an underwater tour? If you have other questions or comments please contact Dave or Sue Ward. Seaward Research Inc. P.O. Box 2766 Key Largo, Florida 33037 305-451-9822 E-mail sueward at gate.net davward at gate.net From McCarty_and_Peters at compuserve.com Mon Apr 27 22:31:47 1998 From: McCarty_and_Peters at compuserve.com (Harry McCarty) Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 22:31:47 -0400 Subject: Offline Version of The Coral Disease Page Message-ID: <199804272232_MC2-3B32-845F@compuserve.com> Thanks to our many visitors, the Coral Disease Page has been a great success. One visitor asked if a stand-alone version was available for use in the field. We are pleased to say that such a version is now available. All of the links to the web have been disabled or eliminated, so that the system will run on any PC with a browser, but without the need to connect to the web itself. If you are interested, please feel free to download the Offline Version of the Coral Disease Page through a link at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mccarty_and_peters/coraldis.htm It is a 630 kb file, and it took about 10 minutes to upload on a 28.8 baud modem. If you find this version useful, especially in the field, please drop us a note. The only condition we have is that you not use the text or photos for any other purpose. In other words, don't take this apart, add to it, or redistribute it. As appropriate, please cite the source (us) in any publications that result from its use. We are working on updates to the main page online, using materials suggested or contributed by many of the visitors. We will post information about updates here, as they occur. Thanks again for your interest. Chip McCarty From carlson at soest.hawaii.edu Wed Apr 29 02:35:03 1998 From: carlson at soest.hawaii.edu (Bruce Carlson) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 20:35:03 -1000 (HST) Subject: coral sex change? Message-ID: In 1982 I collected a Sandalolitha robusta coral in Palau. In 1992 we noticed it spawning. It may have spawned in previous years and went unnoticed, but since 1992 we have checked for spawning every year. Spawning usually occurs a few days before the new moon in April at 7:00 am. This is in an indoor aquarium on display to the public. There are skylights overhead which is probably how it remains cued in to the phase of the moon even indoors. Last year we obtained fertile eggs which developed into planula (there is a second smaller colony nearby which has always produced sperm). This year we anxiously awaited the spawning event, cameras in hand and egg collectors ready. But instead of eggs, this year it produced sperm! It spawned 3 days in a row and only produced sperm. The other male colony did not spawn this year. Not sure what to make of this but we will check again in May because occasionally it spawns over two months. I haven't checked the literature on sex reversal in fungiid corals, or corals in general, but would appreciate if others have encountered this phenomenon in corals. We definitely have never observed this coral producing sperm in any of the previous years, and it definitely produced no eggs this year at all. Bruce From h.sweatman at aims.gov.au Wed Apr 29 00:59:15 1998 From: h.sweatman at aims.gov.au (Hugh Sweatman) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 14:59:15 +1000 Subject: Great Barrier Reef monitoring report Message-ID: <199804291124.LAA16197@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> The Australian Institute of Marine Science=92s Long-Term Monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef - Status Report Number 2 is now available in PDF format on the AIMS home page: http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/reflib/mon-lt/pages/mon-ltm2-00.html The core of the program involves monitoring reef fishes (visual census) and sessile benthic organisms (video transects) at fixed sites on approximately 50 reefs. These are located in three positions across the continental shelf at six latitudes spanning most of the GBR province. The perimeters of sample reefs are surveyed for crown-of-thorns starfish and coral cover (manta tow). Water samples are taken nearby. About an equal number of additional reefs are surveyed only for crown-of-thorns starfish. The report deals with results of the first three annual surveys (to 1995) and primarily concerns spatial patterns of distribution. Hugh Sweatman Long Term Monitoring Program, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB3 Townsville MC, Qld 4810 Australia ph: (07) 4753 4470 / +61 7 4753 4470 [GMT +10] faxes: (07) 4753 4288 / 4772 5852 h.sweatman at aims.gov.au web: http//www.aims.gov.au/ From edingeen at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca Thu Apr 30 15:22:13 1998 From: edingeen at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca (E.N. Edinger) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 15:22:13 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Yucatan Caribbean sustainabilityRe: Re: (fwd) Message-ID: Forwarded message re: coastal zone environmental monitoring for the Carbbean side of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. _________________________ Al and Don (Dive Shop Owner) approached me yesterday about studies performed along this coastline regarding sustainable development. They are concerned about the carrying capacity of coastal beaches, such as Akumal. Do you know where I could find information regarding the sustainable development of coastal beaches? ___________________________ If you have information or suggestions, please respond directly to Patricia (Trish) Beddows at beddowpa at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca Thanks, Evan Edinger ======================================================================= Evan Edinger School of Geography and Geology tel. (905) 525-9140 ext. 24513. McMaster University fax. (905) 522-3141 Hamilton, Ontario email: edinger at mcmaster.ca L8S 4M1 CANADA home phone: (905) 527-8775 =======================================================================