From thomassi at com.univ-mrs.fr Thu Oct 1 13:00:32 1998 From: thomassi at com.univ-mrs.fr (Bernard A. THOMASSIN) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 19:00:32 +0200 Subject: Impact of iron hydroxyde on coral reef organisms Message-ID: Dear, Working now on the possible effects upon coral reef organisms (benthic, plaktonic or fishes) of Fe (iron) hydroxyde outputs from a desalt plant unit I would like receiving our observations or comments. For example, in the area of Marseilles seawage output (W. Mediterranean sea), Fe hydroxydes induce a bioaccumulation of Fe cristals in the stomach and the axial gland of the local common seaurchin Paracentrotus lividus. What is know in the tropical coral reef environments upon marine organisms ? Thanks for your help. Please send answer to my mail-address. Cheers. Bernard A. Thomassin From coral at aoml.noaa.gov Thu Oct 1 12:29:47 1998 From: coral at aoml.noaa.gov (Coral Workstation at NOAA/AOML) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 12:29:47 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Zooxanthellae photomicrographs Message-ID: <199810011634.QAA02694@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Ladies & Gentlemen, I am happy to announce that Scott Santos of the State University of New York at Buffalo has graciously donated some of his photomicrographs of zooxanthellae for our Web site. If you ever been curious about what these organisms look like, here's you chance. Please click on the "Themes" (under Documents) or "Bulletins" section of the CHAMP Home Page at http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov Cheers, JCH From POTTS.KENNARD at EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV Thu Oct 1 14:52:17 1998 From: POTTS.KENNARD at EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (KENNARD POTTS) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 14:52:17 -0400 Subject: biological criteria for coral reefs Message-ID: An embedded and charset-unspecified text was scrubbed... Name: not available Url: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19981001/c093f817/attachment.pl From McCarty_and_Peters at compuserve.com Thu Oct 1 18:40:03 1998 From: McCarty_and_Peters at compuserve.com (Harry McCarty) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 18:40:03 -0400 Subject: Coral Disease Page Update Message-ID: <199810011840_MC2-5B56-B076@compuserve.com> Dear Coral Listers, Just a short note to advise you that the Coral Disease Page (R) has been updated again. The latest update includes new information on red-band disease in sea fans, and tumors and other skeletal anomalies, as well as updated information and photographs regarding rapid wasting. The updates have been incorporated to the site at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mccarty_and_peters/coraldis.htm We have also updated the off-line version of the page, which is designed as an aid to field researchers and once downloaded, does not require access to the web. For those of you who have already sat through downloading the original off-line version, we are pleased to announce that the updated information is available as a separate, smaller, download (about 450 Kb). We are grateful to those who have offered suggestions and advice and to those who contributed new materials. We _do_ have one favor to ask. The on-line page is quite popular, generating over 1700 "hits" in less than six months. However, we do not have a means to track how many folks have actually downloaded the off-line version. Given the time that it takes to modify and update both versions and the fact that it almost doubles the server space required, we need to establish the level of interest in the off-line version. So, if you have downloaded the off-line version and find it useful, please let us know. There's no registration fee, we would just like to know if its worth the effort to keep both versions alive and current. You may reach us at: mccarty_and_peters at compuserve.com or through the e-mail link on the Coral Disease Page. Thanks again for your support. We are planning further updates in the months to come. Harry McCarty and Esther Peters From zakaid at popeye.cc.biu.ac.il Fri Oct 2 01:38:31 1998 From: zakaid at popeye.cc.biu.ac.il (Zakai David) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 07:38:31 +0200 (IST) Subject: FLOATING HOTELS Message-ID: Dear Coral List members Has any one have any experience with the impacts to the tropical marine environment, caused by FLOATING HOTELS, during construction and during day-to-day operation. We are facing a giant, 2000 rooms project, of FLOATING HOTEL in tip of the Gulf of Aqaba northern Red Sea. Any information will be highly appreciated, please reply to zakaid at rocketmail.com Sincerely, David Zakai. =============================================================================== David Zakai, Red Sea marine biologist Department of Life Science Nature Reserves Authority of Israel Bar-Ilan University Eilat district, P.O.Box 667 Ramat-Gan Israel, 88105 Israel, 52100 Ph:+972-7-6373988 +972-7-6360117 Fax:+972-7-6375047 +972-7-6375329 Home:+972-7-6330373 Email: zakaid at popeye.cc.biu.ac.il OR zakaid at rocketmail.comx =============================================================================== From owner-coral-list at aoml.noaa.gov Fri Oct 2 00:22:15 1998 From: owner-coral-list at aoml.noaa.gov (owner-coral-list at aoml.noaa.gov) Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 00:22:15 EDT Subject: Artificial reefs References Message-ID: <199810021113.LAA11124@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> I forgot to mention - there is a secondary reference called, I believe, "Artificial Substrates" which I saw at the library while researching the other week - the author was Cairns - I can only assume it is Stephen Cairns, but I can't swear to it - I picked it up and flipped through it simply out of curiosity and it seemed like a good source for what you are looking for. good luck Eric Borneman From seasprtsbz at btl.net Thu Oct 1 13:47:01 1998 From: seasprtsbz at btl.net (dixon@wgs1.btl.net) Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 17:47:01 +0000 Subject: Sponge Bleaching in Belize Message-ID: <7718969BE44.AAB1FAA@wgs1.btl.net> Greetings from Belize: As a result of increased water temperatures and solar radiation, corals of the Orders Milliporina and Scleractinia have been reported to have been experiencing varying degrees of bleaching throughout their range. In Belize, the corals are also bleaching again, as has been announced. However, no mention has been made of the effect of increased temperature and radiation on other invertebrates that harbor endosymbionts. In fact, along the barrier reef and reef around Lighthouse Atoll in Belize from 10-20 meters depth, a Poriferan, Xestospongia muta, has also been "bleaching." The bleaching was noticed shortly after plate Agaracia began bleaching in late August. In some cases, the first sign of bleaching is hidden by a thin layer of sediment. When the sediment is fanned away, white spots become noticeable in the pinacoderm. While the touch of a healthy specimen can be comparable to a red clay brick, the white spots of a diseased sponge are soft to the touch. At the present time, where the white spots first appeared, they have now begun to enlarge and holes are beginning to develop where the mesohyl has completely deteriorated and if fanned, resembles white pillow foam. In Belize during the bleaching event of 1995, the bleaching of Xestospongia muta was also observed. Some specimens survived the bleaching, but others completely deteriorated. At the onset of sponge bleaching in 1998 in Belize, only a few individuals were observed with white spots. However, as temperatures have remained high during September, the number of individuals affected is increasing. Present observations will rarely locate a completely healthy specimen. Literature located via the Net on sponge bleaching included only 2 reports found within CHAMP's web site. In 1990 Vicente identified sponges and their endosymbionts in Puerto Rico during the 1987 bleaching event. The abstract concluded that "only a few individuals within any given population became bleached." An updated version (1995) of Pecheux's internal report titled "Review on Coral Reef Bleaching" describes a red-colored phycoerythrin-bearing cyanobacteria, Aphanocapsa, that lives intracellularly in specialized cyanocytes and also the mesohyl of Xestospongia muta. It also went on to say that bleaching in sponges appears uncommon and that Vicente had reported a frequency of 10-30% of bleached Xestospongia muta at 4-15 meters depth. If temperatures and radiation remains high, individuals of Xestospongia muta may succumb as did some in the 1995 bleaching event. Has any one else observed bleaching of Xestospongia muta in its range during the 1998 bleaching event, or does anyone know of more recently published reports that describe this phenomenon? Linda Wetrhus SYMBIOS/ECO PO Box 1234 Belize City, Belize TEL: (501) 2-35505 FAX: (501) 2-75213 Email: seasprtsbz at btl.net From rcgregor at ust.hk Sat Oct 3 05:28:25 1998 From: rcgregor at ust.hk (Gregor Hodgson) Date: Sat, 03 Oct 1998 17:28:25 +0800 Subject: New Publication -- Corals and Coral Reef Fishes of Kuwait Message-ID: <3615EE39.C9E3A597@ust.hk> The Corals and Coral Reef Fishes of Kuwait a 166 page full-color book by Kent Carpenter, Peter Harrison, Gregor Hodgson, Adel Alsaffar and Shaker Alhazeem and with photos by Jack Randall, was recently published by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and the Environment Public Authority. Bonifide coral reef scientists can obtain a free copy by sending an email to Dr. Sulaiman Al-Mattar at KISR explaining why it is important for them to have access to this book. From cac at sinica.edu.tw Mon Oct 5 21:29:43 1998 From: cac at sinica.edu.tw (Allen C. Chen) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 09:29:43 +0800 Subject: PSA-Intercongress programme update Message-ID: Dear coral-listers, I would like to take the chance to update the final programme of the symposium, "Ecology and Conservation of the Coral Reef in the Pacific", Pacific Science Association Intercongress, 15-19 Nov., Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. This programme, as I believe, should be the last version, though minor change will be added. To those who are still interested in coming this symposium, I would like to encourage you to present in the poster section. Please contact Miss Flora Pu (florapu at gate. sinica.edu.tw) for the late registration. If you have any inquring regarding to the scientific programme, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail. Pacific Science Association Intercongress, 15-19 Nov., Institute of Zoology, Academia Sinica,Taipei and The 6th Taiwan Coral Reef Society Annual Meeting Date/Time Speaker/ Title 15 Nov. 1998, Sunday Invited speakers arrivial 16 Nov. 1998, Monday 8:30am PSA registration 9:00-9:45am Open ceremony of PSA in the Activity Centre Hall 10:00-11:00am Plenary speech of PSA (I/II) 11:00-5:30pm City tour to the National Palace Museum/ Northern Coast 19:00-21:30pm Reception party in the Activity Centre (host by Academia Sinica) 17 Nov. 1998, Tuesday 9:00-11:00am Plenary speech of PSA (III/IV) (*posters will be exhibited from the 9:00am in the Institute of Zoology) 11:00-11:10am Open ceremony of Symposium of Ecology and Conservation of Coral Reef in the Pacific (This will be held in the auditorium of Institute of Zoology) 11:10-12:10pm Plenary speech/ Jeremy Jackson** (To be announced) 12:10-13:30pm Lunch and poster session Session I Coral Reef Ecology/Conservation/Management 13:30-14:00pm Terrence Hughes** Large-scale processes on coral reefs 14:00-14:30pm Terry Done** Performance indices for management of coral reef ecosystems 14:30-15:00pm Edgardo Gomez** Coral Reef conservation in a developiong country: after 20 years, has the philippines made progress? 15:00-15:30pm Richard Grigg** Holocence coral reef accretion in Hawaii: a function of wave exposure and sea level history 15:30-15:45pm Denise McCorry Classification of Hong Kong's coral communities using quantitative underwater video sampling and its scope from management applications in the South China Sea 15:45-16:00pm Tea/ Coffee break Session II Environmental challenges and coral-algal symbiosis 16:00-16:30pm Robert Rowan** How do coral-algal symbioses cope with environmental challenges? 16:30-17:00pm Anglea Douglas** Zooxanthellae in corals: does molecular diversity matter? 17:00-17:15pm Jih-Terng Wang and Anglea Douglas** The role of endosymbiotic algae, Symbiodinium sp. on nitrogen metabolism of the cnidarian host: nitrogen recycling or nitrogen conservation 17:15-17:30pm E. A. Titlyanov and T. V. Titlyanova Coral bleaching or degradation of zooxanthellae is a normal physiological process in symbiotic organism 17:30-17:45pm Chaolun Allen Chen# and Lee-Shing Fang# Does thermal adapation occur in the cnidarian-zooxanthellae symbiosis? A molecular ecology approach 17:45-18:00pm Jr-Kai Yu, Lee-Shing Fang and Chaolun Allen Chen Zooxanthellae polymorphism with Taiwanese Pocillopora damicornis revealed by PCR-RFLP and DNA sequences of SSrDNA 18:30-21:30pm Banquet (host by the Fin Sealife Taipei) 18 Nov. 1998, Wensday 9:00-11:00pm Plenary speech of PSA (V/VI) 11:10-12:10pm Plenary speech/Chuck Birkeland** Why some reefs recover and others do not? 12:10-13:30pm Lunch and poster session Session III Ecology of Coral Reef Fishes 13:30-14:00pm Howard Choat** Herbivory by fishes on coral reefs: does it occur, and is important and if it doesn't? 14:00-14:15pm Jeng-Ping Chen and Kwang-Tsao Shao# Spawning hour difference as one reproductive isolation factor among several species Apogon cookii complex 14:15-14:30pm Rong-Quen Jan# Inter-oceanic comparisons of nest-size of the dameslfishes, Abudefduf saxatilis complex 14:30-14:45pm Lishu Chen# Ontogenetic morphometric changes for juvenile scarids, Chlorurus sordidus and Scarus schlegeli 14:45-15:00pm Tea/ Coffee break Session IV Evolution and ecology of corals and reef-associated organisms (I) 15:00-15:30pm Bette Willis** New perspectives on hybrids and species borders in the coral genus Acropora 15:30-15:45pm Tung-Yung Fan and Chang-Feng Dai# Reproductive ecology in transplanted and native population of the scleractinian coral Echinopora lamellosa in northern and southern Taiwan 16:15-16:30pm Chang-Feng Dai, Tung-Yung Fan, Jr-Kai Yu and Sin-Che Lee Reproductive isolation and genetic variation of a scleractinian coral, Mycedium elephantotus 16:30-16:45pm Keryea Soong#, Hon-Ming Fan and Chaolun Allen Chen Coral recruitment study at Nanwan, South Taiwan 16:45-17:00pm Jiang-Shiou Hwang and Rudi Strickler In situ observations of the physical-biological interactions between polyps and suspended particles 17:00-17:15pm Wen-Hung Twan, Ching-Fong Chang, Jiang-Shiou Hwang Estradiol-17B and testosterone in scleractinian corals 18:00-21:30pm PSA closing Banquet (PSA invited speakers only, host by Academia Sinica) 19 Nov. 1998, Thursday 8:30-9:00am Registration of Taiwanese Coral Reef Society (TCRS) Election new committee members Session V Evolution and ecology of corals and reef-associated organisms (II) 9:00-10:00am Plenary speech/ Charlie Veron** Reticulate evolution: the alternative paradigm 10:-10:15am Tea/ Coffee break 10:15-10:45am Yehuda Benayahu** and Chang-Feng Dai Soft corals (Octocorallia) from Taiwan 10:45-11:15am Ming-Shu Jeng# Reef-building soft coral, Sinularia 11:15-11:30am Tin-Yam Chan# The reef lobsters of Taiwan and the Pacific 11:30-11:45am Hsin-Ju Lin Spatial changes in the abundance and growth of intertidal Thalassia hemprichii seagrass beds in southern Taiwan 11:45-12:30pm Closing Remark/ Fu-Shiang Chia** Coral reef conservation: from interlectural discourse to social movement Symposium closed 12:15-14:00pm Banquet (TCRS committees, speakers and all participants include TCRS members; host by Inst. Zool. Academia Sinica) 14:00-14:30pm TCRS General Assembly 14:30-15:30pm TCRS new-elected committee meeting (elect new president) 17:00pm Overseas invited speakers fly to Kaohsiung and transfer to Kenting National Park 20:00pm arrive at the Kenting National Park 20 Nov. 1998, Friday 8:30am Diving/ free tour in the National Park 14:30-16:30am Round table disscussion for coral reef conservation of Taiwan Stay at Kenting National Park 21 Nov. 1998, Saturday Departure for Taipei/abroad or stay in Taipei or Kaohsiung for more days Poster Section Authors/ Title S-II-3-1-1 Z.-H. Liao, J.-K. Yu and C. A. Chen Doese zooxanthellae diversity correlate with coral colour patterns? A case study in Pocillopora damicornis S-II-3-1-2 M.S. Goodson, A. M. Savage and A. E. Douglas Molecular diversity of zooxanthellae on a high-latitude coral reef S-II-3-1-3 S.-J. Rau, K.-T. Shao and C. A. Chen Subrepeat variation of mitochondrial control region in Dascyllas trimaculatus: implication for population interdependence of the South China Sea S-II-3-1-4 J. Chen and K. Soong Why are there always two notices before a symposium? how do the marine widges synchornize their emergence? S-II-3-1-5 P.-S. Lee and K. Soong Study of eutrophication in coral reef S-II-3-1-6 L.-C. Tseng and J.-S. Hwang Effects of terrestrial and marine sediments on the activity of a gorgonian, Subergorgia suberosa S-II-3-1-7 W. S. Tasi, G.-N. Zoun, H.-I Hsiesh, M.-D. Lin, N. V. Wei and C. A. Chen Status of coral reef in the Pescadores: ReefCheck98 in the Penghu Islands S-II-3-1-8 N. V. Wei, Y. C. Chiu, Y.-W. Yang and C. A. Chen Status of coral reef in the Posunotao: ReefCheck98 in the Lanyu Island S-II-3-1-9 Y.-W. Yang, N. V. Wei, Y. C. Chiu, K. Soong and C. A. Chen Status of coral reef in the Green Island: ReefCheck98 in the Green Island Cheers, Allen Allen C. Chen, PhD Assistant Research Fellow Institute of Zoology Academia Sinica Taipei, Taiwan Ph: 886-2-2789-9549 Fax: 886-2-2785-8059 E-mail: cac at gate.sinica.edu.tw From c.wilkinson at aims.gov.au Tue Oct 6 03:17:10 1998 From: c.wilkinson at aims.gov.au (Clive Wilkinson) Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 17:17:10 +1000 Subject: Coral Bleaching Message-ID: <199810061134.LAA15964@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Coral Listers If you are not interested in coral bleaching - please delete. For the others; here is a compiled summary of information gleaned out of CHAMP pages and in reply to requests. I have some descriptive summaries to add to each section. The intention is to release this as a plain language report on what has happened, without any analysis of what it may mean with respect to global climate change or coral evolution or whatever. Others are preparing summaries and reviews on that. Please look at these and send back any more information on areas I missed, errors in transcription, and updated results on recovery or death. Many of the early stories of extensive bleaching are now coming back with reports of significant recovery. This report as it is may be overly alarmist - much of the bleached coral may recover. Please send replies back to (please do not send the whole document back - just the bit to change.) thank you=20 Clive Wilkinson ---------------------------------- DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT=20 INTRODUCTION There has been unprecedented bleaching in coral reefs throughout the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and parts of the far eastern and western Pacific ocean. This bleaching has been in parallel with a severe El Nino - event during late-1997 and early-1998, which switched over to a La Nina in= mid-1998. (More to add) MIDDLE EAST ( 1 paragraph Regional summary to add) Bahrain=20 1998 was a very hot year on land, and coral bleaching was first observed in mid-August when water temperatures went from 34 to 370C in a week, and stayed that way for a few weeks (up to 390C in shallow areas). There was 100% bleaching from Hayr Shutaya (20 miles north of Bahrain) south to Fasht Al Adhom, and Fasht Al Dibal (all less than 10 m depth). Mortality of coral was 90% a few weks later. Bleaching was estimated at 50 % on Abul Thama (about 50 miles north of Bahrain). There was major bleaching in summer of 1996 when water temperatures were 37.30C at Fasht Al Dibal. Most corals on Fasht Al Adhom bleached then died and half of corals at Abul Thama that bleached later= died. (Roger Uwate) Oman Extensive bleaching was observed, with temperatures between 29.5 and 31.5=B0C, at 8 sites around Mirbat, southern Oman, between 22 and 26-MAY-98 just prior to the south-east monsoon which drops temperatures as low as 18=BAC. Between 75% and 95% of Stylophora (the most abundant coral genus) bleached, and 50% of large Porites colonies were partially bleached. About 95% of coral were still living despite losing their zooxanthellae. But no bleaching was observed at Sudh, 40 km to the east where seawater temperatures varied between 25 and 25.5=B0C, nor in the Muscat Area, Gulf of Oman where water temperatures in early June were 30.5=B0C. No bleaching was also observed on the Hallaniyat islands, just north of the Yemen border, in an upwelling area from February to April 1998. This was described as a pristine area with coral cover from 10 to 90% growing down to 35 m where macroalgae and corals co-exist in waters which vary between very cool to very warm.=20 (Robert Baldwin, Simon Wilson and Peter Collinson) Saudi Arabia=20 Widespread coral bleaching was seen on 4 patch reefs (seawater temperature 35 to 360C) in mid August, 1998. There was very high mortality (about 95%) in Acropora and other species. Bleaching was minimal at an offshore island reef with seawater temperature below 340C. (Reynaldo Lindo) INDIAN OCEAN The extent of bleaching in the Indian Ocean during 1998 is unprecedented in both the extent and severity. Warm surface waters have migrated from south to north during the first 6 months, with considerable coral reef bleaching occurring in each locality. The warm pool of water was observed in satellite images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of USA. This bleaching is similar, but more severe than the1987 El Nino in the Indian Ocean, which caused some mortality, but the reefs recovered quite quickly in the Maldives. =20 Chagos=20 The atolls apparently escaped bleaching as none has been reported in the past 2 years. No details known. (Charles Sheppard) India=20 Bleaching at Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep islands in May appears similar to what was seen in the Maldives, perhaps less severe. Some bleaching, between 10-30%, was seen in the Gulf of Kutch on the northerly Gujarat coast in early to mid-May.=20 (Arjan Rajasuriya and Jason Rubens) Kenya=20 Bleaching started north of Lamu (2oS), on 18-MAR-98 when temperatures reached 32.50C and continued to April. Bleaching around Mombasa started around 25-MAR and was as low as 50%, but mostly near 100% on almost all reefs seen, where there had been 20% to 50% coral cover. Bleaching was most extreme in shallow water, but was also 50% or more at 20 m. Coral mortality is nearly 100%, but some reefs still have 1 to 5% coral cover.=20 (David Obura) Madagascar There has been patchy bleaching on the Masoala peninsula (north-east coast, 15oS), which probably started in March, but there were no observers. Bleaching and mortality of predominantly Acropora corals in shallow water was 40 to 80%, and 10-40% of mixed species corals in deeper water.=20 (David Obura) Maldives There has been heavy damage to coral reefs in the central tourism region of the Maldives. Relatively severe, short-term bleaching was reported between late April to May, and there are now some signs of partial recovery. Around 80% of corals wholly or partially bleached on the back reef, with around 45% at 10m on the reef slope and 30-40% at 20-30m. Bleaching was also seen at 50m. These observations on North Male Atoll have been effectively confirmed by sea-plane operators who have seen similar levels throughout the Maldives. Other reports from North Male and the Ari Atoll were of up to 95% of mostly Acropora communities dead, including soft corals and anemones. Many massive corals are still under=20 stress and partially bleached.=20 By late May, some recovery is beginning Porites spp. on South Male and Vaavu Atolls, but Acropora species had suffered major mortality, some times up to 100%. On South Male Atoll, temperatures were high, being over 30=B0C a= t 30 m from April to June 1998. Here 100% of some Sinularia soft corals bleached (but not Sarcophyton spp.); corals (Acropora, Fungia and Porites were 60-80% bleached; and even giant clams (Tridacna sp.) were partially bleached. Many anemones have since regained their colour. A similar result was seen in the 70s, with large areas of reefs dead from unknown causes, but recovery was rapid. (Jason Rubens, William Allison, Norbert Schmidt, Reto Wyss, Zdenka Vapenik) =20 Mauritius There was minor bleaching in Mauritius this year, with some small localised areas of moderate bleaching. =20 (Loic Charpy) Mayotte Corals began to bleach at Mayotte (Comoro Archipelago) in mid April on the southern end exposed to the tradewinds, and also in the lagoon, which receives cooler water from the north. (Bernard Thomassin) Reunion During the last 2 weeks of March, there was significant bleaching on the reef flats and reef slopes of Reunion, with Acropora, Galaxea and Pocillopora the genera most affected. were. Water temperatures were high (but not recorded) and there was very heavy rainfall for most of February. (Michel Pichon)=20 Seychelles Corals at 14 sites in the Seychelles Marine Park system were filmed which showed that an average of about 75% were recently dead (ranging from 50% to 95%). The dead corals were covered with filamentous algae which were expanding to cover areas of corals which were dying. Other reports were of moderate bleaching, which was not exceptional. (Loic Charpy and Tom Goreau) Sri Lanka Bleaching started about 10-APR-98 in the south-west at the Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary with over 75% bleaching in the beginning. Almost all coral species between 1 and 8 m, except Montipora spp. were affected when water temperatures went from the normal 29=B0 to 30=B0 C to about 35.5=B0 C in mid April and remained above 320 C until late May. It increased to in excess of 80% on the reef flat 25-APR-98 and on deeper offshore reefs off Colombo. All species appear to have been affected, but soft corals appear to have resisted the bleaching better. Bleaching was noticeable around down to 42 m on the south-east coast near Battilacoa in mid-MAY. No bleaching was observed 100 km further up on the north-east coast of near Trincolamalee in early May. Corals remained bleached up to early June 1998, with most branching and tabulate Acropora and Pocillopora colonies starting to die off and be covered by algae. Some recovery (regaining normal colour) of about 10% of bleached corals was observed in mid July. Bleaching like this has never been seen in Sri Lanka before; any bleached corals in the past recovered within 3 to 4 weeks. (Arjan Rajasuriya and Jason Rubens) Scott Reef (Australia) This remote atoll reef (14oS; 121oE) was observed to have extensive bleaching in May 1998. There was between 70% and 100% bleaching and mortality of corals between 1 m and 9 m and 40% at 30 m depth. Protected shallow sites had up to 75% coral cover, which is now down to 15%, with more corals still dying 3 months after bleaching started. (Luke Smith) Tanzania A serious bleaching episode occurred, which affected principally Acropora and other branching species. (J.L. Solandt) SOUTH EAST and EAST ASIA During June, a warm pool of water developed during the northern summer. It bathed the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, part of Malaysia, Singapore and northern Indonesia. ( 1 paragraph Regional summary to add) Cambodia Corals around Sihanoukville, Cambodia were moderately to severely bleached in mid-May. The water was warm (no thermometers available) and very turbid. The predominant corals are massives (Poritids, Faviids and Mussiids), with few Acropora and Pocillopora species, but most species bleached, with approximately 80% in some places. (Vicki Nelson) Indonesia Coral bleaching of approximately 75-100% of the 25% coral cover was seen around Bali Barat national park (north-west Bali), and at Tulamben (eastern Bali), with many soft corals seen disintegrating.. There was less bleaching at Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.=20 There was significant coral bleaching, up to 60-70% at some depths, in East Kalimantan (Borneo) during Janaury. However, water temperatures were much colder than normal (approximately 23oC) with extensive plankton blooms.=20 Up to May 1998, there was no bleaching on the Spermonde Archipelago, south-west Sulawesi (near Ujung Pandang) and at Bunaken, and around Bangka, north Sulawesi. Coral cover varied between 25 and 75% depending on location and predominant wind direction. =20 (Alastair Harborne and Bert Hoeksema) Japan Many corals bleached in wide area from Okinawa (24oN) to Amakusa (32oN) when water temperatures went over 30oC in July and August. Water temperatures remained high until the first Typhoon in September, which is very unusual. Earlier, a few mushroom corals (Fungia) bleached with water temperatures of 28 to 29oC, which is apparently a regular, annual= occurrence. (Tadashi Kimura and Keven Reed) =20 Malaysia (Sabah) In mid-May, there was bleaching of 30 to 40 % of all live coral cover in 1 to 2 m at Pulau Gaya, Sabah (near Kota Kinabalu) with water temperatures of 320C. Acropora colonies were about 90% bleached and so were some giant clam populations with about 20% showing bleaching. (Don Baker) Philippines Massive bleaching started in mid-July, and may be still ongoing in western regions where reports are coming in from Bolinao (north-west Luzon), to Puerto Galera and southern Negros Island near Dumaguete (central Phils), El Nido (Bacuit Bay) and Coron Island (Palawan), and Pag-asa Island (Spratleys). Temperatures of 33 to 34oC degrees were reported. Bleaching went as deep as 15 m and completely affected soft corals and some anemones. Bleached hard corals were primarily the plating, branching and foliose forms, with up to 75% of the community bleached in some areas. Massive corals were also affected; Faviids were bleached, but large Porites spp. appear to resist bleaching below 5 m, but not on shallow reef flats of Bolinao and Negros. Black band disease was observed on a few bleached colonies. Mortality, however, of bleached corals appears to be low. On the well known Apo Island, some large colonies of Galaxea fasicularlis showed some patchy bleaching (Fiona Gell, Rex Montebon, Laurie Raymundo and David Medio) Singapore=20 There was mass bleaching in June and July, 1998 probably due to elevated seawater temperatures.=20 (Jeffrey Low) Thailand Warm water temperatures in April, 1998 have caused widespread coral bleaching in the Gulf of Thailand from Trat province (far east) down to Singapore. The bleaching has affected tourist attractions such as Chang, Tao and Pha-ngan islands, but not over the other side in the Andaman Sea. Water temperatures in the Gulf increased from 28 to 290C to 320C. It was first noticed in the centre (Chumpon and Surat Thani), then off Pattaya, near Samaesan and Koh Samet, and later at Rayong and Trat. In some places, bleaching has been 100% of Acropora, 80% of Pocillopora damicornis, and about 60 to 70% of massive Porites, especially those in shallow water. Around Chumporn (10.50N), there was 30 - 50 % of corals bleached around Ko Kai, Ko Samet and Ko Tao. (Tenshi Ayuki and Suraphol Sudara). Vietnam Major bleaching was reported in mid-July, 1998 on reefs of the Con Dao Islands, 200 km south of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and 80 km off the Mekong Delta. Extensive bleaching, estimated at over 70% was observed down to 15m on particularly impressive coral reefs, which had been damaged by Typhoon Linda, November 1997. No bleaching was seen at Hon Mun Island (off Nha Trang) where there is frequent cold upwelling, nor was bleaching seen at Halong Bay (far north of Vietnam). (Sue Wells) Australia Sea surface temperatures warmed considerably off eastern Australia during early 1998. Extensive bleaching was observed on inner shelf reefs of the central Great Barrier Reef in late January and February 1998 from Elford Reef (17oS), to Heron Island (23oS). Over 100 coral species bleached, including bleaching and partial death of large Porites colonies that were centuries old. This bleaching appeared to be a combined effect of raised temperatures and massive flows of rainwater in January. Soft corals were extensively bleached on these inner reefs with almost orders bleached. In the upper 5 m, soft corals are 100% bleached and about 20% bleached at 8 - 12 m depth. Mortality was high, even in the normally resistant Sinularia. On Orpheus Island, between 84 and 87% of corals bleached, but 5 weeks later, mortality was between 2.5 and 17%, with the Acropora species being most affected. Pocillopora species were hardly affected. In March, bleaching also extended to southern Queensland (Gneering Shoals (26oS) and northern New South Wales (28=B030'S) on rocky reefs with populations of corals up to 50% coral cover. Water temperatures were around 28=B0C (maybe as high as 30=B0C), whereas they are normally in the mid 20s. Pocillopora damicornis and Stylophora pistillata were most affected with 60-70% of these species bleached to 15m depth. No bleaching was observed on the Flinders Reefs (27oS), between these 2 sites. (Andrew Baird, Simon Banks, Daniel Bucher, Katharina Fabricius) PACIFIC OCEAN (West) ( 1 paragraph Regional summary to add) Fiji No bleaching was seen during the past year over about 180 km on the South side of the Great and North Astrolabe Reefs (18oS), which have extensive coral cover. (Joan Koven) Johnston Atoll=20 No bleaching was seen, but there was evidence of recovery from a bleaching event a few years earlier. These reefs have nearly 100% live coral cover in suitable areas. No elevated water temperatures were observed by satellite. (Les Kaufman) Palau Major coral bleaching occurred in Palau in September, 1998 with water temperatures from 30 to 32oC. About 75% of corals shallower than 15 m bleached. The eventual impact not known, but the area looks awful. (Pat Colin) Papua New Guinea Water temperatures below 10 m around Kimbe Bay (New Britain) were 31-31.5 =B0C in February, and on the surface they were 32-33 =B0C. High mortality of corals was observed with 75% of Acropora affected, and bleaching in many other genera including Porites, Platygyra and Montipora. Some others were partially bleached, but effects were observed down to 50 m. On the south-west side of Kimbe Bay, water was 29.5 to 30=B0C, and there was only 10% Bleaching of Acropora and only isolated cases of bleaching on other species. In March 1998, large areas of reefs south of Normanby Island through to Cape Vogel, and Tufi (far south-east PNG) showed coral bleaching from mid-February. Bleaching extended down to 20 m, but was most=20 extensive in shallow water (almost 100% in some areas, including soft corals and anemones). Water temps were 29 to 300C from December to February, the longest period of warm water on record for in Milne Bay. Reefs to the north Normanby and Fergusson Ids were apparently not affected by any major bleaching. (James Cervino and John Rewald) Samoa (Western) Between 60 to 70% of all Acropora on the reef top bleached within 5-6 days just before 28-FEB-98 at Palolo Deep, National Marine Park near Apia. Corals in deeper water appeared healthy.=20 (Mike King) PACIFIC OCEAN (East) ( 1 paragraph Regional summary to add) Colombia (Pacific Coast) The first signs of bleaching were in late-May, 1997 with small patches on Pocillopora sp. when water temperatures were 29oC. More bleaching was observed in July and August, 1997 with increased signs of bleaching at similar temperatures. In September 1997, up to 30% of some Pocillopora was bleached, whereas similar corals nearby appeared normal. (Fernando Zapata) Galapagos The first bleaching reports were in mid-December when water temperatures of 280C were recorded from satellites. Water was 20C warmer in February and bleaching continued. Nearly all corals on the Galapagos were bleached to some extent by March 1998. The most strongly affected were Porites and Pavona. The genera Psammocora, Diaseris and Cycloseris were bleached on top, but many still had pigment around the bases. Corals bleached down to 30m, but was more extensive shallower than 10 to 15 m depth. Pocillopora, which was most impacted during the big El Nino of 1982-83, seems to be largely resisting this time.=20 (Andrew Baker, Joshua Feingold, Jerry Wellington, Al Strong) Mexico (Pacific Coast) Bleaching was first noticed in July, 1997 from the Gulf of California (25oN) to Jalisco (19oN) and in the remote Revillagigedo Islands (18oN). Bleaching peaked in August- September, 1997 involving about 25% of total coral cover (water temperatures were 31 to 34oC). The most extensive bleaching occurred at Nayarit (20oN), of about 60% of corals mostly shallower than 4 m. Bleaching was 10% to 15% in the Revillagigedos, with some mortality, but had finished in October. The only significant recovery in the Gulf is from new Pocillopora recruits settloing on the old skeletons. This the first time that bleaching has been reported on the Pacific coast. =20 No bleaching or death was observed at Oaxaca (16oN) nor at Clipperton Atoll in November, 1997.=20 (Hector Reyes) Panama (Pacific Coast) There was significant coral bleaching on 17 September 1997 at Uva Island, Gulf of Chiriqui. All coral species were affected down to 20 m. Millepora intricata, the most common species remaining after the 1982-83 El Nino, bleached and died. Other species were still alive but bleached. Almost all coral species in the Gulf of Chiriqui region started bleaching in mid-April, 1998 with 50% to almost 90% of corals with at least partial bleaching. This follows the bleaching above, but is much less intense than 1983. Bleaching occurred when water temperatures were 29 to 31oC, more 1.5oC above normal. Corals from nearby Gulf of Panama showed much less bleaching. (Andrew Baker, Mark Eakin, Peter Glynn and Juan Mat=E9 ) CARIBBEAN SEA=20 ( 1 paragraph Regional summary to add) Bahamas Corals of the central Bahamas showed extensive bleaching in August 1998, with over 60% of all head corals bleached to 20 m around New Providence Island. Extensive bleaching (around 80%) between 15-20 meters depth. Montastrea cavernosa was not bleached, and Acropora palmata bleached on the upper sides only of branches in shallow water. Hurricane Bonnie then dropped water temperatures by 2oC. There was also extensive bleaching at Walker's Cay in the northern Bahamas, with many types of coral affected. (Benjamin Mcpherson, Bill Precht) Belize The entire Belizean coral reef ecosystem experienced massive coral bleaching in early September 1998. Severe bleaching down to 8 m on the fore-reef, top-reef and back-reef of: the main barrier reef at Ranguana Pass; patch reefs at Bird, Crawl, Laughing Bird, Scipio, South Water, and Cocoplum Cayes; pinnacle reefs between Ranguana Pass and Lighthouse Caye off Placencia; offshore reefs of Glover's Reef Atoll and Ambergris Caye; and shallow banks off Rum Point. No bleaching of this extent has been seen before. The bleaching is correlated with exceptionally high water temperatures, and calm weather. Water temperatures have been consistently between 30 and 32oC, and on the surface near some of the cayes, it was between 36 to 38oC. Almost all hard corals and the zooanthid Palythoa exhibited some bleaching. Total to high bleaching was prevalent in Millepora, Agaricia, and Porites.. High to moderate bleaching was prevalent in Montastrea, Siderastrea, and Diploria. Moderate to low bleaching occurred in Dendrogyra and Acropora (although A. palmata was only moderately bleached on the main Barrier Reef, but some totally bleached colonies were seen lagoon patch reefs. (Tom Bright) Bonaire (Dutch Antilles) Less than 15% of corals have bleached in August and September 1998, with partial bleaching in Montastrea annularis between 10 and 20 m and in Agaricia below 20 m. Only a few, small corals in shallow water appear to have bleached. (Kalli De Meyer) Cayman Islands Unprecedented bleaching has occurred during late September 1998 on Little Cayman and Grand Cayman, with all species affected and possibly 90% of all corals heavily bleached. There was extensive bleaching of Acropora palmata and Montastrea annularis at 1 - 5 m depth, and widespread mortality to the abundant Millepora. Even previously resilient Montastrea cavernosa partly bleached. Between 50 and 60% of large colonies of Montastraea faveolata bleached on the North Side of Grand Cayman, but there was virtually no bleaching on the West Wall. (Phil Bush and Jason DeSalvo) Cuba No bleaching has been reported on the south coast of Cuba. =20 (Judy Lang, Peter Sale) =20 Florida (USA) Scattered bleaching was observed in inshore waters of the Florida Keys in early August, 1997, with some colonies partially bleached and others extremely mottled or blotched. Small colonies were entirely bleached.=20 Extensive bleaching to large coral heads in the Gulf of Mexico area of the Keys (Boca Grande Channel, between Boca Grande Key and the Marquesas Keys) was also reported. In July and August, 1998 there was bleaching at Coffins Patch Light in the Florida Keys, with water temperatures of 30 and 31oC. Minimal bleaching was observed Millepora colonies, but there was none on nearby Coffins Patch Special Protected Area (SPA). In late August, 1998 extensive bleaching was seen in Western Sambo Ecological Reserve, Florida Keys. Surface water temperatures were between 30 and 31oC, but 26oC at 10 m. Bleaching was seen in up to 90% of Acropora palmata, with some mortality, 50-80% of Montastrea annularis and A. cervicornis, and 40-60% of other corals. There was moderate bleaching between 10 and 30 m in Dry Tortugas National Park and on the Tortugas Banks in early September, 1998. Approximately 15 to 25% of colonies were affected with water temperatures around 30oC. There was also evidence of bleaching at Ft. Jefferson. In September there was significant recovery of corals on an inshore patch reef known as the Rocks that had been severely bleached in June. Very little mortality was evident. (Billy Causey, George Garrett, Ben Haskell, Walt Jaap, Alina Szmant) Mexico Some bleaching was reported for the Yucatan coast, but no bleaching was seen near Cozumel. (Judy Lang and Peter Sale) Puerto Rico=09 There was no bleaching in 1997. There was, however, moderate bleaching in 1996 after Hurricane Hortense hit the south coast, and all colonies recovered well from partial or total bleaching. In 1998, there has been sporadic, but low frequency bleaching, in several species down to 30 m deep. The most affected were a zoanthid (Palythoa caribbaeroun), and Millepora, but most other corals were normal. (Ernesto Weil) ATLANIC OCEAN Barbados A large area of the Carribee bank reef at 25 to 30m on the south coast has bleached, apparently in September,1998. (Renata Goodridge) Bermuda Brazil There was mass bleaching on patch reefs off the northern coast of Bahia State (12oS; 38oW) on 14-APR-98. There was bleaching of: more than 90% of Mussismilia hispida (endemic coral); 80% of Agaricia agaricites; and 70% of Siderastrea stellata (endemic). Other corals may have been less affected when water temperatures reached 29.5oC on the bottom of these reefs at 9to 12 m, the highest temperature measured during the last 3 years. (Ruy Kenji) Acknowledgements: Thanks go to all those people mentioned above who provided reports. Special thanks go to Al Strong who provides regular reports on sea surface temperatures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of USA, and Jim Hendee who runs the NOAA coral e-mail listing, which has compiled many bleaching reports. From tim_daw at yahoo.com Tue Oct 6 10:21:09 1998 From: tim_daw at yahoo.com (tim Daw) Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 07:21:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Report on Eritrean reefs Message-ID: <19981006142109.15722.rocketmail@send1d.yahoomail.com> Greetings coral listers, Last September and October (as part of IYOR) a Newcastle University expedition studied the status of the coral reefs around the Port of Massawa in Eritrea (NE Africa) including: *Baseline ecological surveys *The structure and operation of the aquarium fish trade *Simple nutrient analysis and investigations into potential eutrophication The completed report will be printed in the next couple of weeks and we have a limited amount of funds left over to produce and distribute copies of the report. If any of you would be interested, or knows anyone who would benefit from the report, please contact us and we will try to send out a copy. We are already planning to send copies to the following organisations: World Conservation Union, East Africa ReefBase GCRMN CORAL WCMC Marine Conservation Society (UK) A sincere thanks to all list members who generously sent us useful advice and encouragement during the planning stages of the project over a year ago. Cheers, Tim Daw P.S. We will also be attending the Reef Conservation UK meeting in London on 9th of November. Tim Daw Expedition Leader Reefs of Massawa Expedition 1997 Hillhead of Craigie Whitecairns Aberdeen AB23 8XE UK Tel. +44 (0)1651 862 496 email: tim_daw at yahoo.com _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com From pawlikj at uncwil.edu Mon Oct 5 13:24:41 1998 From: pawlikj at uncwil.edu (Joe Pawlik) Date: Mon, 05 Oct 1998 13:24:41 -0400 Subject: Bleaching in the Bahamas Message-ID: <199810061901.TAA19300@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Greetings, FYI: I just returned from a 2 week research cruise (14 Sep - 01 Oct) in the Bahamas on board HBOI's r/v Edwin Link to study sponge chemical ecology, and we noted near complete bleaching of all the scleractinians and hydrocorals, along with some gorgonians at most of our sites, including Sweetings Cay, Chubb Cay, Little San Salvador, San Salvador and Egg Is. Samana Cay was much less effected. Regards, ********************************** Joseph R. Pawlik, Ph.D., Professor Biological Sciences UNC-Wilmington Wilmington, NC 28403-3297 voice: (910)962-3475 FAX: (910)962-4066 pawlikj at uncwil.edu http://www.uncwil.edu/people/pawlikj/index.htm ********************************************** From jware at erols.com Tue Oct 6 15:43:35 1998 From: jware at erols.com (John Ware) Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 15:43:35 -0400 Subject: Bleach and spawning report from Bonaire. Message-ID: <361A72E7.CD5D4301@erols.com> Dear Listers, I was on Bonaire from 12 to 19 September. I observed substantial spawning of Montastrea annularis and M. faveolata on 12 Sept. Other divers observed spawning of Acropora palmata and Eusmilia fastigiata on the same evening. The spawning I observed began at about 2155 local time and ended about 3 minutes later. All corals in the visible area seemed to spawn at nearly the same time. We observed minor spawning of various M. annularis forms on 13 Sept. We also observed bleaching of nearly 100% of all Agaricia lamarcki (?) (only 1 not bleaching of several hundred seen) at all depths from about 25 feet to well over 100 feet. No other bleaching was observed but all forms of M. annularis had pale-appearing individuals. Water temperature was 30 oC from the surface to about 100 ft and 29.5 oC below that. Would love to be there another 2 weeks as I suspect bleaching will increase. John. -- *********************************************************** * * * John R. Ware, PhD * * President * * SeaServices, Inc. * * 19572 Club House Road * * Gaithersburg, MD, 20886, USA * * 301 987-8507 * * jware at erols.com * * * * _ * * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * * _|__ * * | _ | * * _______________________| |______ * * |\/__ Sea Services, Inc. \ * * |/\__________________________________/ * *********************************************************** From mnolan01 at sprynet.com Tue Oct 6 18:54:55 1998 From: mnolan01 at sprynet.com (Mike Nolan) Date: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 18:54:55 -0400 Subject: Rainforest and Marine Biology Workshops Message-ID: <199810071309.NAA25832@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Please post or forward to interested Faculty, Students and Staff. Detailed itineraries available upon request. Thank you. Sincerely, Mike Nolan RAINFOREST and MARINE BIOLOGY WORKSHOPS =B7 Sites: Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and southeast Alaska =B7 Workshops are field oriented and focus on natural history, rainforest and marine ecology, conservation, land management, medicinal uses of native plants, local cultures, archaeology and geology =20 =B7 Instruction features local Biologists and naturalist Guides =20 =B7 Proceeds go to sponsoring organization in each country and help support valuable education/conservation projects =20 =B7 Three Undergraduate or Graduate credits in the Natural Sciences or Education are available for attending through Aquinas College of Grand Rapids, Michigan (www.aquinas.edu) =B7 Workshops are sponsored by the Rainforest and Reef Conservation Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA BELIZE Length: 14 Days/13 Nights Cost: $980.00 per person Host/Workshop Coordinator: Belize Tropical Education Center/Tony Garel, Belize City, Belize Topics Covered: =B7 Tropical Moist Forest Ecology =B7 Marine Ecology =B7 Mayan Archaeology=20 =B7 Garifuna Culture Highlights: =B7 Community Baboon Sanctuary =B7 Chan Chich Lodge and surrounding tropical moist forest =B7 R=EDo Bravo Conservation and Management Area =B7 Chaa Creek Natural History Center and Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm=20 =B7 Ix Chel Farm and Panti Medicinal Plant Trail=20 =B7 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve =B7 Garifuna drumming and dancing=20 =B7 Mayan site of Xunantunich =B7 South Water Caye=20 =B7 Great Barrier Reef of Belize and nearby marine ecosystems including, grass beds, patch reefs, mangroves=20 =B7 Sea bird rookeries COSTA RICA Length: 12 Days/11 Nights Cost: $850.00 per person Host/Workshop Coordinator: Juan Pablo Bello Carranza, Las Juntas, Costa Rica Topics Covered: =B7 Tropical Rainforest and Dry Forest Ecology =B7 Conservation and Land Management=20 =B7 Geology/Volcanoes Highlights: =B7 Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve =B7 International Children's Rainforest Reserve =B7 Santa Elena Cloudforest Reserve=20 =B7 Arenal Volcano =B7 Palo Verde National Park=20 =B7 Tempisque River trip =B7 Santa Rosa National Park=20 =B7 Costa Rican cattle and dairy ranch=20 =B7 Abangares gold mines, Ecological Museum and Butterfly Garden =B7 Reforestation project along banks of the Abangares River =B7 Mist-netting and study of vampire bats =B7 Evening presentations on local cultures, medicinal uses of rainforest plants, sustainable uses of forests and Costa Rican history =B7 Post-Workshop extensions to Corcovado and Tortuguero National Parks=20 HONDURAS Length: 14 Days/13 Nights Cost: $765.00 per person Host/Workshop Coordinator: REHDES/Jerry Haylock, La Ceiba, Honduras Topics Covered: =B7 Tropical Rainforest and Marine Ecology =B7 Conservation and Land Management=20 =B7 Mayan Archaeology =B7 Garifuna Culture Highlights: =B7 Mayan site of Cop=E1n =B7 Village of Tela and traditional Garifuna music and dance =B7 Lancetilla Botanical Garden and Research Center =B7 Jeannette Kawas National Park=20 =B7 Cuero and Salado Wildlife Refuge =B7 Pico Bonito National Park =B7 Bay Island of Utila =B7 Marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves and tidal pools=20 =B7 Evening presentations on conservation, rainforest and marine ecology =B7 Butterfly Farm and Museum=20 =B7 White-Water Rafting on the Canjegral River =B7 Post-Workshop extension to La Mosquitia and the R=EDo Pl=E1tano Biosp= here Reserve=20 PANAMA Length: 14 Days/13 Nights Cost: $1100.00 per person Host/Workshop Coordinator: Win Rice, Panama City, Panama Topics Covered: =B7 Tropical Rainforest and Marine Ecology =B7 Conservation and Land Management=20 =B7 Geology/Volcanoes =B7 Indian Cultures =B7 R.O.P.E. Highlights: =B7 Chagres National Park =B7 R.O.P.E. Course =B7 Mist-netting and study of birds and bats=20 =B7 White-water rafting on the Piedres and Chagres Rivers =B7 Ember=E1 Indian village of Par=E1ra Pur=FA =B7 Panam=E1 Viejo (old Panama City), colonial city and modern-day Panama City =B7 Panama Canal =B7 El Ca=F1o Archaeological Park =B7 Bastimentos National Park and the Bocas del Toro Archipelago =B7 Marine ecosystems including, mangroves, grass beds and coral reefs=20 =B7 Gnobe and Bugle Indian cultures =B7 La Fortuna Nature Reserve =B7 Highland mountain village of Boquete =B7 Bar=FA Volcano and National Park =B7 Orchid, fruit and coffee plantations =B7 Evening presentations on tropical medicine/jungle first-aid and orchids of Panama =B7 Post-Workshop partial and complete Panama Canal transits=20 ECUADOR Length: 14 Days/13 Nights Cost: $1050.00 per person Host/Workshop Coordinator: Jatun Sacha Foundation/Dr. Michael McColm, Ph.D., Quito, Ecuador Topics Covered: =B7 Tropical Rainforest Ecology =B7 Biodiversity =B7 Conservation and Land Management=20 =B7 Quichua Indian Culture Highlights: =B7 Quito =B7 Andes Mountain Range =B7 Alpine and cloudforest ecosystems =B7 Jatun Sacha Biological Station and surrounding tropical rainforest =B7 Plant Conservation Center =B7 Solo experience in the rainforest=20 =B7 Animal Rehabilitation Center =B7 Local Shaman's nursery, home visit and "cleansing" demonstration =B7 Quichua Indian village of Capirona=20 =B7 Avenue of the Volcanoes =20 =B7 Highland Indians and villages of Ecuador =B7 Ba=F1os =B7 Evening presentations on a variety of rainforest and conservation topics =B7 Post-Workshop extension to the Gal=E1pagos Islands and/or Cuzco and t= he Lost City of the Incas-Machu Picchu=20 PERU Length: 15 Days/14 Nights Cost: $1145.00 per person Host/Workshop Coordinator: Dr. Paul Beaver, Ph.D., Indian Shores, Florida Topics Covered: =B7 Tropical Rainforest Ecology =B7 Biodiversity =B7 Conservation and Land Management=20 =B7 Indian Culture Highlights: =B7 Amazon River =B7 Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Biological Reserve-included by Audubon Magazine on its=92 list of top 50 ecologically based tour destinations in the world (Sep/Oct 1998) =B7 Fourteen primate species=09 =B7 Evening cruise on the Tahuayo River=20 =B7 Pink freshwater dolphins of Charro Lake=20 =B7 Caiman Lake =B7 Jungle community of Santa Ana=20 =B7 Giant lilypads of Barbasco Lake =B7 Local Shaman "good luck-good health" ceremony=20 =B7 Rainforest canopy experience =B7 Camping on the interior of the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Reserve =B7 Local Indian village market =B7 Post-Workshop extension to the Gal=E1pagos Islands and/or Cuzco and t= he Lost City of the Incas-Machu Picchu=20 SOUTHEAST ALASKA Length: 14 Days/13 Nights Cost: $995.00 Host/Workshop Coordinator: David Berg, Petersburg, Alaska =20 Topics Covered: =B7 Temperate Rainforest and Marine Ecology =B7 Conservation and Land Management =B7 Marine Mammals =B7 Geology/Glaciers/Volcanoes=20 =B7 Indian Cultures =B7 Russian History Highlights: =B7 White-water rafting on the Sauk River in Washington state =B7 Cascade Mountain Range=20 =B7 Inside Passage of southeast Alaska=20 =B7 Wrangell =B7 Petroglyph Beach=20 =B7 Petersburg=20 =B7 Sea kayaking =B7 Whale watching in Frederick Sound=20 =B7 LeConte glacier=20 =B7 Camping in temperate rainforest=20 =B7 Stargavvan Bay estuary and near-shore tide pools =B7 Harbor Mountain-Gavan Hill Trail hike and camp =20 =B7 Mount Edgecumbe hike and camp =B7 Tlingit Native dancing and cultural experience =B7 Sitka Historical Park =B7 Sheldon Jackson Museum and its=92 collection of Native artifacts =B7 Sage Science Center and fish hatchery =B7 Sitka Raptor Rehabilitation Center CONTACT US FOR DETAILED WORKSHOP ITINERARIES REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST Rainforest and Reef Conservation Fund 501(c)(3) non-profit=20 Prospect NE Suite #8 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 USA Phone: (616) 776-5928/Fax: (616) 776-5931/E-Mail: rainforest at mail.org WORKSHOP DATES 1999*=20 Number Workshops by order of preference with #1 being your first choice. Spaces are filled on a first-come first-serve basis. Please be aware that Workshops are popular and may fill quickly. It is recommended that you register as early as possible. BELIZE: 14 D/13 N Jun 15-28_____ Jul 13-26_____ Aug 3-16_____=20 COSTA RICA: 12 D/11 N Jun 14-25_____ Jul 12-23_____ Aug 9-20_____ HONDURAS: 14 D/13 N Jun 10-23_____ Jul 8-21_____ Aug 5-18_____=20 PANAMA: 14 D/13 N Jun 12-25_____ Jul 10-23_____ Aug 7-20_____=20 ECUADOR: 14 D/13 N Jun 17-30_____ Jul 15-28_____ Aug 4-17_____ PERU: 15 D/14 N Jun 26-Jul 10_____ Jul 10-24_____ Jul 24-Aug 7 _____=20 SE ALASKA: 14 D/13 N Jun 17-30_____ Jul 1-13 _____ Jul 15-28 _____ *Other Workshop dates throughout the year are available upon request From garettg at mail.state.fl.us Wed Oct 7 12:46:33 1998 From: garettg at mail.state.fl.us (George S. Garrett) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 12:46:33 -0400 Subject: Four Reefs after Hurricane Georges Message-ID: <01BDF1F0.89114F60@GMD0004> Coral-list folks: Hurricane Georges passed through the Florida Keys in the early afternoon and evening of Friday 25 September. Damage to the human environment of Keys was significant, but it could have been much worse. Damage to the natural environment of the Keys seems to be much less significant. Concern was immediately raised as to the potential impacts of Georges on the Florida reef tract. Local photographer Larry Benvenuti (see some of his photos on the AOML Web site) and I briefly surveyed four reef areas in the Middle Keys area near Marathon on 2 October 1998; Coffins Patch (FKNMS SPA), Coffins Patch Light, Sombrero Deep Reef, and Sombrero Reef (FKNMS SPA). Without going into detail our conclusion is resoundingly that the hurricane did a lot to clean up these reef areas. We saw little evidence at any of these sites that there had been significant damage to hard and soft corals or other sessile invertebrates. We saw little evidence of either overturned coral heads or of broken coral branches. On the other hand, much of the macro-algal overgrowth, silt, and detritus that has been in evidence over the past Summer and in past years seems to have been scoured away. As the substrate for our reef is in fact an ancient reef, those "rock" surfaces are in many cases bare. This was particularly true at Coffins Patch Light and at Sombrero Deep Reef. Coffins Patch and Sombrero Reef show considerable coral bleaching, particularly to brain corals, fire corals, some shallow encrusting corals, and lesser to Star corals unrelated to the hurricane, but all except the brain corals seem to be recovering at these locations. Brain corals remain essentially completely bleached, particularly at Sombrero Reef. Time will only tell there. Evidence of extreme wave conditions resulting from the storm exist at Coffins Patch Light. The light there, consisting of several approximately 16-18" steel I-beams configured into a "tee pee" or "dolphin," was flattened and now lies bent over on the bottom. Similar wave conditions can be presumed at the other locations as well (except the deep reef (40-60')). Thus, we feel the reef faired pretty well even with the strenuous physical forces of the hurricane. Other anecdotal reports (speaking to some local dive operators) indicate that there may have been more significant physical damage at other locations in the Marathon (Middle Keys) area. This should be investigated further. Larry took several rolls of wide angle photos at each location (print and slide). George Garrett Director of Marine Resources Monroe County, Florida From reef at bellsouth.net Wed Oct 7 15:56:23 1998 From: reef at bellsouth.net (Reef Relief) Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1998 15:56:23 -0400 Subject: Hurricane Georges impact on Keys reefs Message-ID: <361BC767.20A@bellsouth.net> Reef Relief teams have assessed coral reefs in the Key West area following Hurricane Georges. Sand Key, Rock Key, and Western Sambo reefs have all been heavily damaged by the hurricane and reports from surveys conducted by sanctuary staff at other sites in the Keys indicate that reefs in the Middle and Upper Keys have also sustained tremendous damage. Up to 90% of the acropora palmata at Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary has been damaged by the storm. Massive pillar corals at Upper Keys reefs are reportedly overturned. Researchers are having difficulty even finding their survey sites in the Lower Keys due to the massive removal of coral formations; some grounding sites are unidentifiable for ongoing restoration work. The Reef Relief Coral Nursery Project at Western Sambo Reef was virtually eliminated by the storm surges which battered the branching corals into thousands of small fragments on the ocean floor. The coral reef has been scoured in many places--even the algae is missing. Substrata of ancient corals is now uncovered, surrounded by many coral fragments and overturned coralheads. Prior to the storm, many of these corals were experiencing a return of last year's extensive coral bleaching. For the past few years, these coral reefs have been attacked by various diseases that have been first observed (in many cases) and monitored as part of the Reef Relief Coral Photo Monitoring Survey. The health and vitality of Keys reefs are seriously compromised. Sedimentation stirred up by the storm has reduced visibility. Some of the corals that usually feed at night are openly feeding during the day in response to the lack of light due to the cloudy water. Corals require clear, clean, nutrient-free waters to thrive. Director of Marine Projects Craig Quirolo will be leading a team to take immediate action to rebuild the coral nursery at Western Sambo Reef. The method employed stabilizes larger fragments of acropora palmata by securing them to concrete pads that are then secured to the ocean bottom. This design by Harold Hudson of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary prevents the fragments from being covered in sediment and allows them to be elevated in a manner that will allow regrowth, provided other conditions make this possible. Quick setting epoxy will be used to secure the fragments to the concrete pads and volunteers are encouraged to get involved. Our window of opportunity is limited to the next few weeks while the coral fragments are still viable. If possible, the program may be expanded to other areas of the reef. The Caribbean is one of the only areas of the world where acropora palmata grows, thus our interest in saving some of those in the Keys. DeeVon Quirolo, Reef Relief (305) 294-3100 From delbeek at hawaii.edu Wed Oct 7 15:57:17 1998 From: delbeek at hawaii.edu (J. Charles Delbeek) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 09:57:17 -1000 Subject: Four Reefs after Hurricane Georges In-Reply-To: <01BDF1F0.89114F60@GMD0004> Message-ID: This brings up an interesting possibility. It is generally accepted that the Caribbean and FL areas have been in a lull when it comes to hurricanes over the last 20-30 years. According to hurricane forecasters, we are now entering a cycle of renewed hurricane activity in the region for the next twenty years or so. Could it be that the increased presence of macroalgae in reef areas in the region could be the by-product of reduced "cleansing" of reef tracts by hurricanes? In closed aquarium systems it is not uncommon to experience increased algal growth in areas where sediments/detritus accumulates. Aquarists often mimic "mini-hurricanes" by agitating the water either by hand or via powerheads set on timers, to dislodge this accumulated sediment and remove it from the system via mechanical filters. Food for thought ... J. Charles Delbeek M.Sc. Waikiki Aquarium University of Hawaii "The fact that my physiology differs from yours pleases me to no end." Mr. Spock On Wed, 7 Oct 1998, George S. Garrett wrote: > Coral-list folks: > > Hurricane Georges passed through the Florida Keys in the early afternoon and evening of Friday 25 September. Damage to the human environment of Keys was significant, but it could have been much worse. Damage to the natural environment of the Keys seems to be much less significant. Concern was immediately raised as to the potential impacts of Georges on the Florida reef tract. > > Local photographer Larry Benvenuti (see some of his photos on the AOML Web site) and I briefly surveyed four reef areas in the Middle Keys area near Marathon on 2 October 1998; Coffins Patch (FKNMS SPA), Coffins Patch Light, Sombrero Deep Reef, and Sombrero Reef (FKNMS SPA). Without going into detail our conclusion is resoundingly that the hurricane did a lot to clean up these reef areas. We saw little evidence at any of these sites that there had been significant damage to hard and soft corals or other sessile invertebrates. We saw little evidence of either overturned coral heads or of broken coral branches. On the other hand, much of the macro-algal overgrowth, silt, and detritus that has been in evidence over the past Summer and in past years seems to have been scoured away. As the substrate for our reef is in fact an ancient reef, those "rock" surfaces are in many cases bare. This was particularly true at Coffins Patch Light and at Sombrero Deep Reef. Coffins Patch and Sombrero Reef show considerable coral bleaching, particularly to brain corals, fire corals, some shallow encrusting corals, and lesser to Star corals unrelated to the hurricane, but all except the brain corals seem to be recovering at these locations. Brain corals remain essentially completely bleached, particularly at Sombrero Reef. Time will only tell there. > > Evidence of extreme wave conditions resulting from the storm exist at Coffins Patch Light. The light there, consisting of several approximately 16-18" steel I-beams configured into a "tee pee" or "dolphin," was flattened and now lies bent over on the bottom. Similar wave conditions can be presumed at the other locations as well (except the deep reef (40-60')). Thus, we feel the reef faired pretty well even with the strenuous physical forces of the hurricane. Other anecdotal reports (speaking to some local dive operators) indicate that there may have been more significant physical damage at other locations in the Marathon (Middle Keys) area. This should be investigated further. > > Larry took several rolls of wide angle photos at each location (print and slide). > > George Garrett > Director of Marine Resources > Monroe County, Florida > From DMBillies2 at aol.com Wed Oct 7 16:16:07 1998 From: DMBillies2 at aol.com (DMBillies2 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 16:16:07 EDT Subject: Hurricane Georges impact on Keys reefs Message-ID: Please add the following screen name instead of DMBillies2 at aol.com please forward this to : RighteousGrL at yahoo.com Thank you Francesca From Steneck at maine.maine.edu Thu Oct 8 00:22:46 1998 From: Steneck at maine.maine.edu (Bob Steneck) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 98 00:22:46 -0400 Subject: Delbeek's question Message-ID: <199810080421.AAA01512@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Charles Delbeek asked: >Could it be that the increased presence of macroalgae in reef areas in the >region could be the by-product of reduced "cleansing" of reef tracts by >hurricanes? It's unlikely because the spatial and temporal patterns do not conform with the prediction. Areas with both high and low hurricane frequencies have experienced macroalgal increases. For example, St. Croix had very low levels of macroalgal biomass through the 1970 despite not having had a hurricane hit for over 50 years. Jamaica also had low biomass prior to and several years following Hurricane Allen. In both cases, macroalgal biomass increased immediately following the die off of Diadema. Diadema control of macroalgal biomass had been demonstrated experimentally by Ogden and Carpenter for St. Croix well before the die-off. Similar increases in algal biomass have been observed throughout the Caribbean. You certainly don't need to believe me (e.g., Steneck 1994), since every hurricane cruise track is posted on the web, the question is testable. Bob Steneck Steneck, R. S. 1994. Is herbivore loss more damaging to reefs than hurricanes? Case studies from two Caribbean reef systems (1978 - 1988). pp 220 - 226. In: Ginsburg RN (ed) Proc Colloquium on Global Aspects of Coral Reefs: Health, Hazards, and History, 1993. Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida. ---------------------------- Robert S. Steneck, Ph.D. Professor, School of Marine Sciences University of Maine Darling Marine Center Walpole, ME 04573 207 - 563 - 3146 e-mail: Steneck at Maine.EDU The School of Marine Sciences Web site: http://www.ume.maine.edu/~marine/marine.html From garettg at mail.state.fl.us Thu Oct 8 09:07:56 1998 From: garettg at mail.state.fl.us (George S. Garrett) Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 09:07:56 -0400 Subject: On Florida Keys and the Florida Reef Tract Message-ID: <01BDF29B.5B628D80@GMD0004> Menchie Ablan: I am aware of the good work of ReefBase. It is much appreciated. To answer your question, there is a difference between the "Florida Keys" and the "Florida Reef Tract" (perhaps better described as the Florida Keys Reef Tract). Essentially, the Florida Keys are and emergent portion of an ancient reef environment (100,000 years) which extends south and westward from the southeastern tip of Florida approximately 200 km (320 km if you include the Marquesas and Dry Tortugas National Park - 60 and 120 km to the west of Key West) . Geologically, the islands are comprised of two carbonate formations, The Miami Oolite formation and the Key Largo Limestone formation. The Key Largo formation extends the length of the Keys to the Tortugas. However, the Miami formation overlies the Keys Largo formation in the area we call the Lower Florida Keys (approximately the last 48 km of the connected islands - see next). The Keys form a crescent shaped archipelago of some 200-300 islands. The core of the archipelago, some 45 islands, are connected to the mainland of Florida by 43 bridges. They are the islands upon which we live. Between the Keys and mainland Florida lies Florida Bay and to the South, the Florida Keys Reef Tract. The Florida Keys Reef Tract is the living reef environment that we see today and lies approximately 7-9 km south of the Keys and parallels the island archipelago. It is bounded on the south side by the Straights of Florida and the Gulf Stream. The emergent ancient reef and the existing living reef lie parallel to one another as a result of the changes in sea level that have occurred over the past 100,000 years and because the Continental Shelf slopes gently south and westward in this area. Because Florida in general has a very low lying topography, Florida has existed in a variation of its current emergent state or a largely submerged state during its recent geologic history. I might note; the Florida Keys would hardly rank with some of the rapid evolutionary environments of say the Galapagos, but they comprise a wonderful mix of tropical Caribbean flora and temperate North American fauna and exhibit a significant number of endemic species or sub-species. A very interesting place to work. -----Original Message----- From: Menchie Ablan [SMTP:M.ABLAN at CGIAR.ORG] Sent: Thursday, October 08, 1998 3:37 AM To: George S. Garrett Subject: On Florida Keys and the Florida Reef Tract Dear George, Hi! I thought maybe you would be the person to ask regarding the difference between the terms Florida Keys and Florida Reef Tract. ReefBase, a global database on coral reefs, records information on a wide range of coral reef information (e.g. ecology, harvest, mariculture, socioeconomics, stresses, coastal tourism and management). We have been encountering both these terms in the literature but have some difficulty distinguishing one term from the other. Maybe you can give us some insight into this. Your help will be very much appreciated. Sincerely, Menchie Ablan ReefBase International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management P.O. Box 2631, 0718 Makati City, Philippines Fax: 63-2-8163183 Ph: 63-2-8180466 ext 315 From paine at nsu.acast.nova.edu Wed Oct 7 14:21:04 1998 From: paine at nsu.acast.nova.edu (Amy PAINE) Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 14:21:04 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Conference Notice: CORAL REEF ASSESSMENT, MONITORING, AND , RESTORATION, April 14-16, 1999, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (fwd) Message-ID: <199810081843.SAA06580@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Please post. Dear Coral Reef Colleagues, Here is an announcement and call for papers for what we feel will be a very interesting April 14-16, 1999 Conference. Please check the indicated web site or write for more info. ************************************************************************** ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS: International Conference on: SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF CORAL REEF ASSESSMENT, MONITORING, AND RESTORATION 14-16 April 1999 Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA Organized by the National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) Purpose: To develop a scientific synthesis of assessment, monitoring, and restoration designed for enhanced understanding and management of all aspects of coral reefs. This conference seeks to also identify emerging concepts and to describe new and innovative scientific and technological approaches. Format: The conference will include invited keynote and plenary talks, contributed papers in three concurrent sessions, a poster session, and workshops. Abstracts: Abstract submission information is available on the web or will be mailed upon request. A special peer-reviewed publication of Plenary Talks and selected Contributed Papers is planned. Registration: Early registration fees apply before 1 January 1999. There is a significant student discount. Registration includes the Conference program of invited Keynote, Plenary Talks, Contributed Papers, Poster Session, Abstract Book, opening reception, closing banquet, poster reception, continental breakfast and break refreshments for each of the three days. Venue: The Radisson Bahia Mar Beach Resort is located in the heart of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Special conference rates are available. For more information on the conference and for registration please check the web at: http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ncri/confinfo_1.html or contact: National Coral Reef Institute Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center 8000 N. Ocean Dr. Dania, FL 33004 USA ncriconfinfo at mako.ocean.nova.edu PHONE: 954-920-1909 Fax: 954-921-7764 ************************************************************************** Thank you. Amy Paine, Assistant, Administrative Operations National Coral Reef Institute Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center 8000 N. Ocean Dr.; Dania, FL 33004 voice (954) 920-1909; fax (954)-921-7764 NSU OC web page: http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ NOTICE: International Conference on: SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF CORAL REEF ASSESSMENT, MONITORING, AND RESTORATION National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) April 14-16, 1999, Ft. Lauderdale, FL http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ncri/confinfo_1.html From jalvarez at kin.cieamer.conacyt.mx Thu Oct 8 16:22:10 1998 From: jalvarez at kin.cieamer.conacyt.mx (Humberto) Date: Thu, 08 Oct 1998 15:22:10 -0500 Subject: Coral bleanching Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19981008202210.0066745c@kin.cieamer.conacyt.mx> Dear?Sirs. Two weeks ago as part of my doctoral dissertation I did some sampling in the coral reef of Mahahual ,in the Mexican Caribbean close to the city of Chetumal.The water temperature in this place wincreased from 82 to88 F (27.7 to31.1 C). While diving nears the crest of reef I noticed clear pale corals. genus Mantastrea , Porites and Agarica which looks as bleaching. I have sampoles of those corals as well as color slides.Looks like the first report of bleaching in Mexico. Jose humberto Alvarez hernandez Centro de Investigacion y Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N. unidad Merida. Merida Yucatan, Mexico. Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km. 6 C.P. 97310. From msbb at acd.ufrj.br Fri Oct 9 12:24:39 1998 From: msbb at acd.ufrj.br (Marcos Soares Barbeitos) Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 13:24:39 -0300 Subject: Looking for new histological methods Message-ID: <9810091624.AA45044@acd.ufrj.br> Dear coral-listers, I'm currently working with the reproductive biology of Montastrea cavernosa. I'm looking for a technique to stain fully developed oocites so that they become visible through mesenteries walls under dissecting microscope. I'm currently making some tests with Yellow Naphtalene. Does anybody have used this stain before? How do I prepare it? Does anyone have any other suitable methods? (I'm already trying Sudam III) I would apreciate any kind of tips, suggestions, references or books that you might be aware of. Thanks a lot. From jogden at seas.marine.usf.edu Mon Oct 12 16:46:11 1998 From: jogden at seas.marine.usf.edu (John Ogden) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 16:46:11 -0400 (EDT) Subject: ICRS 2000 Indonesia Message-ID: Many people are asking me as President of the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) about the next International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) to be held in Indonesia in October of the year 2000. The first circular has been mailed. You may pre-register on line at: www.osceanologi.lipi.go.id Click on Seminar to get to the registration materials. ************ PLEASE NOTE NEW TELEPHONE AREA CODE 727 ************ John C. Ogden, Director Phone: 727/553-1100 Florida Institute of Oceanography Fax: 727/553-1109 830 First Street South Homepage: www.marine.usf.edu/FIO/ St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 USA From rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu Mon Oct 12 17:24:56 1998 From: rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu (rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu) Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 17:24:56 -0400 Subject: Florida Reef Tract Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19981012172456.007c54d0@mail.rsmas.miami.edu> Clarifying the use of "Florida Reef Tract" I believe T. Wayland Vaughan first used Florida Reef Tract in his 1914 paper "The Building of the Marquesas and Tortugas Atolls and a Sketch of the Geologic History of the Florida Reef Tract" Papers from the Tortugas Laboratory, V.5, Carnegie Inst. of Washington, 55-67. I followed Vaughan's usage to include the entire reef-bearing area seaward of the Florida Keys to the seaward edge of reef development in two published papers: Ginsburg, Robert N., 1956, Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists, 40: 2384-2427 and Ginsburg, R.N. et al, 1963 in Hill, M.N. The Sea, v. 3:554-582 John Wiley, New York . In the second paper, a diagram indicated that the Reef Tract extended to the Florida Keys. It has been suggested that the Florida Reef Tract is limited to those reefs along the bank or shelf margin. I believe this restricted usage of the term is inappropriate given the original definitions. In addition, restricting the term to the bank margin reefs would omit the patch reefs between the Keys and the bank margin which are by far the most numerous of all Florida's reefs. Robert N. Ginsburg Professor of Marine Geology Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy. Miami, FL 33149 Phone: (305) 361-4875 FAX: (305) 361-4094 or 4632 From cii at uninet.net.id Mon Oct 12 23:31:07 1998 From: cii at uninet.net.id (Jonathan Simon) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 10:31:07 +0700 Subject: Indonesia coral reef monitoring position Message-ID: <3622C97A.B78FD2A2@uninet.net.id> To: Members of the Coral List From: Jonathan Simon, Chemonics International, Jakarta Greetings from Indonesia. This email is to announce an opening for a coral reef monitoring specialist, to work for 24 months in Indonesia. First, let me quickly introduce myself. I'm Jonathan Simon, and I'm the Asia Project Director for Chemonics International. Chemonics is a U.S. development consulting firm that carries out projects in the environmental and other sectors around the world. I lead our regional office here in Indonesia. Chemonics has been invited by the Indonesian government to submit a proposal for the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Project, a three-year effort focusing on coral reef management and coral reef monitoring systems & databases. We are curently putting together our team and need a coral reef monitoring specialist to work for 24 months over the three-year project life. Tasks to be carried out include the following: * Design and help institutionalize monitoring protocols for coral reef and fishery resources. * Estabilsh Coral Reef Information & Training Centers in several locations. * Advise procedures for coral & coastal data collection, mapping, database management. * Provide hands-on training to local government & community monitoring teams. Required qualifications include: * 7 years work in tropical marine evironments (preferably Indonesia & SE Asia). * Familiarity with and ease in using GPS and recent information technology. * Ability to design and implement a coral reef monitoring program. * Working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia. Assuming things stay relatively on schedule, we expect the project to begin around March 1999. For those interested and qualified individuals, please contact my office directly, and I will send a full Terms of Reference and other relevant information. I can be reached at the following numbers: Chemonics International Jakarta, Indonesia 62-21-251-2357 ph 62-21-251-2358 f cii at uninet.net.id Thank you for your attention. I look forward to hearing from some of you. Best regards, Jonathan Simon From mlsucrm at mozcom.com Mon Oct 12 23:49:37 1998 From: mlsucrm at mozcom.com (SU Marine Lab, COE-CRM Project) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 11:49:37 +0800 (HKT) Subject: Animal symbiosis Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19981013115743.323fad78@mozcom.com> JCH: Hi! I am currently working on animal symbiosis particularly on giant clams and I tried to browse the address you gave on Zooxanthellae photommicrographs but it didn't go throug. I just want to know if you have other sites on the web related to this subject, i hope you can furnish us. It would be very beneficial for my study. Thank you. Wendell From Hoeksema at naturalis.nnm.nl Tue Oct 13 05:32:03 1998 From: Hoeksema at naturalis.nnm.nl (Hoeksema, B.W.) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 11:32:03 +0200 Subject: registration ICRS 2000 Indonesia Message-ID: There is an error in the address given in the previous message. The real address for registration is: Http://www.oseanologi.lipi.go.id/english.htm Click on "seminar" Dr. Bert W. Hoeksema Co-ordinator Sea Research (Fauna Malesiana Marina) National Museum of Natural History Naturalis P.O. Box 9517 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands Tel.: +31.71.5687631 Fax: +31.71.5687666 E-mail: Hoeksema at Naturalis.NNM.nl > -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- > Van: John Ogden [SMTP:jogden at seas.marine.usf.edu] > Verzonden: maandag 12 oktober 1998 22:46 > Aan: Coral-List > Onderwerp: ICRS 2000 Indonesia > > > Many people are asking me as President of the International Society > for > Reef Studies (ISRS) about the next International Coral Reef Symposium > (ICRS) to be held in Indonesia in October of the year 2000. The first > circular has been mailed. You may pre-register on line at: > > www.osceanologi.lipi.go.id > > Click on Seminar to get to the registration materials. > > ************ PLEASE NOTE NEW TELEPHONE AREA CODE 727 ************ > > John C. Ogden, Director Phone: 727/553-1100 > Florida Institute of Oceanography Fax: 727/553-1109 > 830 First Street South Homepage: > www.marine.usf.edu/FIO/ > St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 USA From tswain at acsu.buffalo.edu Tue Oct 13 09:25:56 1998 From: tswain at acsu.buffalo.edu (Timothy D Swain) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 09:25:56 -0400 (EDT) Subject: No subject Message-ID: Announcement: New marine science program in the West Indies!!! The Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology os offering summer and semester long courses at it's new field station in Dominica. For course and application information check out the web site at www.ccpc.net/~sccs From jogden at seas.marine.usf.edu Tue Oct 13 10:23:23 1998 From: jogden at seas.marine.usf.edu (John Ogden) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 10:23:23 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Global Coral Bleaching 1997-1998 Message-ID: The following is a scientific consensus statement developed within the Council of the International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS) following our meeting in Perpignan, France in early September. It will be published in the Society's newsletter REEF ENCOUNTER in December 1998. ********************************************************************* International Society for Reef Studies October 15, 1998 ISRS Statement on Global Coral Bleaching in 1997-1998 During 1997-98, reports of coral bleaching from all the major tropical oceans of the world suggested that this time period had seen the most geographically widespread bleaching ever recorded, with some areas (eg. Singapore, and the Andaman Islands) witnessing extensive bleaching for the first time in recent history. Coral bleaching has been described in at least 32 countries and island nations in 1997-98; with reports from sites in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Mediterranean and Caribbean recording widespread bleaching. The bleaching response represents a loss of symbiotic algae and/or their pigments such that the coral may pale in color to a varying extent, or turn starkly white. Paling of some coral species is an observed seasonal phenomenon in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and also the Caribbean. Where bleaching is seasonal, or less severe, the likelihood of full recovery of pigmentation is high. In the present bleaching episode the response has been exceptionally severe with a large number of corals turning completely white and subsequently dying. Mass bleaching normally occurs when seasonally maximal sea-surface temperatures (SST) are exceeded. The likely triggers of bleaching are elevated SST and solar radiation. Research has indicated that these factors act in combination, rather than alone. Additional causes of bleaching such as extreme low tides and reduced salinities have also been implicated at some sites in 1998. The occurrence of bleaching at many locations has been patchy with more severe bleaching recorded in shallow waters than at deeper offshore sites. Not only hard and soft corals, but also sea anemones, zoanthids, giant clams, foraminifera and many other zooxanthellate invertebrates are affected by the loss of their symbiotic algae. Corals can recover from bleaching but death may result if environmental stressors are extreme and/or prolonged. In the Indo-Pacific fast-growing, branching corals are more susceptible to bleaching than slow-growing boulder corals, leading to a high mortality in the former. Recovery of boulder corals has been frequently recorded in 1998, often within 1-2 months of initial bleaching. In the Caribbean, however, greater bleaching-related mortality has been shown in boulder and plate-like corals rather than in branching species, which had already suffered extensive mortality from storms, diseases and terrestrial run-off. In the Indo-Pacific the susceptibility of different corals to bleaching can significantly affect coral community structure and diversity, depress the rate at which the reef builds up, and reduce habitat availability for other reef species. Previous cases of bleaching-induced mortality from 1993 in the Pulau Seribu (Java Sea) and from 1996 in the Similan Islands (eastern Indian Ocean) have provided examples of community change. At both sites shallow parts of the reef have been temporarily transformed from being a mixture of branching and boulder corals to areas in which virtually only the boulder corals survive. During the current 1998 bleaching, one reef on the Australian Great Barrier Reef has been so severely affected that even many of the robust boulder corals (one of them dated as over 700 years of age) were badly damaged or died. Complete recovery of reefs following severe bleaching is dependent on growth and fragmentation of remaining corals, and on recruitment from stocks in the area. Evidence shows that restoration of the reef to its former state may be slow or, if interrupted by man-made change, may even be halted altogether. Links have been made between the widespread incidence of coral bleaching in 1997/98 with one of the strongest El Ninos of this century. While past and present coral bleaching events in many parts of the Pacific appear to be closely matched to El Nino-induced seawater warming, the connections are not clear-cut for all locations in the Pacific. Nor can bleaching in Indian and Atlantic waters be directly linked to only El Nino phenomena. Factors responsible for elevated SSTs in the Indian Ocean, for example, are likely to be the result of a complex product of El Nino-related, monsoonal and local oceanographic factors which are superimposed on interdecadal patterns in climate variability. Links between the apparent changing nature and frequency of the El Nino phenomena and global climate change have also been made but are the subject of controversial debate among climatologists with many suggesting that present patterns reflect the natural variability of the system rather than the effects of greenhouse gas-induced warming. For some of the tropical oceans significant increases in SST have been observed over the last 50 years. Concerns about the potential effect of global change on future frequencies of severe bleaching events are based on the narrow upper margin of environmental tolerance in corals. While corals display impressive acclimation processes to changes in some environmental parameters, it is not known whether they are able to adapt or acclimatize at rates which match the projected rates of background seawater temperature increase. Should seawater temperatures rise, either as a result of greenhouse gas emissions or natural variability in the ocean/atmosphere system, then we might expect the incidence and severity of coral bleaching to increase yet further in the future with the possibility of substantial changes to the coral reef community structure. The 1997-98 episode of worldwide bleaching is a major cause for concern. Although sea temperatures have returned to normal in many tropical areas of the world the full extent of bleaching-induced mortality may not be fully apparent for several months yet. ********** End of ISRS Statement ********** The International Society for Reef Studies (ISRS), consisting of over 750 members in over 50 countries, was founded in 1981 for the purpose of promoting the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge and understanding of coral reefs, both living and fossil. The ISRS publishes the scientific journal CORAL REEFS and holds periodic meetings around the world. Further information as well as membership details can be found at: www.uncwil.edu/isrs For Further Information Contact: John C. Ogden, Ph.D., ISRS President Florida Institute of Oceanography 830 First Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 USA Tel: 727-553-1100 Email: jogden at marine.usf.edu OR Terence C. Done, Ph.D., ISRS President Elect Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB 3, Townsville MC Queensland 4810 AUSTRALIA Tel: 61-77-534-344 Email: t.done at aims.gov.au From tswain at acsu.buffalo.edu Tue Oct 13 11:45:16 1998 From: tswain at acsu.buffalo.edu (Timothy D Swain) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 11:45:16 -0400 (EDT) Subject: No subject Message-ID: Announcement: New marine science program in West Indies!!! The Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology is offering summer and semester long courses at it's new field station in Dominica. For course and application information check out the web site at: http://www.ccpc.net/~sccs From gschmahl at ocean.nos.noaa.gov Tue Oct 13 12:20:08 1998 From: gschmahl at ocean.nos.noaa.gov (Schmahl, G.) Date: 13 Oct 1998 12:20:08 -0400 Subject: Florida Keys Hurricane Impacts Message-ID: Staff of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary have made a quick, qualitative survey of some coral reefs of the lower Florida Keys following hurricane Georges. To date, the following reefs have been surveyed: Looe Key, Maryland Shoal, Western Sambos, Eastern Dry Rocks, Rock Key and Sand Key. All of these reefs exhibited hurricane related impacts. In general the center of the storm injury appeared to be at Western Sambos reef, with lesser amounts observed in either direction. The power of the storm in this region was impressive. Large amounts of sediment and rubble have been moved around. In some cases 2 feet or more of sediment has been removed from the grooves between the coral spurs and deposited on the reef flat and back reef areas. Many navigational markers were knocked down by the storm. Marker 24, a cluster of five steel I-beams at Looe Key is still embedded in the substrate, but bent over at a 90 degree angle on the sea floor. Many of the other reef markers are also down including ones at Western Sambo, Maryland Shaol, Coffins Patch and Newfound Harbor. One survey site marker for the EPA coral monitoring program, which is a 1 inch square stainless steel stake drilled and epoxied into the reef substrate, was observed to be bent over and cracked at the base. Hurricane impacts were observed down to 70 feet (Looe Key) and 60 feet (Western Sambo). However, in general, the impoacts at these depths were relatively minimal. At these locations the tops of many barrel sponges (Xestospongia muta) were sheared off. There was also evidence of movement of sediment and rubble, and a few coral heads were toppled. One significant observation is that all reefs, including the deeper ones, have been essentially "scoured" of most benthic macroalgae (with the exception of Halimeda). Prior to the storm, it had been observed that there was an unusually abundant amount of benthic algae, primarily Dictyota, on all reefs. This algae is gone now, giving the reef a "clean" appearance that I have not observed in many years. The fore reef zone of these spur and groove reefs also, in general, look pretty good. As already mentioned, a large amount of sediment and rubble has been removed from the grooves. I observed a number of coral heads, some quite large (2 meters high), that were broken off and lying in the grooves. There seemed to be a quite substantial amount of this at the west end of Looe Key, where I also observed a portion of a reef spur that had cracked off and incompletely separated from the reef. Again, most of the benthic macroalgae on the fore reef is now gone. Acropora palmata on the fore reef was impacted (major branches boken off, etc.) but for the most part survived. The major imacts to the surveyed reefs occurred in the shallow reef zones. All reefs surveyed sustained significant injury to Acropora palmata populations which were located in the shallow reef flat and back reef environments. In some areas, such as Western Sambo and Looe Key, the elkhorn coral has been eliminated from portions of the reef flat and back reef areas. I was surprised by the lack of broken branches and other rubble material in these areas - it has been simply swept away. However, there are some surviving bases at both reefs that can act as a population source for regeneration, as well as some broken pieces that could reattach. Losses of palmata at Western Sambo in this zone is probbably greater than 50%. At Looe Key the only palmata fragments I could find on the reef flat was at the western end of the reef. The extensive palmata zone at Rock Key was heavily impacted, but there appeared to be many more colony bases intact and broken pieces around than at Western Sambo. A large amount of newly exposed rubble has been redeposited on the reef flat. This newly exposed material, which is yellowish white, has been rapidly colonized by a fine, filamentous green algae, which in some cases is quite heavy, giving some areas a greenish hue when observed from the surface. These are only "quick look" observations. Further surveys are ongoing. The FKNMS is fortunate in that there are a number of quantitative monitoring stations on these and other reefs that have been established in recent years. These stations will be re-surveyed to give a more detailed account of hurricane impacts. G.P. Schmahl, Lower Keys Regional Manager Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 216 Ann St., Key West, FL 33040 (305) 292-0311 From fisheries at fisheries.org Tue Oct 13 14:43:15 1998 From: fisheries at fisheries.org (American Fisheries Society) Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 14:43:15 -0400 Subject: AFS CALL FOR PAPERS Message-ID: <2.2.32.19981013184315.006e2c9c@mail.fisheries.org> 1999 American Fisheries Society August 29- September 2, 19999 Charlotte, North Carolina ALL FOR PAPERS "Integrating Fishery Principles from Mountain to Marine Habitats" Is Theme of 1999 Annual Meeting Deadlines Symposia Proposals: 4 December 1998 Abstracts for Contributed Papers and Posters: 8 January 1999 Abstracts for Symposia Speakers: 12 February 1999 The American Fisheries Society (AFS) announces the first call for its 129th Annual Meeting, to be held at the Adams Mark Hotel and Conference Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The meeting theme is "Integrating Fishery Principles from Mountain to Marine Habitats." In the last quarter of the twentieth century, public awareness of environmental issues has grown exponentially and increased the demand for healthy aquatic ecosystems. Fisheries scientists and managers have responded by broadening both the disciplinary and geographic scope of their work. The fisheries professional of today may have training in human dimensions, engineering, or veterinary medicine as well as in traditional fisheries subjects. Fisheries professionals frequently work in teams to address complex, large-scale issues involving entire ecosystems. Organizers of the 1999 Annual Meeting encourage all fisheries professionals to share their particular experience and expertise. We also encourage participation by junior scientists and students representing the diversity of our profession. Contributed Papers and Posters The scientific program will include two types of sessions: contributed paper/poster sessions and symposia (including workshops or panel discussions). Oral presentations will be limited to 20 minutes; the recommended format is a 15-minute presentation using 2"x 2" slides followed by a 5-minute question-and-answer period. In symposia sessions, 2 time slots (total 40 minutes) may be used for a keynote speaker or panel. This flexibility will enable symposia organizers to develop the best program possible while permitting attendees to take advantage of various presentations in concurrent sessions. The Program Committee for the 1999 AFS Annual Meeting invites abstracts for contributed papers and posters. Abstracts must follow the required format and must be received by 8 January 1999. Submissions by e-mail or 3.5" diskette (MAC or DOS format) are highly encouraged. Symposia Proposals for symposia will be accepted from individuals or groups. Topics should be related to the 1999 meeting theme or be of general interest to AFS members. Symposium organizers will serve as session moderators and will be responsible for recruiting speakers and soliciting abstracts. Symposia proposals should be submitted by e-mail or 3.5" diskette and must be received no later than 4 December 1998. Proposals must comply with the format for symposia described here. Organizers of provisionally accepted symposia must submit a completed outline showing confirmed speakers and titles before final acceptance on or before 15 January 1999. Abstracts for approved symposia speakers (in the same format as contributed papers) are due by 12 February 1999. Format for 1999 Symposia Proposals (1) TITLE: Brief but descriptive. (2) ORGANIZER(S): Provide name, address, phone, FAX, and e-mail for all organizers. Indicate by asterisk the name of the person who should be contacted regarding acceptance and scheduling of the proposed symposium. (3) DESCRIPTION: In 300 words or less, describe the problem addressed by the proposed symposium, the objective of the symposium, and the impact the proposed symposium will have on AFS members and participants. (4) FORMAT: Indicate format and length of proposed symposium (for example, a full-day session with 15 speakers followed by a 2-hour panel discussion; a 2-hour session with 5 speakers). (5) MODERATOR: Identify who will serve as moderator for the symposium. (6) AUDIOVISUAL NEEDS: List anticipated audiovisual requirements (for example, a video cassette recorder projector or slide projector). Also, list special seating requirements (for example, "After break a panel discussion with seating for 10 panel members will be needed"). (7) SPEAKERS AND TOPICS: Using the following column headings, provide the name, potential title or topic, and confirmed status for each speaker. Name Title/Topic Confirmed (yes/no) 1. 2. (8) SPONSOR(S): A sponsor is not required, but if applicable, indicate sponsorship. Format for Abstracts All abstracts for contributed papers, symposia, and posters must be submitted electronically using the format depicted in the accompanying example. Please keep titles brief but descriptive; list all authors, their addresses, phone and FAX numbers, and e-mail addresses, and indicate the presenter with an asterisk. The body of the abstract is restricted to 200 words. If you are submitting a contributed paper or poster, indicate your preference for Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation, or Oral Presentation Preferred/Poster Presentation Acceptable. Poster submissions are highly encouraged due to limited space available in the program. A poster session will be scheduled to permit discussions between poster authors and attendees. Also, please indicate which of the categories best fits the concept of your abstract in the "Topic" line of the abstract. This will aid the Program Committee in organizing contributed sessions and will prevent conflicts with concurrent talks. An Example Abstract for the 1999 AFS Annual Meeting C. Andrew Dolloff* (USFS-SRS Coldwater Fisheries Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321; 540/231-4864; FAX 540/213-7580; afs99 at vt.edu) Robert F. Carline (USGS-BRD Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit, School of Forest Resources, 113 Merkle Building, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802; 814/865-4511; FAX 814/863-4710; afs1998 at psu.edu) Abstracts are used by the Program Committee to evaluate and select papers for inclusion in the scientific and technical sessions of the 1999 AFS Annual Meeting. An informative abstract contains a statement of the problem and its significance, study objectives, principal findings, and key conclusions. Abstracts should be 200 words or less and conform to the prescribed format. Topic: Fisheries management Preference: Oral presentation preferred/poster presentation acceptable Author(s)? Status and Association to AFS: Name???????? Status ??????????? AFS Member 1. C. A. Dolloff professional yes 2. R. F. Carline professional yes General Topics for Contributed Papers and Posters Fisheries Management, Aquatic Communities and Ecosystems, Human Dimensions of Fisheries, Policy, Education, Fish Health, Genetics, Physiology, Fish Culture, Habitat and Water Quality, Population Dynamics, Statistics and Modeling, Marine Fish Ecology, Freshwater Fish Ecology, Bioengineering, Other (please specify). Who to Contact Submit all materials (symposium proposals, contributed paper abstracts, and poster abstracts) via e-mail to C. Andrew Dolloff at afs99 at vt.edu. Format all submissions in WordPerfect? (version 8.0 or earlier), Word? (version 6.0 or earlier), or ASCII; use a standard 12-point font and left justification only. If you do not have access to e-mail, submit a 3.5" floppy disk or, as a last resort, a hard copy to C. Andrew Dolloff, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321. Late submissions and facsimiles will not be accepted. The American Fisheries Society does not waive registration fees for symposia, workshop, or contributed session participants. From coralcay at mozcom.com Wed Oct 14 08:34:25 1998 From: coralcay at mozcom.com (Pamela L. Coscolluela) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 20:34:25 +0800 Subject: Species specific- Bleaching. Message-ID: <3.0.32.19981014202124.00687a64@mozcom.com> Dear Coral listers, I am very interested in knowing why some species/life forms are more prone to bleaching than others eg. foliose spp, pachyseris spp, pavona clavus, tabulate acroporas, seriatopora hystrix, stylophora pistillata. If any one can enlighten me a little more, or knows of a good source to find this information, especially information on species specific recovery rates etc I would be most appreciative. I Look forward to any comments. Please respond to coraycay at mozcom.com - and mark for the attention of Gillian Goby. Cheers, Gillian. From belyoha at emirates.net.ae Wed Oct 14 23:25:13 1998 From: belyoha at emirates.net.ae (BELYOHA) Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 20:25:13 -0700 Subject: First Time but Need Help Message-ID: <199810141829.SAA28283@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> I am a lonely biologist in the United Arab Emirates and need some help for a small group of active Emirate national divers. They have been asked to help remove - crown-of-thorns starfish from reefs in the Sharjah Emirate, Khor Fakkan coast on the west end of the Gulf of Oman. I am seeking any contacts, assistance, pointers on how best to remove the creatures. We are also trying to figure out why/how they became so prominent and perhaps expanding in the western end of the Gulf of Oman and into the Arab/Persian Gulf. We are also asking for assistance from the Australians and I wanted to find out if there are any guidance from other areas of the globe. We can mobilise about 20 divers for two weeks and once they are familiar with the conditions and procedures they will become the teachers/masters for other groups. We will try to do some science along the way and hopefully the local agencies will support the effort for at least one year to see how and where it goes. Please advise on any tricks or cautions you might have for the COTS or other stars/coral predators which might be applicable.... Thanks Alot - Dr. Tom Williams, UCB,1972.... From pipuli at ozamiz.com Thu Oct 15 04:10:02 1998 From: pipuli at ozamiz.com (pipuli at ozamiz.com) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 16:10:02 +0800 Subject: coral bleaching Message-ID: <199810151151.LAA04852@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Friends, This month, fishers of our organized groups consulted us about corals dying in the area. Myself and Arjan (both marine biologists) went for a dive to inspect (October 13). We observed that the corals of the entire DANAO BAY has suffered bleaching. Most of the soft corals were affected, all turning white and rotting, some massive and submassive forms (staghorn, brain type) colors turning violet and white. We also noticed that the "fire corals" were not affected, maybe this is something to do with ultraviolet rays, because of the pigmentation of the fire corals (absorbs uv light),there is no effect, or maybe it has high tolerance or has not shown any effect yet (not yet noticeable). The fishermen said that it started in September, we also heard observations from neighboring islands in the Philippines (Bohol and Dumaguete). With this, I would like to inquire if it is happening in other places outside the Philippines, if it is, we may dealing with a global situation. Next week were trying to put it on our homepage 0000,0000,ffffhttp://ozamiz.com/earthcalls/ try and visit the site. Area of detection: DANAO BAY Baliangao, Misamis Occidental Philippines Any help!!! jade fraser researcher From jalvarez at kin.cieamer.conacyt.mx Thu Oct 15 12:25:46 1998 From: jalvarez at kin.cieamer.conacyt.mx (Humberto) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 11:25:46 -0500 Subject: Coral Bleanching in Mexican Caribean Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19981015162546.0069f92c@kin.cieamer.conacyt.mx> >Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 10:11:21 -0500 >coral-list at aoml.noaa.gov >From: Humberto >Subject: Coral Bleanching in Mexican Caribean > > > > Two weeks ago as part of my doctoral dissertation I did some sampling in the coral reef of Mahahual ,in the Mexican Caribbean close to the city of Chetumal.The water temperature in this place wincreased from 82 to88 F (27.7 to31.1 C). While diving nears the crest of reef I noticed clear pale corals. genus Mantastrea , Porites and Agarica which looks as bleaching. I have sampoles of those corals as well as color slides.Looks like the first report of bleaching in Mexico. > > Jose Humberto Alvarez Hernandez > > Centro de Investigacion y Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N. > unidad Merida. Merida Yucatan, Mexico. > Carretera Antigua a Progreso Km. 6 C.P. 97310. > From oseana at mail.caribe.net.mx Thu Oct 15 17:28:56 1998 From: oseana at mail.caribe.net.mx (Shauna Slingsby) Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 16:28:56 -0500 Subject: design for bleaching monitoring Message-ID: <21285639017588@caribe.net.mx> Dear coral experts, I am writing from Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico and have just rejoined the list serve after a computer crash. I have unfortunately missed a great deal of the bleaching discussion. We are experiencing massive bleaching here and I would like some advice on how to best document the change and recovery. I have spoken with Pto. Morelos marine lab which is located a little north of us. I would like to ask for your advice and expertise in designing a bleaching monitoring program. Quadrants? Transects? Size? Number of colonies/species? I have a rough plan but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much, Shauna Slingsby Shauna Slingsby Program Director Akumal Coral Reef Program Centro Ecologico Akumal Apdo. Postal #2 Akumal, Quintana Roo Mexico 77760 tel: +52-987-59095 fax: +52-987-59091 email: oseana at mail.caribe.net.mx website: http://www.geo.cornell.edu/cea/index.html From melanie at seas.marine.usf.edu Fri Oct 16 17:46:18 1998 From: melanie at seas.marine.usf.edu (Melanie Dotherow) Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 17:46:18 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Bleaching in Belize Message-ID: Coral Bleaching Report: Sept. 17 - 21, 1998. Barrier reef sites at Gallows Reef, Goffs Caye and Alligator Caye and at Calabash Caye, Turneffe Atoll all showed moderate bleaching levels qualitatively estimated at 25-30% affected (W. Jaap and M. McField) at depths of 14-18m. Sept. 23 - Oct. 7, 1998. Glovers reef atoll showed higher levels of bleaching, quantitatively measured to be 76% affected along the western fore reef (near Baking Swash) at 12-15m. The eastern fore reef near Long Caye and the shallow patch reefs in the lagoon were qualitatively estimated to be between 70-80% affected (M. McField). Partial tissue mortality was evident in some colonies by early Oct., particularly in Acropora cervicornis and palmata, Diploria labyrinthiformis, Montastrea annularis, Millepora complanata, and Porites porites. This is the second mass bleaching event in Belize, the first being in 1995. Some apparent differences between the 1995 and 1998 events: 1. While the general extent of bleaching may be comparable in 1995 and 1998, in 1995 bleaching was more evenly distributed throughout the reef, while the severity of bleaching in 1998 appears to be greater in the southern and northern (Ambergris) regions, compared to the central region near Belize City. (Details of 1995 event are in press, M. McField, Bul. Mar. Sci.) 2. The high incidence and severity of bleaching in acroporids (including some mortality) observed thus far in the Glover's patch reefs was not observed in 1995. Bleaching of acroporids and subsequent high mortality (possibly associated with white line disease) was also reported from North Ambergris Caye (G. Smith) in 1998. Acroporids were not severely affected at either location in 1995. Overall, the incidence of colonies experiencing at least partial tissue mortality will likely be higher in 1998. In 1995, 10% of colonies were estimated (through a combination of tagging studies and quantitative surveys) to have experienced at least partial tissue mortality. Oceanographic and climatic conditions were similar in Sept. 1995 and 1998, with high water temperatures, low wind speeds, and exceptionally calm, clear waters. *..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..* Melanie Dotherow McField melanie at marine.usf.edu Department of Marine Science Tel: (727) 553-1615 University of South Florida Fax: (727) 553-1189 140 Seventh Ave. South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 From c.wilkinson at aims.gov.au Fri Oct 16 22:36:12 1998 From: c.wilkinson at aims.gov.au (Clive Wilkinson) Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 12:36:12 +1000 Subject: Bleaching Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19981017123612.0069bf50@email.aims.gov.au> A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 893 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19981017/87f36c0c/attachment.bin From katwini at earthlink.net Mon Oct 19 08:20:51 1998 From: katwini at earthlink.net (Kathryn Winiarski) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 05:20:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: coral Message-ID: hi, just a note to let you know i have a story in today's (10/19) USA TODAY, p.4, about coral reefs. happy reading ************************* Kathryn Winiarski Reporter USA TODAY - National News kwiniarski at usatoday.com ************************* From tsocci at usgcrp.gov Mon Oct 19 11:15:59 1998 From: tsocci at usgcrp.gov (Tony Socci) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 11:15:59 -0400 Subject: October 22, 1998 USGCRP Seminar: "Which World? - A Look at Three Plausible Trend-Based Scenarios of the Future" Message-ID: U.S. Global Change Research Program Seminar Series Which World? - A Look at Three Plausible Trend-Based Scenarios of the Future Public Invited Thursday, October 22, 1998, 3:15-4:45 PM Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Room G-11 Washington, DC Reception Following What is a scenario and how does it differ from a prediction? What is the rationale for selecting a finite set of scenarios of the world among a host of possible scenarios? Based on current trends, where might the world be heading and what are the implications? INTRODUCTION Ms. Sherburne (Shere) Abbott, Executive Director, Board on Sustainable Development, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC Dr. Richard Moss, Head, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Working Group II (Assessment of Climate Change) Technical Support Group, Washington, DC SPEAKER Dr. Allen Hammond, Director of Strategic Analysis, World Resources Institute, Washington, DC Overview Looking 50 years into the future, the scenarios described below are based, in part, on the analysis of persistent long-term, demographic, economic, social, environmental, and security trends on a global scale, as well as persistent long-term trends for seven major regions of the world. The analysis is based upon country-by-country data from the World Bank, the United Nations, the World Resources Institute, and other authoritative sources. It also employs scenarios to go beyond trends and explore more complex possibilities for how the future may unfold scenarios that reflect very different mindsets or world views as well as different trajectories into the future. The results of this analysis suggest that the future is contingent upon a number of critical factors. Some critical trends are positive but others suggest that the world is moving toward a troubled future; the plausible trajectories diverge sharply. Any global destiny depends on regional choices made separately in many different corners of the world. The world is already so strongly interdependent that no region's future can be fully separate from that of others. The U.S. and Canada, for example, have an enormous stake in the fate of developing regions as these regions represent future markets, potential sources of instability and new diseases, and are settings for large-scale migrations. Their cooperation is critical to managing global environmental, social, and security challenges. Although the challenges are daunting, the results of this work suggest that there are many opportunities to shape an improved world. Three Plausible Scenarios of a Future World The scenarios derived from this analysis are: 1) Market World - a future based on the belief that market forces and new technology will lead to rising prosperity and will offer humanity a bright future, a future in which markets rule and global corporations dominate. In this scenario, economic reform and technological innovation fuel rapid economic growth. Developing regions are integrated into the global economy, creating a powerful global market, and bringing modern techniques and products to virtually all countries. The result is widespread prosperity, peace, and stability. This vision of the future is explicitly or implicitly endorsed by the vast majority of corporate leaders and economic theorists whose voices appear to be bolstered by the failure of centrally-planned economies. 2) Fortress World - a grimmer future in which islands of prosperity are surrounded by oceans of poverty and despair, a future of conflict, violence, instability, social chaos, and growing environmental degradation. This scenario is a pessimistic vision based on the failure of market-led growth to redress social wrongs and prevent environmental disasters, at least in many parts of the world, so that on the belief that unconstrained markets will exacerbate these problems, large portions of humanity will be left out of the prosperity that markets bring to others. In this scenario these failures eventually destroy the natural resources and social framework on which markets and economic growth depend. Economic stagnation spreads as more resources are diverted to maintain security and stability. Economic fragmentation occurs where conflict dominates or the social order breaks down. In this scenario enclaves of wealth and prosperity coexist, in tension, with widening misery and growing desperation. 3) Transformed World - a future in which fundamental social and political changes offer hope of fulfilling human aspirations. This is a visionary scenario in which fundamental social and political change, possibly even changed values and cultural norms, give rise to enlightened policies and voluntary actions that direct or supplement market forces. This scenario envisions a society in which power is more widely shared and in which new social coalitions work from the grass roots up to shape what institutions and governments do. Although markets become effective tools for economic progress, they do not substitute for deliberate social choices. In this scenario economic competition exists but does not outweigh the larger needs for cooperation and solidarity among the world's peoples and for the fulfillment of basic human needs. This vision asserts the possibility of fundamental change for the better - in politics, social institutions, and the environment. Surprisingly, the results of this analysis suggest that China's future does not look as secure as conventional wisdom would have it. Latin America, but for one problem, might well become the richest of any developing region. Southeast Asia, despite its current problems, may still have the brightest future of any developing region. And the most dubious and difficult future goes not to sub Saharan Africa but to North Africa and the Middle East. Biography Dr. Allen Hammond is senior scientist and director of strategic analysis for the World Resources Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan research institute located in Washington, D.C. His responsibilities include institute-wide leadership in the use of analytical methods and information tools for policy research, direction of the Strategic Indicator Research Initiative on environmental and sustainable development indicators, development of WRI's Communications 2000 strategy, and writing and research on long-term sustainability issues. He was formerly the editor-in-chief of the World Resources Report series. Prior to joining WRI, Dr. Hammond created the Research News section of the international journal "Science" and went on to found, and serve as editor, of several national publications, including "Science News" (published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science), "Issues in Science and Technology" (published by the National Academy of Sciences), and the "Information Please Environmental Almanac" (published by Houghton Mifflin). In addition, he broadcast a daily radio program for four years (syndicated nationally by CBS), and has written or edited ten books. His most recent book is "Which World?" Scenarios for the 21St Century", published by Island Press. Dr. Hammond has won several national magazine awards and other journalist honors. Dr. Hammond has also published extensively in the scientific and policy research literature; has lectured widely; and has served as a consultant to the White House, to several U.S. federal agencies, to the United Nations, and to several private foundations. Dr. Hammond holds advanced degrees in engineering and applied mathematics from Stanford University and Harvard University. The Next Seminar is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 1998 Tentative Topic: Environmental Security: The Case of Water Security in the Southwestern U.S., and the Middle East For more information please contact: Anthony D. Socci, Ph.D., U.S. Global Change Research Program Office, 400 Virginia Ave. SW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20024; Telephone: (202) 314-2235; Fax: (202) 488-8681 E-Mail: TSOCCI at USGCRP.GOV. Additional information on the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and this Seminar Series is available on the USGCRP Home Page at: http://www.usgcrp.gov. A complete archive of seminar summaries can also be found at this site. Normally these seminars are held on the second Monday of each month. From kat1003 at cus.cam.ac.uk Mon Oct 19 13:09:26 1998 From: kat1003 at cus.cam.ac.uk (K.A. Teleki) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 18:09:26 +0100 (BST) Subject: coral In-Reply-To: Message-ID: For those of you who do not have access to USA Today. October 19, 1998 Coral in peril as reefs suffer worldwide By Kathryn Winiarski, USA TODAY Coral reefs worldwide are bleaching and dying in record numbers, experts say, because of warmer-than-normal water temperatures. Severe coral bleaching, which occurs when the limestone skeleton turns white and the tiny coral animals die, was recorded this year in at least 50 countries. Marine biologists say that hardly a reef ecosystem on the globe was unscathed - from Australia's Great Barrier Reef to the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and from Belize in the Caribbean to the U.S. Virgin Islands. A continuing, large-scale decline of reefs could mean economic trouble for millions of people who rely on the beautiful limestone formations to support fishing grounds, attract tourists and protect shorelines from waves and storms. ''These corals are dying from heatstroke,'' says Thomas Goreau, president of the New York-based Global Coral Reef Alliance. While most people have little concept of the problem because the coral is under water and out of sight, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, established by President Clinton in June, is expected to present plans for preserving coral reefs at a meeting this week in Key Biscayne, Fla. The administration has requested about $6 million through 2002 to help restore damaged reefs overseen by the United States in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific. ''It is estimated that two-thirds of the world's coral reefs are dying, and that is why this meeting and initiative are so important,'' says D. James Baker, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Corals that have thrived for hundreds of years suddenly died in 1998, according to a report to be released Nov. 19 by Reef Check, an international coral assessment program. Divers surveying reefs throughout the tropics found that up to 90% of some species of coral were dead. Before the 1980s, wide-scale bleaching was not even observed. The world's reefs have faced plenty of threats before. They are besieged by overfishing, destroyed by boat anchors and killed by dynamite and cyanide used to capture fish for aquarium hobbyists. Reefs also are routinely battered by storms and by divers, and subjected to disease, pollution and predation. But high ocean temperatures inflict damage on a more global scale. They cause the microscopic plants that live in coral tissue to stop functioning. The zooxanthellae provide corals with color, food and most of their ability to rapidly grow skeleton. Without them, corals can die. ''The analogy I use is, you keep a starving individual without food for a long enough time, they're going to die,'' says Raymond Hayes, an anatomy professor at Howard University and vice president of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean. This year brought the hottest sea-surface temperatures since 1982, according to NOAA satellite data. At first glance, severe El Nino warming events, which took place both years, appear to bear some blame. But bleaching also took place in regions not affected by El Nino. Scientists such as Goreau and Hayes blame global warming. They say reefs will rebound only through dramatic reduction of fuel consumption. In global warming - a phenomenon that remains doubted in some scientific camps - the burning of fossil fuels emits excessive carbon dioxide, trapping heat around Earth like a thick blanket. Representatives from more than 150 countries will meet in Buenos Aires, Argentina, next month to continue work on an emissions reduction treaty that was begun in Japan in 1997. Other scientists say that warming of ocean waters could just be the result of nature's unpredictable flux. ''We all hope that this is a severe one-time event,'' says Gregor Hodgson, founder of Reef Watch and a coral ecologist at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. ''If global warming is involved and the bleaching will be repeated, then we are in very serious trouble.'' Corals recover from bleaching only if the waters do not stay too hot for too long. Alina Szmant of the Coral Reef Research Group at the University of Miami says she is encouraged that some Florida reefs showed early signs of recovery in September. Meanwhile, the coral reef task force is expected to pursue simpler solutions to reef troubles: reducing the numbers of vessels that slam into reefs, educating divers against touching coral and creating reef patrols that would be strategically stationed in U.S. waters. But ''it will all come to naught, unless we get a firm grip on the global warming problem,'' Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt says. ''Every nation in the world has a stake in getting it done.'' Time may be running out. NOAA says that at least 10% of the world's coral reefs already are destroyed, and some experts say the number is much higher. Reefs also are increasingly subjected to emerging diseases that kill corals at rates not thought possible, says marine biologist James Cervino of the University of South Carolina. Under current conditions, death could claim 40% of the world's coral reefs by 2028. ''Scientists are now waking us up to the threat,'' Babbitt says. ''There is a crisis.'' _______________________________________________________________ Kristian A. Teleki Tel +44 1223 333399 (General) Cambridge Coastal Research Unit +44 1223 339775 (Direct) Department of Geography University of Cambridge Fax +44 1223 355674 Downing Place Cambridge CB2 3EN Email: kat1003 at cus.cam.ac.uk United Kingdom _______________________________________________________________ From David.Enfield at aoml.noaa.gov Mon Oct 19 12:17:20 1998 From: David.Enfield at aoml.noaa.gov (enfield@aoml.noaa.gov) Date: 19 Oct 1998 12:17:20 U Subject: IAI assistantship Message-ID: <199810191856.SAA01164@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> I wish to disseminate an announcement so as to reach as wide a community as possible of prospects for a graduate assistantship to study for the M.Sc. in oceanography or meteorology, supported by my IAI/ISP-1 project. We are specifically targeting potential applicants from the Caribbean region, including the islands, Mexico, Central America or northern South America. I would appreciate your help in disseminating this information to any student prospects you know of, to institutions where they may be found (e.g., university departments in your country) or in your own Newsletters and/or web pages, whatever is appropriate. I have made the announcement in English since, if it cannot be understood, whoever reads it should probably not apply. I thank you for your valuable assistance. Sincerely, David Enfield ******* ******* ******* ******* ******* ******* ******* ******* GRADUATE STUDY IN OCEANOGRAPHY/METEOROLOGY (MIAMI, USA) The NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML, Miami) will support a graduate student to pursue a 2-year masters degree in Meteorology & Physical Oceanography (MPO), with emphasis in one of those two areas, at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine = and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), starting in August, 1999. We are specifically hoping to support a qualified person from the Caribbean region, including the islands, Mexico, Central America or northern South America. The student will do thesis research on a topic of applied climate analysis for the Caribbean region as part of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and and the Pan-American Climate Studies (PACS) projects at AOML. The best qualified applicant who = meets the admission requirements of RSMAS will be awarded a graduate assistantship covering basic fees and subsistence for a two-year period. Application materials should include: (1) application forms with a one-time, nonrefundable administrative fee of $US 35; (2) test results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the TOEFL test of English (these tests are typically administered several times a year in major Latin American cities); (3) an official English translation of the applicant's college transcript; (4) three letters of recommendation (written in English); and (5) a one-page statement of career goals. Applications, test results and other materials should be received at RSMAS no later than February 1st, 1999. Further information, plus application forms, may be requested by writing from: Graduate Studies Office Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy Miami, Florida 33149, USA Email: All completed applications materials should be remitted to the same address. It will be helpful to include a copy of this announcement with the cover letter and to mention that the best qualified applicant will be supported by AOML through a grant administered by Dr. David Enfield. In general, admission to RSMAS/MPO is highly competitive. A strong academic background in math and physics is highly recommended, as evidenced by acceptable grades in appropriate college courses (college transcript). Undergraduate courses in meteorology or oceanography are indications of interest and familiarity but do not carry much academic weight because they are typically taught at too low a level. The equivalent of an undergraduate degree in physics, geophysics or certain branches of engineering is the best academic preparation; most other college curriculums do not have the requisite math and physics. In regard to recommendation letters, those from college professors attesting to academic proficiency are usually the most helpful. ****** David B. Enfield *****|********* ********** * NOAA/AOML/PhOD | "Every CRISIS is an OPPORTUNITY" * * 4301 Rickenbacker Cswy | Philosophy implicit in the Chinese words * * Miami, FL 33149 | symbolizing both: "WEI JI" "JI HUI" * ************************************************************************** From rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu Mon Oct 19 20:54:08 1998 From: rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu (rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 20:54:08 -0400 Subject: No subject Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19981019205408.00843810@mail.rsmas.miami.edu> ATLANTIC AND GULF REEF ASSESSMENT (AGRA) 1998 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Organizing Committee of the Atlantic-Gulf Reef Assessment Program solicits proposals to assess reefs of the region using the Revised AGRA Rapid Assessment Protocol. Background: The objective of this request is to help provide support for field expenses to survey reefs using the AGRA-RAP methodology. Preference will be given to those proposals that include all the components of the AGRA-RAP methodology and that examine remote reefs. It is expected that at least six proposals will be funded for fieldwork beginning in Spring 1999. For additional background information on the AGRA program, visit the AGRA web site: http://www.coral.aoml.noaa.gov/agra Eligibility: Scientists, managers, governmental and non-governmental agencies, and individuals experienced in reef science. All reef assessments must be conducted within the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico region. Participants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the AGRA-RAP methodology. Contact Philip Kramer (Pkramer at rsmas.miami.edu) if you have questions about the methodology or to learn more about upcoming AGRA training workshops. Submission deadline: November 15, 1998 Maximum amount of awards: $5,000 Proposal Format: The individual proposals should be single-spaced and no more than two pages of text (including references) and one page for maps and other illustrations. Please use the following headings: PROPOSAL HEADINGS 1. Principal Investigators, affiliations, and contact information. 2. Description and special significance(s) of your reefs: Give a very brief description (1-2 paragraphs) of the reefs that will be examined using the AGRA methodology. Include any remarkable features such as the location, remoteness, relationships to populations, tourism, or fishing that make assessing their condition important. A map or chart of the reef area to be assessed with a small insert to show the location on a regional sketch is required. On this chart indicate the reefs or reef areas to be assessed by name, number or letter. 3. Field schedule: When will the assessment begin, how many days will be spent in the field, how many sites and at what depths, how many assessors will be involved, when will the assessment be completed. Note, all field work must be completed within 1999. 4. Experience of the assessing team: A very brief explanation of persons that will be involved in the assessment, their affiliation, and qualifications. 5. Existing works relevant to this proposal. A very brief annotated LIST of published and unpublished works relevant to the proposed reef area. 6. Budget: Provide an itemized list of the total costs for conducting the project. The "request for funding" from AGRA should be no more than $5000. List any other sources of support you may have. Categories to be considered: boat rental or charter; boat fuel/oil, purchase of a modest amount of diving equipment, field equipment, costs of transportation, meals and accommodations where necessary. No salaries can be provided, but modest daily stipends to field assistants may be included up to a maximum of $1500. No overhead please. Submission Guidelines: There are three options for submission: 1. Electronically: You can submit the proposal as an attached e-mail to rginsburg at rsmas.miami.edu 2. Fax 305-361-4094 3. Mail Atlantic and Gulf Reef Assessment MGG/RSMAS 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy Miami, FL 33149 For additional information, please contact Robert N. Ginsburg at 305-361-4875 or at the above e-mail. AGRA Organizing Committee: AGRA Regional Advisors Robert Ginsburg. Miami, FL Pedro Alcolado, Cuba Philip Kramer, Miami, FL Ernesto Arias, Mexico Judy Lang, Austin, TX Claude Bouchon, Guadeloupe Peter Sale, Windsor, Canada Jorge Cortez, Costa Rica Robert Steneck, Walpole, ME Janet Gibson, Belize Zelinda Leao, Brazil Robert N. Ginsburg Professor of Marine Geology Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy. Miami, FL 33149 Phone: (305) 361-4875 FAX: (305) 361-4094 or 4632 From cwild at eos.crseo.ucsb.edu Mon Oct 19 22:01:25 1998 From: cwild at eos.crseo.ucsb.edu (cwild) Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 19:01:25 -0700 Subject: (no subject) Message-ID: <362BEEF5.476C@bren.ucsb.edu> Coral: I am trying to locate John R. Smith, who conducted an assessment of the reefs of the Bay Islands in 1988, and authored: Coastal Resources Management Program for the Bay Islands, Honduras. If anyone knows how to contact this man, please either forward my message to him, or send his email address to me. Thanks, Cathryn Wild ----- Cathryn Wild Environmental Science and Management University of California, Santa Barbara (805) 687-5427 cwild at bren.ucsb.edu From jlm112 at york.ac.uk Tue Oct 20 07:31:31 1998 From: jlm112 at york.ac.uk (joanne Mattocks) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 12:31:31 +0100 Subject: Coral Bleaching Survey from the Tropical Marine Research Unit, UK. Message-ID: <362C7493.4D9B2AF3@york.ac.uk> I am asking for your help in a survey being undertaken by myself at the Tropical Marine Research Unit at the University of York, UK. I am researching into coral bleaching events in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean and I am trying to collate information from researchers and divers working in these areas. I would be very grateful if you could complete the attached questionnaire and return it to me as soon as possible by e-mail, fax or post (addresses at the bottom of the questionnaire). Please remember that even a negative sighting report will also help in the survey. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your time and co-operation. Regards Joanne Mattocks -------------- next part -------------- BLEACHING REPORT FORM Thankyou for your patience in completing this form. Any reply will be useful including a negative one. 1. Where did you see areas of possible or probable bleaching? (Please describe the location or area as precisely as possible) 2. When or over what period (i.e. months) was the bleaching observed? 3. Approximately how large was the area affected by bleaching (e.g. 50m across, 1km across or 10km across etc) ? 4. Was it a fresh bleaching that was observed, or were the corals dead and perhaps covered with algae? 5. What parts of the reef were affected by bleaching ? At what depth ? 6. Were there many or only a few types of corals affected by bleaching? (Were they branched or other forms, if you know the name(s) of the coral please state.) 7. Were there any observations of unusually high sea-water temperatures recorded before or during that period? (If so please give details) 8. Any other comments ? If possible please describe more in detail what was seen. Your name: Your organisation and position: Your address: Your telephone no: Fax no: E-mail: Joanne Mattocks, Tropical Marine Research Unit, University of York, York, UK. Fax: 44-1904-432860 Tel: 44-1904-623151 e-mail: jlm112 at york.ac.uk From cwild at eos.crseo.ucsb.edu Tue Oct 20 09:18:00 1998 From: cwild at eos.crseo.ucsb.edu (cwild) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 06:18:00 -0700 Subject: (no subject) Message-ID: <362C8D88.2953@bren.ucsb.edu> Coral: In a previous message I inadvertently typed the WRONG name of the person I am seeking as John R. Smith. The correct name is John R. Clark. John R. Clark conducted a reef survey of the Bay Islands in 1988 and authored "Coastal Resources Management Program for the Bay Islands, Honduras." Sorry for the mix-up. Cathryn Wild -- Cathryn Wild Environmental Science and Management University of California, Santa Barbara (805) 687-5427 cwild at bren.ucsb.edu From katwini at earthlink.net Tue Oct 20 09:32:07 1998 From: katwini at earthlink.net (Kathryn Winiarski) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 06:32:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: cruiselinedumping Message-ID: I've received numerous requests from list-serve readers for on-line access to my coral article. The link is: http://www.usatoday.com/news/ndssun04.htm. (if that doesn't work, go to the usatoday.com homepage, then do a search on key words Coral and Bleaching. Also, the following item appeared on greenlines news service. I'm curious whether there are any reports of direct damage on reefs as a result of such dumping events: >CRUISE LINE FINED FOR DUMPING: AP reports 10/14 a US District Court >Monday fined Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. $8 million for illegal fuel >dumping and a subsequent cover-up. The liner pumped oil, water and >bilge into waters off the coasts of both Puerto Rico and Canada. The >company also pleaded guilty to falsifying records of the discharges, >and tampering with oil sensors. The fine represents the largest >environmental penalty ever imposed on a cruise line, and was intended >to "send a message" to ship operators that environmental crimes will >not go unpunished, said US Attorney Guillermo Gil. Thanks, Kathryn ************************* Kathryn Winiarski Reporter USA TODAY - National News kwiniarski at usatoday.com ************************* From darrin.drumm at stonebow.otago.ac.nz Tue Oct 20 22:14:50 1998 From: darrin.drumm at stonebow.otago.ac.nz (Darrin Drumm) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 15:14:50 +1300 Subject: request for contact details Message-ID: <3.0.32.19981021151005.0068fd90@brandywine.otago.ac.nz> Dear Listers I am trying to locate contact details (e-mail if available) for the following researchers. Any assistance would be appreciated. Please send any responses directly to me at darrin.drumm at stonebow.otago.ac.nz. Sorry for the length of the list. thanks in advance for your assistance. Regards, Darrin Drumm Castillo G.A. (University of the Philippines?), Castro LRS, David J. Doulman(FAO Fisheries Dept.?), Famel L, Kam S. P.(Universiti Sains Malaysia?), Kerr, AM Bai, Mary, G. P?rez-Plascencia, Roa, M. J. T., Rossi, O , Munro, J. L., Wells, S. M., Alcala, A.C., Tilmant, J.T. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> Darrin Drumm Department of Marine Science University of Otago P.O. Box 56 Dunedin, New Zealand ph (03) 479-7496 fax (03) 479-8336 darrin.drumm at stonebow.otago.ac.nz ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> From aquafact at iol.ie Wed Oct 21 12:22:09 1998 From: aquafact at iol.ie (Aqua-Fact) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 15:22:09 -0100 Subject: Reef translocation/transplantation studies Message-ID: Dear all, I am looking for references to any papers on the subject of moving living reef from one loaction to another - has it ever been done and what is the success rate. Any information would be gratefully received. Brendan O'Connor, aquafact at iol.ie http://www.iol.ie/aquafact/ From mbm4 at mail.duke.edu Wed Oct 21 20:11:11 1998 From: mbm4 at mail.duke.edu (Mike Mascia) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 20:11:11 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Caribbean blast fishing In-Reply-To: <3.0.1.32.19980929091335.0070e9f0@email.aims.gov.au> Message-ID: Just a late note on the conversation regarding blast fishing in the Caribbean. I have just returned from Barbados, where Section 19 of the Fisheries Regulations of 1904 (yes, 1904) explicitly prohibited the use of "dynamite or other explosive substance with intent thereby to take or destroy fish". I have not identified the origins of blast fishing in Barbados, but this certainly suggests that blast fishing was a concern in Barbados or elsewhere in the Caribbean at the turn of the century. Instead of using dynamite on reefs, conversations with fishers in Barbados indicate that dynamite has traditionally been used in sandy bays to target pelagic species such as mullet, jacks, and coevallys. Dynamiting does sometimes occur on reefs, but reefs are generally not the target area and are avoided because of the known destructive impacts of dynamiting on the habitat. Some species targeted by dynamite fishers, such as mullet, are reportedly extremely difficult for local fishers to harvest with other available technologies and thus dynamite is used as a way to capture fish that would otherwise be unharvested, or harvested less efficiently. Since seine nets and dynamite in Barbados are generally used to target the same fishery resources, dynamite is also used by fishing communities that do not own a seine net to make sure that they do not "lose their fish" to seine net fishermen from other communities. Dynamite is used to provide more equal access to fishery resources among communities with different levels of wealth/access to fishing technology. Thus the use of dynamite in Barbados does not appear to be a response to extreme poverty, but rather a strategic approach to fisheries harvesting with both efficiency and equity components. This is not the 'traditional model' of blast fishing with which I am familiar, so I would welcome replies from others regarding their experiences. Mike Mascia ***************************************************************************** Michael B. Mascia Ph.D. candidate-environmental policy Duke University School of the Environment Marine Laboratory phone: (252) 504-7566 135 Duke Marine Lab Road fax: (252) 504-7648 Beaufort, NC 28516-9721 USA email: mbm4 at mail.duke.edu ***************************************************************************** From rmurray at daffodil.infochan.com Thu Oct 22 17:25:40 1998 From: rmurray at daffodil.infochan.com (Robert Murray) Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 17:25:40 -0400 Subject: Coral Spawning in Jamaica Message-ID: <00e901bdfe02$84846220$LocalHost@MyPC.infochan.com> CORAL SPAWNING IN JAMAICA On the north coast of Jamaica a series of dives have been made from the Discovery Bay Marine Lab. (077.2W, 18.3N) over the last three months to observe coral spawning. Dairy Bull reef site is well stocked with Montastrea spp. (among other species) and is approximately a mile east of the lab. Here is what we found; AUGUST 14th: (7th night after full moon) at Dairy Bull, some slight spawning by Montastrea annularis and M. faveolata was observed. M. cavernosa was also apparently seen spawning. Observations on the same night at Mooring 1 (directly north of the lab.) only extended to spawning of errant polychaetes. Observations were not made the previous night and no spawning was seen the following night. SEPTEMBER 12th: (6th night after full moon) M. annularis was recorded spawning extensively at Dairy Bull, between 9:40pm and 10:10pm (approximately 3.5 hrs. after sunset which was at 18:14). No spawning was observed the previous night but the following night an equally impressive spawning event was recorded for the normally cryptic Ophiomyxa flaccida at about the same time (but no coral spawning). OCTOBER 11th: (5th night after full moon) A major spawning event for M. annularis was recorded at Dairy Bull, between 9:35pm and 10:05pm (approximately 4 hrs. after sunset which was at 17:49). Although an estimated 70% of M. annularis colonies were bleached (at least in part) by this time, NONE of these were seen to spawn along with the "healthy" colonies. The previous night no spawning was observed. The following night no spawning was observed except for 1 tiny, partially bleached, colony of M. annularis which seemed to be unenthusiastic and the polyps poorly co-ordinated in their egg release. Oct. may have shown the most important event this year in Jamaica (of those witnessed over the season) and earlier in terms of days after the full moon than expected. Regards to all, Robert Murray. ================================ ROBERT MURRAY BSc (Hons.), FGA, Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, PO Box 35, Discovery Bay, Jamaica, West Indies. rmurray at dbml.org rmurray at infochan.com rmurray at uwimona.edu.jm T. (876) 973 2946 / 2947 F. (876) 973 3091 ================================ From rcgregor at ust.hk Thu Oct 22 23:06:27 1998 From: rcgregor at ust.hk (Gregor Hodgson) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 11:06:27 +0800 Subject: Bleaching/Mortality in Vietnam References: <3.0.1.32.19981017123612.0069bf50@email.aims.gov.au> Message-ID: <362FF2B3.F07BF539@ust.hk> Report on bleaching in Vietnam. (This updates a previous report on bleaching by Sue Wells in August.) Coral bleaching in Vietnam has been extensive beginning in late summer 1998. In the areas off of Nha Trang (south-central Vietnam), the reefs have experienced moderate levels of mortality in shallow water, with Acropora being hardest hit according to Dr. Vo Si Tuan. The conditions in the south were far worse. We resurveyed the reefs at Con Dao National Park from 14-21 Oct. Bleaching typically affected 70% of corals at most reefs. At most sites, 90% of the dominant table-Acropora had been killed by mid-September and many other corals for total losses of about 70-80% of the previous coral cover in shallow water (1-2 m). In deeper water, the situation was equally bad in most locations with 90% mortality of the dominant massive Porites in late September and many other large colonies e.g. Lobophyllia. Overall coral cover loss in deeper water was 60-70%. Hundreds of (2-3 m diameter) massive Porites were killed including colonies as large as 9 m diameter which are likely to be several hundred years old. This event was a catastrophe for the national park which had been hit by a major typhoon the previous November. Quantitative data, slides and video will be available at ITMEMS. -- Gregor Hodgson, PhD Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2358-8568 Fax (852) 2358-1582 Email: Reef Check: http://www.ust.hk/~webrc/ReefCheck/reef.html From howzit at turtles.org Fri Oct 23 08:11:09 1998 From: howzit at turtles.org (Ursula Keuper-Bennett) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 08:11:09 -0400 Subject: ALGAE LINKED TO ALLIGATOR DEATHS: possibly turtle tumors In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <199810231206.IAA24769@tor-smtp1.netcom.ca> Today Allen Salzberg shared the following AP article with CTURTLE and the CITES-L mailing lists. >ALGAE LINKED TO ALLIGATOR DEATHS:? The AP reported 10/19 recent >surges in the growth of algae and associated toxins may be >causing a wave of alligator deaths in Florida.? Many species of >blue-green algae release chemicals toxic to the nervous system >and liver of animals.? Some scientists believe algae may also be >linked to non-cancerous tumors being found on sea turtles.? The >increase in algae has worsened in the past year and is caused by >runoff of fertilizers, sewage, and other nutrients into the water >system. This message is being CC'd to three other lists -- ALGAE-L, PHYCOTOXINS and CORAL-L for their information and (hopefully) input. The article's relevance to the first two lists is obvious. Why CORAL-L? I figure the AP article is also of importance to coral researchers because even though this event appears to be a fresh water phenomena, nutrified waters from Florida's lakes and rivers eventually end up in the ocean and may ultimately affect corals. I also have some questions for list experts who may be working on this very problem. Number one question. Is this article accurate? Also where in the state of Florida are these "wave" of deaths occurring? Presently I'm assuming the blue-green algae is a freshwater species reacting to increased nutrients. Anyone know if any coastal (marine) areas receiving these "fresh" waters are presently showing signs that "the increase in algae has worsened" there also? And anyone know what species of blue-green algae is the villain here? "wave of alligator deaths" implies sudden mortality (more like that manatee event a couple years back) than something chronic like fibropapilloma (FP). Am I inferring this correctly? Next, if these worsening conditions are expected over the long term, it would be interesting to determine the existing prevalence of FP around these nutrients-receiving coastal areas. That way there'd be some baseline data to compare the FP stats two-three years from now. (I know. That takes money.) Last, for coral researchers, an article in yesterday's CNN website: Coral reefs: Are we doing too little too late? http://www.c nn.com/TECH/science/9810/22/reefs.yoto/ (more bad news) Best wishes ------------------------------------- ????????????? ^?????????????? Ursula Keuper-Bennett ???????????? 0 0????????????? Email: howzit at turtles.org ??? /V^\??????????? /^V\???????????? ? /V?? Malama na honu?? V\??? http://www.turtles.org /??????????????????????? \ ?????????? Islands ??? French Frigate Shoals Green sea turtles nest there??? ? Twenty-fifth Anniversary ?????????? Silver ???????????? ??????????????????? --Patrick H. (age 12)??????????????????? ????????? \?????? /??? cinquaine poetry ????????? /? \ /? \????????????? ???????? /__| V |__\??? ???????? Turtle Trax CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FFS TAGGING PROGRAM From reefmonitor at eureka.lk Fri Oct 23 10:10:48 1998 From: reefmonitor at eureka.lk (reefmonitor at eureka.lk) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 19:10:48 +0500 Subject: Bleaching in Lakshadweep, India Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19981023141048.006beab0@eureka.lk> Just to add to the recent catalogue of post-bleaching misery ... we recently conducted a rapid survey at Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep, India using ReefCheck methods. An outer-atoll seaward reef slope was chosen for its luxuriant coral cover in previous years. From verbal reports and extent of dead coral now, pre-bleaching live coral cover was probably in excess of 80-90% in places. Results of the survey confirmed heavy mortality along lines reported elsewhere in the Indian Ocean. At 3m depth, only 3% live coral cover was recorded, with 87% dead branching and table forms. At 10m, live coral cover was 7%, with 43% cover by dead branching and table forms, and a further 38% rocky substrate, much of which appeared to be recently scoured massive coral forms, though impossible to be certain. Not all reefs in Lakshadweep appear to have suffered quite so severely, but these results seem to some extent representative. Further info. available from Dr Syed Ismail Koya, Dept of Science, Technology & Environment, Lakshadweep and GCRMN South Asia regional office. Full results also submitted to ReefCheck. Regards -------------- Jason Rubens Regional Co-ordinator Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) South Asia Region IOC-UNESCO/ UNEP/ IUCN 48 Vajira Road Colombo 5 Sri Lanka Tel: + 94 74 511166 Fax: + 94 1 580202 From astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov Fri Oct 23 09:44:25 1998 From: astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov (astrong at nesdis.noaa.gov) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 09:44:25 -0400 Subject: 1998 Bleaching: NOAA Press Release In-Reply-To: <00e901bdfe02$84846220$LocalHost@MyPC.infochan.com> Message-ID: <199810231344.JAA07866@orbit34i.nesdis.noaa.gov> RECORD-BREAKING CORAL BLEACHING OCCURRED IN TROPICS THIS YEAR, NOAA REPORTS Unprecedented coral bleaching and extremely warm waters occurred throughout the Tropics during the first half of 1998, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today. Coral reefs -- the "rainforests of the sea" ? are some of the oldest and most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth. Important assets to local and national economies, they produce fisheries for food, materials for new medicines, and income from tourism and recreation, as well as protect coastal communities from storms. "Coral bleaching is a sign that reefs are under severe stress and may be seriously damaged," said NOAA Administrator D. James Baker. "With 1998 named the Year of the Ocean, it is appropriate that we focus our attention on these extremely important and fragile coral reef ecosystems." Corals thrive as long as temperatures remain at or below certain temperatures for a given 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. While many corals normally recover from short bleaching events, long-term or frequent bleaching may severely weaken the corals leaving them more vulnerable to disease, damage or death. Data from NOAA's satellites show that during the first half of 1998, more ocean area in the tropics experienced exceptionally high sea surface temperatures, or "hot spots," than observed in any full year since 1982. Approximately 50 countries have reported coral bleaching since 1997. During the El Ni?o of 1982-83, large areas of coral reef around the world were severely damaged by high water temperatures associated with coral bleaching. The previous annual record for high ocean temperature events was in 1988, which also followed an El Ni?o event the year before. Using satellites to measure sea surface temperatures and identify hot spots, NOAA has been able to predict coral reef bleaching events in real time over large ocean areas since 1997, reports NOAA oceanographer Al Strong. Hot spots are identified when satellite-derived sea surface temperatures exceed by 1.0 degree Celsius the monthly average temperature expected during the warm season. Coral bleaching can be a sign that the coral is being stressed by a number of factors, including pollution, sedimentation or changes in salinity. Increases in water temperature of one degree or more for one month often result in extensive coral bleaching, making these hot spots prime candidates for bleaching events. From January to July the coral bleaching events were concentrated in the Southern Hemisphere during its warm season. Since July, the reports of extensive coral bleaching have spread into regions of the Northern Hemisphere following abnormally high sea surface temperatures, especially around the Philippines and throughout the Caribbean Basin, Bahamas, Bermuda and Florida Keys. With collaborators Ray Hayes of Howard University and Tom Goreau of the Coral Reef Alliance, Strong is planning to summarize the year's coral bleaching events in the December issue of Reef Encounters. Bleaching and other problems facing coral reefs will be the topic of a high-level government meeting in Key Biscayne, Fla., on Oct. 19 and 20. The Coral Reef Task Force was created by an executive order signed June 11 by President Clinton as part of the Year of the Ocean observance and the National Ocean Conference held in Monterey, Calif., last June. The first meeting of the task force will be hosted by the Commerce and Interior Departments. ### Notes to Editors: Charts accompanying this release are available on the World Wide Web at NOAA Public Affairs: http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/storyideas.html Videotape animation of hot spots conducive to coral bleaching is available from Video Transfer, Rockville, Md. Telephone: 301-881-0270. Maps showing twice-weekly distributions of hot spots are available at: http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/climohot.html Movie/animations are posted at: http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad Maps showing the annual distribution of bleaching from 1969 through 1997 are posted at: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~goreau To subscribe to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, go to: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov October 15, 1998 **** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ***** 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 20746-4304 410-293-6550 Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov 301-763-8102 x170 FAX: 301-763-8108 http://manati.wwb.noaa.gov/orad From holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com Fri Oct 23 09:10:30 1998 From: holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com (holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 9:10:30 -0400 Subject: Tortugas 2000 - Joint Scoping Meetings Message-ID: <6F7C303601B9F6D0@smtp.cenmarine.com> ************************************************************************* David Holtz Center for Marine Conservation Florida Keys Office 513 Fleming Street Suite 14 Key West, FL 33040 305-295-3370 305-295-3371 (fax) dholtz at cenmarine.com fkeysman at aol.com (home) We could really use support for the joint scoping meetings between NOAA and NPS for the Dry Torugas coming up in the next several days in Florida and Washington, DC. Please see below for the brief and dates. Please encourage anyone in the Keys you may know to attend. The Center for Marine Conservation supports a "no take" marine reserve to protect the Tortugas area. For NOAA and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, establishing a marine reserve in the Dry Tortugas will implement an objective of the sanctuary's management plan. However,this is a new step for the National Park Service. They are poised as a logical agency to take on the "no take" concept for marine resources within their jurisdiction. Please contact me if you have any questions. > DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE > > National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration > > > Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement > and Notice of Scoping Meetings for the Proposed Tortugas Ecological > Reserve in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary > > AGENCY: Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric > Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Ocean > and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), Sanctuaries and Reserves > Division (SRD). > > ACTION: Notice of intent; Notice of scoping meetings. > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > SUMMARY: SRD has initiated the process to establish an Ecological > Reserve within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or > Sanctuary) west of the Dry Tortugas National Park. The Sanctuary > intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) > and hold scoping meetings to receive public input. > > DATES AND ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written > comments by December 17, 1998, to assure full consideration during the > scoping process. Written comments may be sent to Billy D. Causey, > Superintendent, > > [[Page 55366]] > > Florid Key National Marine Sanctuary, Post Office Box 500368, Marathon, > Florida 33050. Comments will be available for public review at the > Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary office at 5550 Overseas Highway > in Marathon during normal business hours. > Scoping meetings are being held as follows: > > October 27, 1998: 2-5 p.m.--Washington D.C., Department of Commerce > Main Auditorium, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue. > October 29: 3-8 p.m.--Ft. Myers Convention Center. > November 9: 3-8 p.m.--Key West Holiday Inn Beachside. > November 10: 3-8 p.m.--Marathon High School. > November 17: 3-8 p.m.--Miami, Florida International University Graham Center, SW 8th Street at SW 107th Ave. > > FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Billy D. Causey at (305) 743-2437 ext. > 26. > > SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary > was designated by an act of Congress entitled the Florida Keys National > Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act (FKNMSPA, Pub. L. 101-605) which > was signed into law on November 16, 1990. The Sanctuary was designated > to protect the 2800 square nautical mile ecosystem surrounding the > Florida Keys, including the third largest barrier reef system in the > world. A Final Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for > the Sanctuary was issued in 1996 and final regulations to implement the > plan went into effect in July 1997. > > The Final Management Plan and regulations established one > Ecological Reserve (ER) in the Middle Keys (Western Sambo Ecological > Reserve). An ER is defined as an area of the Sanctuary consisting of > contiguous, diverse habitats, within which uses are subject to > conditions, restrictions and prohibitions, including access > restrictions, intended to minimize human influences, to provide natural > spawning, nursery, and permanent residence areas for the replenishment > and genetic protection of marine life, and also to protect and preserve > natural assemblages of habitats and species within areas representing a > broad diversity of resources and habitats found within the Sanctuary > (15 CFR 922.162). Consumptive uses such as removing, taking or damaging > coral, fish or seagrass are prohibited in an ER. During the development > of the Draft Management Plan, NOAA had proposed an additional ER in the > Tortugas area within the Sanctuary but deferred the process to > establish a boundary or regulations for the Tortugas ER until after > implementation of the Final Management Plan. This process, estimated to > take approximately two years and referred to as ``Tortugas 2000,'' will > include coordination with the National Park Service, fishing > representatives, scientists, and others. There will also be extensive > opportunity for public input. > This notice announces NOAA's intent to prepare a Supplemental > Environmental Impact Statement and hold scoping meetings on the > proposed project. Formal scoping meetings are scheduled as detailed > above. The public is invited to attend the scoping meetings to provide > oral or written comments. Interested persons may also submit wirtten > comments to the address above. > > (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary > Program) > >.DOCID:fr15oc98-46] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- From holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com Fri Oct 23 09:17:15 1998 From: holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com (holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 9:17:15 -0400 Subject: Fwd: FW: Public Scoping Meeting on Torgugas 2000 Message-ID: <707C303601B9F6D0@smtp.cenmarine.com> ************************************************************************* David Holtz Center for Marine Conservation Florida Keys Office 513 Fleming Street Suite 14 Key West, FL 33040 305-295-3370 305-295-3371 (fax) dholtz at cenmarine.com fkeysman at aol.com (home) ---------------[ Content-type: text/plain; name=Message Body ]-------------- please circulate to your HQ Offices. billy ________________________________________________________ From: Phillips, B. on Thu, Oct 22, 1998 3:03 PM Subject: Public Scoping Meeting on Torgugas 2000 To: Amy Mathews-Amos; Audrey Pritchard; Barbara Jeanne Polo; Bob Hansen; Darryl Hatheway; David Dickson; David Yonkman; Jack Sobel; Jennifer Dianto; Julia Novy; Karen Florini; Lauretta Burke; Lori Williams; Maxine McCloskey; Michael Barnette; royk%dccmc at cenmarine.com; Susan Boa; Tundi Agardy; Vivian Newman; Will Hildesley; William Kiene Cc: Causey, B.; Kenney, J. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Dry Tortugas National Park invite you to help them develop their respective plans on how best to protect portions of the Dry Torgugas. Please attend the Tortugas 2000 public scoping meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2:00-5:00 PM at the U.S. Department of Commerce Department Main Auditorium, 14th Street and Constitution Ave., NW; 2PM to 5:00 PM, (Superintendents'presentations at 2:30 PM) *** please help distribute this annoucement *** read the media advisory for more information... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- MEDIA ADVISORY CONTACT: Cheva Heck Rick Cook Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Everglades/Dry Tortugas National Parks (305) 292-0311 (305) 242-7714 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 22, 1998 PROTECTING THE TORTUGAS REGION: SANCTUARY AND PARK COORDINATE THEIR RESPECTIVE PLANS THROUGH JOINT PUBLIC MEETINGS (Key West, FL) The Tortugas region, 70 miles west of Key West, has been called the crown jewel of the Florida Keys, where Civil War era Ft. Jefferson looks out over hundreds of miles of pristine ocean. Now, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Dry Tortugas National Park are inviting the public to join them in developing their respective plans on how best to protect portions of this spectacular area. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary plans to create an ecological reserve in the western portion of the Sanctuary. Dry Tortugas National Park, host to a steadily increasing number of visitors, is drafting a Visitor Use and Commercial Services Plan. To make it easier for the public to participate in both efforts, and to help minimize public misunderstanding about the scope and objectives of each process, the Sanctuary and Park are holding joint public meetings to discuss the issues of each plan and request comments. The meeting schedule is: October 27 - Washington, D.C.; Commerce Department Main Auditorium; 14th St. and Constitution Ave., NW; 2PM to 5:00 PM (Superintendents'presentations at 2:30 PM) October 29 - Ft. Myers at the Exhibition Hall, 1320 Hendry St. November 9 - Key West, Holiday Inn Beachside, 3841 North Roosevelt Blvd. November 10- Marathon High School, 350 Sombrero Beach Rd. November 17- Miami at Florida International University, Graham Center, SW 8th St. at SW 107th Ave. Except as noted, meetings will run from 3PM to 8PM and follow an open house format. Dry Tortugas National Park Superintendent Dick Ring/Deputy Superintendent Larry Belli and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Billy Causey will give brief presentations at 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM. They, and others, will be available for questions and discussion. Attendees also will be able to comment in writing and by recordings. -MORE- Florida Keys NMS/Dry Tortugas NP Joint Meetings - PAGE 2 While the marine environment offshore of the populated Florida Keys faces an onslaught of stresses, both natural and manmade, the coral reefs, seagrass beds and hardbottom communities of the Tortugas region remain relatively pristine. Nineteenth Century Ft. Jefferson, within the Park, is an additional resource of cultural interest. Together, the Park and surrounding Sanctuary provide outstanding opportunities for a unique visitor experience and for protection of a unique array of marine, terrestrial and avian resources. In addressing the Sanctuary's goal, FKNMS Superintendent Billy Causey said, "By creating an ecological reserve in the Sanctuary's portion of the Tortugas, we hope to preserve the extraordinary range of species found there. The reserve also will serve as a control site away from the populated Keys, helping scientists determine which changes in the coral reef ecosystem stem from human activities and which are natural." The Sanctuary originally had proposed a 110 square nautical mile reserve but eliminated it in response to public input stating that it did not protect the right habitat and would unduly harm commercial fishermen. Instead, FKNMS established a smaller reserve off the lower Keys and committed to designing a Tortugas reserve from scratch, with extensive opportunities for public involvement. The target date for implementation is the year 2000. In this scoping phase of the Sanctuary's Tortugas 2000, FKNMS is working to determine the range of issues it should consider in designing and locating a reserve. Scoping comments are due December 17, 1998. After considering the comments, a working group of agency officials, representatives of user groups (such as commercial fishermen and the dive industry), environmental and conservation organizations, and other concerned citizens will recommend alternative boundaries for comment. To learn more, visit the Sanctuary's Tortugas 2000 website at http://fpac.fsu.edu/tortugas. Dry Tortugas National Park consists of seven small islands, including Ft. Jefferson, and 115 square nautical miles of pristine marine environment. It was established by act of Congress in 1992, with a strict mandate to provide opportunities for visitor use and enjoyment in balance with the conservation of natural and cultural resources so that they are unimpaired for the benefit of future generations. Significant increases in numbers of visitors to the Park in recent years have raised issues for Park management, including visitor activities and quality of visitors' experiences, commercial services, natural and cultural resources, and facilities. The Park's plan will proceed with an emphasis on public participation in defining the scope of these and perhaps other issues, developing alternative approaches to address problems identified, and seeking further public input on preferred alternatives. The resulting plan will help determine what visitor experiences and activities and commercial services are appropriate for the Park and where these activities should occur. Further information on the Park and its planning effort may be found at www.nps.gov/drto/planning. MEDIA ADVISORY Sanctuary and Park representatives will be available for media interviews and briefings at each location one hour prior to the beginning of each meeting. From holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com Fri Oct 23 09:26:46 1998 From: holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com (holtzd%fkeys at cenmarine.com) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 9:26:46 -0400 Subject: CMC Action Alert: Tortugas 2000 Scoping Message-ID: FLORIDA'S LAST WILD OCEAN PLACE THREATENED A Chance To Protect The Dry Tortugas October 16, 1998 The relatively pristine ocean world at Dry Tortugas-its clear, clean waters-suggests another time as well when coral reefs, fish, shark, lobster and other marine life were less imperiled by humans. All of that, unfortunately, is changing. In reality, this most distant and splendid outpost of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is under threat. Fishing pressure in the Dry Tortugas area is exploding. An opportunity in 1997 to protect critical areas outside the National Park was delayed but now we can provide protection both in and outside the Park. Over the next several weeks and months, however, we have an unprecedented-perhaps our final-opportunity to protect Florida's last truly wild ocean place. Background Along the Florida Reef Tract, the largest in the United States, lie some of the world's best known, most heavily used, and most threatened coral reefs. Yet beyond Key West, where the road ends, the undeveloped islands and of the Marqueses and the spectacular coral reefs of the Tortugas stretch another 70 miles westward. Creating a Tortugas Ecological Reserve to keep these reefs intact is critical to their preservation and for the restoration of the entire Keys reef tract. The Dry Tortugas lie at the extreme end of these exquisite island chains, protected from the serious water quality threats facing other Florida and Caribbean reefs. Until recently, the area's remoteness and prohibition on commercial fishing inside Dry Tortugas National Park also provided protection from over-exploitation. However, fishing pressure from commercial vessels outside the national park and recreational users throughout the area has increased dramatically in recent years. Park use has doubled in just three years-from 30,000 to 60,000 visitors-and up to 100 commercial fishing boats now work the area outside the park. Declining fishing conditions upstream in the Florida Keys, better boats, improved navigation, and more efficient gear have all added up to fewer fish and damage to habitat in the Dry Tortugas. While reef fish, lobster and other invertebrates in the Dry Tortugas remain healthier than those in other areas of the Keys, increased fishing pressure poses a real threat. A "no-take" marine ecological reserve in the Dry Tortugas is the only way we can ensure real protection. A well-designed Tortugas reserve would help restore reefs and fish downstream throughout the Keys. Marine reserves are special ocean areas dedicated to non-consumptive use, where natural, intact, marine communities and ecosystems flourish and human disturbance is minimized. When designed properly, marine reserves can conserve biodiversity, protect spawning stocks of fish, replenish areas outside the reserve, protect against a New England-like fisheries collapse, and ensure ecosystem integrity by maintaining marine life in natural conditions. With 13 of 15 commercially targeted reef fish in the Keys overfished, we need the protection only a marine reserve can provide. TORTUGAS 2000: Because the Dry Tortugas area covers the 100-square-mile Dry Tortugas National Park, and an equally large area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Center for Marine Conservation has been encouraging both agencies to work cooperatively to develop a marine reserve. Through meetings, public hearings and with assistance from a 22-member Working Group, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the State of Florida-through the sanctuary-will over the next year develop a proposed marine reserve for the Dry Tortugas. At the same time, the National Park Service is looking for ways to handle extraordinary visitor growth and increased activities at the Dry Tortugas National Park and is participating with the sanctuary in planning sessions for the reserve. The agencies have agreed to cooperate in getting public comment and are being encouraged to jointly establish a marine reserve in the Dry Tortugas. The first public comment will come at Scoping Meetings in late October and November in Florida. These meetings are to identify important issues agency officials should weigh in developing a marine reserve. After developing different boundary choices for the reserve, the Sanctuary will hold public hearings and then make a decision on which reserve alternative should be adopted. Public hearings are tentatively planned for Spring, 1999. You can get more information on the Tortugas 2000 process through the Internet: http://fpac.fsu.edu/tortugas Making It Happen Establishing a Tortugas Ecological Reserve by the year 2000 hinges on actions ordinary people take today. The Center for Marine Conservation is working hard to make sure a Tortugas marine reserve is established. But all of us-divers, naturalists, fishermen and parents who want to leave something for their children-must get involved if we are to protect Florida's last wild ocean place. Please write the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the National Park Service: Miki Steube National Park Service Denver Service Center 12795 West Alameda Parkway Denver, CO 80225-9901 Ben Haskell Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary P.O. Box 500368 Marathon, FL 33050 Please tell them: * You support protecting the Dry Tortugas with a no-take marine reserve in the Sanctuary and the National Park. * You want a marine reserve in the Dry Tortugas that is diverse enough to protect a range of coral reef and other habitats. * You want a marine reserve in the Dry Tortugas large enough to benefit fisheries. * You want a marine reserve in the Dry Tortugas that is strictly non-consumptive. Or attend one or more Tortugas 2000 meetings being held by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to take your comment. Someone will be at each of the meetings to assist you. The meeting schedule: * October 27, 1998 U.S. Department of Commerce, Main Auditorium, 14st and Constitution Ave., Washington, DC * October 29, 1998 Ft. Myers Exhibition Hall, 1320 Hendry Street, Ft. Myers, Florida * November 9, 1998 Holiday Inn Beachside Conference Room, 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, Florida * November 10, 1998 Marathon High School cafeteria, 350 Sombrero Beach Road, Marathon, Florida * November 17, 1998 Miami, Florida FIU Graham Center, SW 8th Street & SW 107th Avenue For additional information call: David Holtz, Center for Marine Conservation, Florida Keys Office, 305-295-3370. Or call CMC if you are interested in visiting the Dry Tortugas to see this special place. Thank you for your help. http://www.cmc-ocean.org From steve.rohmann at noaa.gov Fri Oct 23 13:45:25 1998 From: steve.rohmann at noaa.gov (steve.rohmann at noaa.gov) Date: Fri, 23 Oct 98 12:45:25 -0500 Subject: New Tools for Coral Reef Study, Management, and Protection Message-ID: <9810239091.AA909160978@seamail.nos.noaa.gov> The Special Projects Office of NOAA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Marine Research Institute announce the availability of a set of tools to assist in monitoring, managing, and protecting the Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem. These tools consist of the Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys CD-ROM, and a web page. They represent a new model for the types of tools needed to study, manage, and protect these resources, not only in the Florida Keys, but wherever coral reefs exist. Researchers, resource managers, and concerned citizens can map Florida Keys coral reefs and seagrass beds, overlay other digital data, and perform spatial analyses using geographic information systems (GIS). Thematic data, such as bathymetry, aids to navigation, land, and protected area boundaries are included on the CD-ROM. As a result, GIS analyses associated with marine reserve management, monitoring and research, ship groundings, restoration, and other activities, can be conducted. Most importantly, the CD-ROM includes all necessary software. Users can begin immediately to learn more about the Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem. The CD-ROM consists of three parts: 1) a narrated multimedia introduction describing what benthic habitats are, why they are important and need to be mapped, and how they were mapped to produce the CD; 2) a mapping capability, based on ArcView Data Publisher; and 3) a narrated tutorial explaining how to use the mapping capability. Also provided on the CD-ROM are all of the digital data used in the mapping module. The software applications needed to view the multimedia introduction, read and print the documentation, and launch the ArcView Data Publisher mapping capability are provided on the CD-ROM. The digital data (benthic habitats, land, bathymetry, aids to navigation, protected area boundaries, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary boundary, roads, and place names) are provided in ArcView shapefile format. The benthic habitats geography itself also is provided in ARC/INFO interchange format. The World Wide Web page provides an introduction to the Florida Keys benthic habitats mapping project, example maps and summary statistics, and internet access to the digital data. Once downloaded, the data can be used in ArcView and MapInfo. The internet address for the Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys web page is: http://www-orca.nos.noaa.gov/projects/benthic_habitats. A Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys Atlas will soon be available from the Florida Marine Research Institute. The Atlas will contain 32 full-color plates showing the distribution of benthic habitats in the Florida Keys, accompanied by descriptions of these habitats. It also contains detailed descriptions of the physical environments, human activities, and environmental concerns within the Florida Keys ecosystem. To learn more about the Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys mapping project or to receive a free CD-ROM, contact either: Steve Rohmann NOAA, Room 9650 1305 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 301/713-3000x137 steve.rohmann at noaa.gov or Christopher Friel Florida Marine Research Institute Florida Department of Environmental Protection 100 Eighth Avenue, S.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 813/896-8626 friel_c at epic7.dep.state.fl.us To request a copy of the Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys Atlas, contact Christopher Friel at the Florida Marine Research Institute. From tim_daw at yahoo.com Sat Oct 24 17:08:23 1998 From: tim_daw at yahoo.com (tim Daw) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 14:08:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Fwd: Bleaching in the southwest Red Sea Message-ID: <19981024210823.6865.rocketmail@send102.yahoomail.com> A message I recieved from a marine biologist at the university of Asmara. Eritrea included this about bleaching................ ---Marco Pedulli wrote: > On a different note concerning bleaching we too have, unfortunately, > experienced such phenomenon on the corals around Massawa recently. The > water temperatures around the region of Massawa this past summer have > been extremely on their high side (40 degree C ). The increase in > temperature is, therefore, most probably responsible for such bleaching. > Moreover, the degree of bleaching varied in deep and shallow reefs. > The latter, with high ambient temperature, were as a result affected more. > > Now that the "hot season" is over most corals sprang back to attain > their original state and have fully recovered while others have unfortunately > suffered prolonged elevated temperatures and were overgrown by algae. > Biologists have visisted similar areas around the islands and around > Assab but did not report bleaching at all. This showed that bleaching was > localized and restricted to the Massawa Area (Massawa Proper and Green Island). > > -- > Marco Pedulli, MSc > Department of Marine Biology & Fisheries > University of Asmara > P.O. Box 1220 > Asmara, Eritrea > > E-mail address:- Marco at marine.uoa.edu.er > Tel:- (+291) -1- 16 19 26 ex 274 (Off.) > (+291) -1- 12 64 30 (Res.) > Fax:- (+291) -1- 16 22 36 > > ************************************************************* Tim Daw Hillhead of Craigie Whitecairns Aberdeen AB23 8XE UK Tel. +44 (0)1651 862 496 email: tim_daw at yahoo.com ******************************************************* _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com From BPrecht at kennesaw.Lawco.com Mon Oct 26 14:54:43 1998 From: BPrecht at kennesaw.Lawco.com (Precht,Bill) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 14:54:43 -0500 Subject: Coastal restoration seminar Message-ID: <831C92FC9CDFD1118B3B00A0C9AB304F07C619@miami-1.wins.lawco.com> MINI-SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCEMENT "COASTAL RESTORATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA" PRESENTED BY THE SOUTH FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS Date: Monday - November 9th, 1998 Time: Checkin and networking starts at 7:30 AM Introductory remarks 8:15 AM Morning Session 8:30 AM - 11:45 Afternoon Session 1:15 - 5:00PM Place: Don Shula's Hotel, Main Street, Miami Lakes Cost: $35.00 Non-members $20.00 Members Space limited to 55 persons so RSVP - ASAP. Content: Twelve diverse and distinguished speakers will provide presentations on various aspects of coastal restoration in south Florida. Topics will include: Coral Reefs; Artificial Reefs; Hardbottom Communities; Seagrasses; Tidal Flats; Mangroves; Coastal Marshes; Beaches & Dunes; Coastal Hammocks; Endangered and Threatened Species; Integrated-Holistic Ecosystem Studies; Decision Making; Success Criteria; Legal Aspects; Permitting Issues; and Funding Sources. Symposium Chairs: William F. Precht Natural Resources Manager LAW Engineering & Environmental Services Miami Lakes, FL Richard E. Dodge International Coral Reef Institute NOVA Southeastern University Oceanographic Center Dania, FL To make your reservation call Sherrie or Maggie at (305) 826-5588 ASAP Space is limited so hurry. William F. Precht Natural Resources Manager LAW Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc. 5845 NW 158th Street Miami Lakes, FL 33014 ph (305) 826-5588 fax (305) 826-1799 From rcgregor at ust.hk Mon Oct 26 21:45:21 1998 From: rcgregor at ust.hk (Gregor Hodgson) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 10:45:21 +0800 Subject: New Publication -- Vietnam Coastal Biodiversity Message-ID: <363533C1.CD974261@ust.hk> The proceedings of the Workshop on "Coastal Biodiversity Priorities in Vietnam" (Hanoi, 4-6 November, 1997) is available free by sending an email request to: Miranda Chan This is a 95 page bilingual Vietnamese/English publication of 14 papers on coastal biodiversity issues in Vietnam by government agencies, NGOs and HKUST. The workshop was sponsored by HKUST, WWF - Indochina, and the government. -- Gregor Hodgson, PhD Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2358-8568 Fax (852) 2358-1582 Email: Reef Check: http://www.ust.hk/~webrc/ReefCheck/reef.html From emueller at mote.org Tue Oct 27 01:47:02 1998 From: emueller at mote.org (Erich Mueller) Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 22:47:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: Postdoctoral Positions Message-ID: Two Post-doctoral Positions in Benthic Biology In the August 28 issue of Science, Mote announced 2 postdoctoral positions for marine research in the South Florida area. Please refer to the following Web site for details: www.mote.org/benthic~postdocs One position would be focused on coral reefs and assessing their condition from over a range of depths. Coral diseases and other factors affecting coral health will be of particular interest. Part of this project will involve collaboration with the Sustainable Seas Expeditions being conducted by National Geographic. The deadline is soon (Oct. 30); please refer to the Website for application details. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Erich Mueller, Ph.D., Director Phone: (305) 289-4282 Mote Marine Laboratory FAX: (305) 289-9664 Pigeon Key Marine Research Center Email: emueller at mote.org P.O. Box 500895 Marathon, FL 33050 Web pages: http://www.mote.org/~emueller/pkmrc.html http://www.mote.org Remarks are personal opinion and do not reflect institutional policy unless so indicated. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From crmpriau at pbaru.wasantara.net.id Tue Oct 27 06:09:27 1998 From: crmpriau at pbaru.wasantara.net.id (Coremap BAPPEDA Tk.I Riau) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 18:09:27 +0700 Subject: need posters or picture Message-ID: <01be019a$4365f7e0$0100007f@localhost> I'm a student in riau university. Recently, I and my friends have made a NGO called LAKSANA SAMUDERA and we concern on marine environment. One of our activity is search for the posters or pictures about marine environment, and we'll distribute to any institutions who need it. Here please find our address : 1. Attn : R. Firdaus Jln. Kandis Ujung No. 92 Tangkerang Utara Pekanbaru (28282) - Indonesia 2. Attn : R. Jhonnerie Jln. Wijaya Gg. WIjaya I No. 80/6 RT. 04 RW 02 Kel. Kedung Sari Kec. Sukajadi - Pekanbaru (28123) Indonesia That's kind of you, if you can help us Best Regard R. Jhonnerie crmpriau at pbaru.wasantara.net.id From msbb at acd.ufrj.br Tue Oct 27 11:57:00 1998 From: msbb at acd.ufrj.br (Marcos Soares Barbeitos) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 13:57:00 -0300 Subject: Looking for a new method to measure hidrodynamics Message-ID: <9810271657.AA50980@acd.ufrj.br> Dear coral-listers, I'm looking for a simple way to quantify water movements at 5 m depth. No method avaliable in literature is suitable for my needs, since I intend to measure 90 points at the same time. My idea was to quantify the amount of movement measuring the loss of material in small bodies placed near my collecting points after 12 hours of exposure to the action of the sea I've already tried to make these bodies with chalk, salt and clay, but this substances are eroded either too fast or too slowly. Is anybody aware of any substance that can be employed succesfuly to this kind of experiment? Does anybody know any other suitable method (it's gotta be cheap and easy for my number of points is too large)? Looking forward to hearing from you, kind regards. From seabyte at worldnet.att.net Tue Oct 27 08:49:00 1998 From: seabyte at worldnet.att.net (Sea Byte) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 08:49:00 -0500 Subject: Coastal restoration seminar References: <831C92FC9CDFD1118B3B00A0C9AB304F07C619@miami-1.wins.lawco.com> Message-ID: <3635CF4C.549E@worldnet.att.net> Precht,Bill wrote: > > MINI-SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCEMENT > > "COASTAL RESTORATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA" > > PRESENTED BY > > THE SOUTH FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS > > Date: Monday - November 9th, 1998 > > Time: Checkin and networking starts at 7:30 AM > Introductory remarks 8:15 AM > Morning Session 8:30 AM - 11:45 > Afternoon Session 1:15 - 5:00PM > > Place: Don Shula's Hotel, Main Street, Miami Lakes > > Cost: $35.00 Non-members > $20.00 Members > > Space limited to 55 persons so RSVP - ASAP. > > Content: Twelve diverse and distinguished speakers will provide > presentations on various aspects of coastal restoration in south Florida. > Topics will include: Coral Reefs; Artificial Reefs; Hardbottom Communities; > Seagrasses; Tidal Flats; Mangroves; Coastal Marshes; Beaches & Dunes; > Coastal Hammocks; Endangered and Threatened Species; Integrated-Holistic > Ecosystem Studies; Decision Making; Success Criteria; Legal Aspects; > Permitting Issues; and Funding Sources. > > Symposium Chairs: William F. Precht > Natural Resources Manager > LAW Engineering & Environmental Services > Miami Lakes, FL > > Richard E. Dodge > International Coral Reef Institute > NOVA Southeastern University Oceanographic > Center > Dania, FL > > To make your reservation call Sherrie or > Maggie at (305) 826-5588 ASAP > Space is limited so hurry. > > William F. Precht > Natural Resources Manager > LAW Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc. > 5845 NW 158th Street > Miami Lakes, FL 33014 > ph (305) 826-5588 > fax (305) 826-1799 Bill I have been involved in several recent coral reef restoration projects in South Florida and am very interested in this workshop. I appreciate your info and look forward to meeting you at the seminar. Thanks Dick Shaul Sea Byte Inc. 19940 Mona Road, Suite 4 Tequesta, FL 33469 561 745-9333 FAS 575-7710 From cbingman at netcom.com Tue Oct 27 12:53:06 1998 From: cbingman at netcom.com (Craig Bingman) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 09:53:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: Looking for a new method to measure hidrodynamics In-Reply-To: <9810271657.AA50980@acd.ufrj.br> Message-ID: On Tue, 27 Oct 1998, Marcos Soares Barbeitos wrote: > Dear coral-listers, > > I'm looking for a simple way to quantify water movements at 5 m > depth. No method avaliable in literature is suitable for my needs, Plaster of Paris might work better for you. http://www.aquariumfrontiers.com/1998/aug/features/1/default.asp has references to this method. Craig Bingman From crmpriau at pbaru.wasantara.net.id Wed Oct 28 01:33:00 1998 From: crmpriau at pbaru.wasantara.net.id (Coremap BAPPEDA Tk.I Riau) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 13:33:00 +0700 Subject: No subject Message-ID: <01be023c$cecbab20$0100007f@localhost> Dear Sir, We're the local NGO in Indonesia, Riau - Pekanbaru. We concern in marine environment, especially in coral reef rahabilitation and management. We are looking for Coral Reef litteratures, we need it for our refferences. Here please find our mailing address : 1. Attn : R. Firdaus Jln. Kandis Ujung No. 92 Tangkerang Utara Pekanbaru (28282) - Indonesia 2. Attn : R. Jhonnerie Jln. Wijaya Gg. WIjaya I No. 80/6 RT. 04 RW 02 Kel. Kedung Sari Kec. Sukajadi - Pekanbaru (28123) Indonesia That's kind of you, if you can help us. Best Regard Romie Jhonnerie crmpriau at pbaru.wasantara.net.id From browndr at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca Tue Oct 27 22:04:36 1998 From: browndr at mcmail.cis.mcmaster.ca (D.R. Browne) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 22:04:36 -0500 (EST) Subject: videographer in SE asia Message-ID: <199810281314.NAA18827@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> I am working on a project to make a series of films about human interactions with and impacts on coral reefs in Indonesia. I am looking for the names of any local underwater videographers to employ for some of the shooting. By local I mean in the region: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand. Any contacts you have would be a great help, David Browne WildCard Productions Inc. From DThoma1119 at aol.com Wed Oct 28 12:24:32 1998 From: DThoma1119 at aol.com (DThoma1119 at aol.com) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 12:24:32 EST Subject: RE. Need advice Message-ID: <68b0f5f2.36375350@aol.com> I am a 26 year old graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. My degree is in biology with an emphases on what little marine biology they offered. I am currently serving an apprenticeship with the Mid-America Aqua Center, in St. Louis Missouri. For this apprenticeship, I will receive six credits from S.I.U. toward my masters. I receive no stiffen for the apprenticeship so I have obtained a part time job in the marine department of a local pet store. My apprenticeship will be completed in early December of this year and I wish very much to continue my education in the field of marine biology, thus bringing me to my dilemma. Since receiving my bachelors, I have applied for numerous entry level positions in the field of marine biology, all resulting in the same catch 22. I can?t get a job without having experience and I can?t gain any experience without getting a job. I am writing this note because I desperately need advice, suggestions, help, etc. in short, I guess I need a mentor, someone who has probably already been through the problem. I am single and willing to relocate to almost anywhere. My willingness to work and learn are great and my needs are small. I either must receive a small wage or have the opportunity to work part time and I desire very much to continue my education in marine biology. My final goal is to gain a Ph.D. in marine biology and a full time job in that field. Any reply will be very much appreciated. Thank you very much. Michael L. Thomas 1200 Culverhill Dr. St. Louis Missouri 63119 (314) 962-2958 email Dthoma1119 at aol.com From colref at invemar.org.co Wed Oct 28 16:25:43 1998 From: colref at invemar.org.co (Colección de Referencia) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 16:25:43 -0500 Subject: Identification Keys. Message-ID: <003e01be02b9$84df8900$960d19c8@sib.invemar.org.co> Hi listers: I'm searching identification keys for ahermatipic corals and octocorals (specially Neospongodes) for deep water. I will apreciate any help. Best regards Patricia Lattig Proyecto Macro Fauna INVEMAR A.A. 10 16 e-mail: macro at invemar.org.co -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list-old/attachments/19981028/db3aa486/attachment.html From rcm at arn.net Wed Oct 28 21:16:07 1998 From: rcm at arn.net (Selma Martin) Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 20:16:07 -0600 Subject: coral reef harvesting Message-ID: <199810290212.UAA12002@arnet.arn.net> I am a student at West Texas A&M University, a mid-size university in the Texas Panhandle. I am working on a research paper about coral reef harvesting and dynamiting in the Philippines and the library here is not big enough to do this report. If you have any citations that can help me please let me know. Any information that you have would be greatly appreciated. Rory C. Martin rcm at arn.net From sjameson at coralseas.com Thu Oct 29 07:53:53 1998 From: sjameson at coralseas.com (Stephen C Jameson) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 98 07:53:53 -0500 Subject: Identification Keys. Message-ID: <199810291248.HAA03530@radagast.wizard.net> Dear Patricia, On 10/28/98 you wrote: >Hi listers: > >I'm searching identification keys for ahermatipic corals and octocorals >(specially Neospongodes) for deep water. I will apreciate any help. > >Best regards > >Patricia Lattig >Proyecto Macro Fauna >INVEMAR >A.A. 10 16 >e-mail: macro at invemar.org.co Contact Dr. Stephen Cairns at the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History. CAIRNS.STEPHEN at NMNH.SI.EDU Best regards, Dr. Stephen C. Jameson, President Coral Seas Inc. - Integrated Coastal Zone Management 4254 Hungry Run Road, The Plains, VA 20198-1715 USA Office: 703-754-8690, Fax: 703-754-9139 Email: sjameson at coralseas.com Web Site: www.coralseas.com From coral at aoml.noaa.gov Thu Oct 29 09:59:53 1998 From: coral at aoml.noaa.gov (Coral Workstation at NOAA/AOML) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 09:59:53 -0500 (EST) Subject: Helpful Hints Message-ID: <199810291502.PAA28942@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Greetings, Coral-Listers, I just wanted to offer a couple of helpful hints to our new subscribers. 1) When sending messages to the list, it is helpful if you send your message in plain ASCII format, as there are many folks out there who do not have mail readers that can read imbedded HTML (Web) code--it comes across as very difficult to read for them; thus, you lose some of your intended readership. 2) If you are interested in seeking references or information on a particular subject, please check the coral-list archives (under "Coral Researcher's Community" at the CHAMP Home Page, www.coral.noaa.gov) first. This is usually updated once a month. In some cases, a subject you are interested in has already been discussed. 3) Before asking the coral-list subscribers for references, it might also be best for you to check these resources first, ReefBase (http://www.cgiar.org/iclarm/resprg/reefbase/) The Non-Destructive Coral Health Monitoring Home Page (http://cbl.umces.edu/~mattia/SMProject/) Dr. Anne Cohen's list of references on gorgonian growth rates (http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/bib/gorgonians.html) Selected bibliography of storms as they relate to coral health (http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/bib/storms.html) The CHAMP Literature Abstracts Home Page (http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/bib/lit.abstracts.html) (If any coral-list subscribers have other literature related links, we would very much like to know of them.) Hope this helps! Cheers, CHAMP From corals at caribe.net Thu Oct 29 15:52:24 1998 From: corals at caribe.net (CORALations, Inc.) Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 15:52:24 -0500 Subject: Puerto Rico-Water Quality Message-ID: <199810301141.LAA07309@coral.aoml.noaa.gov> Greetings coral-listers, =09CORALations is NGO based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We are looking for support or endorsement to the following letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, regarding the discharge of primary sewage into our coastal waters. PR has 5 pending 301(h) waivers which allows legal discharge of primary sewage into our waters. Plants have been discharging primary sewage (when functioning properly) as EPA 301(h) waivers continue pending for in some cases, well over a decade. The specific plant addressed in this letter, has not even been built yet. Since this stands to impact shared resources throughout the Caribbean, we are hoping to generate supporters from the list. =09Those who wish to support, please email corals at caribe.net and include name, title, organization or agency, address, area code and phone for confirmation along with a brief statement of support. Thank you, Mary Ann Lucking, Project Coordinator. October 31, 1998 Mrs. Jeanne M. Fox Regional Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 290 Broadway New York, NY 10007-1866 Re: Dorado Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant 301(h) Application Dear Mrs. Fox: =09CORALations is a non-profit, ocean conservation organization based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We are writing to express our opposition to the construction of yet another primary waste water treatment plant by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority [PRASA] in Dorado, Puerto Rico. We understand that PRASA has now requested another extension of the deadline established by the Environmental Protection Agency to submit a 301(h) waiver application for this plant. =09As you know, PRASA has been negligent in submitting the necessary documents for the proposed Dorado plant as well as for other functioning primary treatment plants, in some cases for more than a decade. We do not believe EPA originally introduced the 301(h) waivers with the intent of facilitating this kind of abuse of the Clean Water Act, although this has clearly been the outcome in Puerto Rico. =09The discharge of improperly treated sewage into our coastal waters has been documented by scientists as one of the major contributors to the destruction of almost half of the coral reefs around the big island of Puerto Rico. Again, almost half of all our 7 to 9,000 year old reef systems are dead. The other half are dying at an alarming rate. Having just returned from a meeting of the first U.S. Coral Reef Task Force created in response to an Executive Order drafted to protect declining reef systems, it is our understanding that EPA should now embrace the following policy in all of its current decision making. Section 2, Policy, Executive Order 13089 - Coral Reef Protection, Federal Register Vol 83, No. 115, dated Tuesday, June 16, 1998: (a) All Federal agencies whose actions may affect U.S. coral reef ecosystems shall: (a) identify their actions that may affect U.S. coral reef ecosystems; (b) utilize their programs and authorities to protect and enhance the conditions of such ecosystems; and (c) To the extent permitted by law, ensure that any actions they authorize , fund, or carry out will not degrade the conditions of such ecosystems. =09In this, =93The International Year of the Oceans=94, water quality issues have been brought to the front lines of National concern. As residents of Puerto Rico, it is not acceptable to us that your agency allow an outdated primary treatment plant be constructed today, for use well into the 21st century. During storms, our neighboring Loiza plant discharges raw sewage. In Puerto Rico, water quality data is sparse and often evaluated at intervals not sufficient to protect water recreators and coastal residents. We are concerned about entrusting an agency, which has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to submit requests for 301(h) waivers in a more than reasonable time frame, with the much more complicated task of maintaining a primary plant in compliance to standards as worded under 301(h) of the Clean Water Act. =09Our recent review of the Environmental Impact Statement [EIS] written in evaluation of a proposed deep ocean outfall for primary sewage in Mayaguez, revealed incomplete data on seasonal currents for the area of outfall, misleading conclusions drawn from insufficient data on species documented in the area of outfall, and complete negligence on the part of the originators to evaluate all practicable alternatives. We fear these remaining pending waivers will be pushed forward in the same non-objective and scientifically irresponsible manner, resulting in costly appeals for all of us. =09We join the many scientists around the globe who no longer embrace =93dilution as the solution,=94 and who recognize the need to employ a precautionary principle when engaged in waste water management planning. This is especially important in such biologically diverse and sensitive areas as the tropics. There are cost effective waste water treatment solutions which can be implemented in Puerto Rico. Our primary plants can be re-fitted to secondary and the resulting waste discharged into man made wetlands for final nutrient absorption. =09We respectfully request that EPA deny PRASA's request for an extension and also deny the pending 301(h) waiver for the proposed Dorado facility. Sincerely, M.A. Lucking Project Coordinator cc.=09Hon. Bruce Babbitt =09Hon. William Daley =09Hon. Jorge Acevedo Mendez From firefish at sltnet.lk Sat Oct 31 11:14:42 1998 From: firefish at sltnet.lk (Prasanna Weerakkody) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 22:14:42 +0600 (GMT+0600) Subject: "Pinkline disease"-Help!!! Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19981031221531.1af7a792@sltnet.lk> Dear Coral listers We are presently trying to come to terms with the aftermath of the 98 bleaching catastrophe here in Sri Lanka. We have already lost considerable amount of coral cover in most of our reefs. The Nature Conservation Group; a volunteer Environmental NGO' has been involved in an ongoing reef program in the Buona-vista reef where we are observing the same trend in massive structural change to the reef with considerable loss of living coral cover. While still assessing the situation we are focusing on possibilities of restoration of coral communities. While most of the large Porites domes survived; the partially pigmented colonies seem to be fast succumbing to an epidemic of a coral disease which was identified as the "pink line disease" (pers. com. Dr. Thomas Goreau ). The coral tissue is softened and killed by a thin (1-2mm.thick) pink line advancing as a spreading ring. We are looking for ways in containing this infection. I would be most grateful if anyone could enlighten me as to any information or experience with controlling such infections. Can it be controlled by over painting the infected line with some compound that would stop it advancing, and if possible facilitate re-colonization by the coral tissue. Man power is not a problem but we seek advice on what would be the best method to employ in saving the corals. The Porites boulders bleached and survived un-pigmented for over five months. And is possibly very much weakened. Something need to be done urgently as the spread of the disease is quite fast. Hope you could assist us Thanks. Prasanna Weerakkody Nature Conservation Group No.9, Balapokuna place, Colombo 6. Sri Lanka Phone: 941 856041 E-mail: firefish at sltnet.lk From firefish at sltnet.lk Sat Oct 31 23:00:20 1998 From: firefish at sltnet.lk (Prasanna Weerakkody) Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 10:00:20 +0600 (GMT+0600) Subject: Bleaching at Buona-vista reef, Sri Lanka Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19981101100106.23f74f54@sltnet.lk> "Coral Bleaching at the Buona-vista reef, Sri Lanka 1998" The year 1998 observed the most severe coral bleaching observed in Sri Lanka in documented times. The following is an account of the observations from the Buona-vista coral reef in Southern Sri Lanka by the Nature Conservation Group field teams. During the month of March 1998 a few instances of coral bleaching was observed on Poritid coral boulders, these consisted of bleached spots 5-15cm. across on otherwise normal coral heads. A large and spreading patch of bleached corals were observed on the reef crest as early as the 26 of March. The bleaching was restricted to reef crest areas less than 0.5m.deep; with corals down to 1m. beginning to lose pigmentation. The affected species included Acropora formosa, Pocillopora damicornis, some favids and few colonies of Montipora aequetuberculata. By the middle (10th -12th) of April extensive bleaching was reported. A survey from the 5-7th May observed the corals were bleaching down to a depth of over 6m. An estimated 90-95% of all coral in Buona-vista reef was affected. The documented water temperature had reached 36 degrees centigrade, Only the corals belonging to the Genus Montipora was observed to be tolerant of the warm water conditions. Colonies of M. aequituberculata was affected in the shallow water but retained most of its color in waters over 1.5m deep. Other species of Montipora were affected to different degrees. An unusual phenomenon was observed where some bleached corals developed large irregular patches of Bright blue pigmentation. This was observed primarily in genera Acropora, Echinopora and Montipora. The colour remained for a few weeks before fading out. In addition to Scleractinian corals, bleaching was observed in Soft corals (Sarcophyton, Lobophyton etc.) and Zooantharians (Discosoma sp.) The algal pigmentation of photosynthesizing Ascidians was not observably affected at this stage. The Monsoon conditions were beginning to take effect over the reef around the 15-20 May resulting in heavy wave action, reduced visibility and a considerable cooling of the water. A short dive was undertaken on the 23rd. May. The Water was observably 'Cold' (no measurements taken) compared to the previous weeks and signs of re-pigmentation was observed in some corals. Most colonies of Porites rus had regained normal coloration, followed by most Montipora colonies, Leptoria, Favids, and some Pociloporids. Different species of Acropora showed faint signs of pigmentation. Acropora formosa remained bleached. Continued surveying between 19-21 June reported temperatures fluctuating between 27 C and 29 C The recovery was slow with most corals still bleached or only showing signs of partial recovery. Over 90% of colonies of Porites rus, Montipora aequituberculata, M. turgescens, Leptoria and Symphyllia indicated full re-pigmentation. Echinopora lamellosa, Most Favids, Galaxia, and Leptoria showed irregular patterns of recovery with some colonies fully recovered and others remaining bleached. Though some species had regained partial pigmentation most Acropora spp., Pocillopora spp. and Porites boulder corals showed slowest recovery . Large tracts of coral close to the reef crest had died and was overgrown with filamentous brown algae, Didemnid ascidians and a Black encrusting sponge. The Porites boulders are undergoing an epidemic of the" Pink-line disease" (Pers.com. Dr. Thomas Goreau) which attacks the coral as an advancing pink ring or line 1-2mm thick. The Soft corals belonging to genera Sarcophyton and Lobophyton were beginning to show significant levels of mortality in areas 4m and deeper. Some large colonies of Zooanthids belonging to genus Discosoma was also beginning to regress and show signs of weakness. Observations were paused due to the onset of the Monsoon with loss of underwater visibility. Preliminary observations carried out within the past week indicate that the reef lost almost all its Acropora and Pocillopora colonies, most of the Echinopora also succumbed. Even the colonies that indicated some re-pigmentation had later been killed off. The structural change to the reef is staggering as these were the dominant genera in the reef previously. The reef possibly lost over 70% of its coral cover. The Porites rus and Montipora aequituberculata showed the best survival rates. The Porites domes which remained bleached for over 5 months is only re-gaining its pigmentation now. The pink line disease has spread on to cover and has killed considerable areas of surface on the Porites boulders. Almost all the colonies seem to be affected now. The changes to the reef both in terms of structure and bio-diversity is heavy. The Zooantharians (Discosoma spp.) had recovered and was prolifereating over the dead coral areas with sponges, ascidians and algae. The larger soft corals killed off show no signs of return yet. Contrasting observations were made in the Eastern coast close to Trincomalee in early September. Two reef sites Green bay and Rocky were surveyed and were found to be in excellent condition with 50-60% live coral cover, Strangely the reefs did not show any signs of bleaching. Either the reefs recovered 100% very fast or they were not affected by the warm water. Possibly due to the morphology of the coast shielding the area from the hot water current advancing from the South-West. .................................................... Hope this information would be of use to Listers interested in bleaching in the region. Regards. Prasanna Weerakkody Nature Conservation Group. No.9, Balapokuna place, Colombo 6. Sri Lanka. Phone: 941 856041 E-mail: firefish at sltnet.lk The Nature Conservation Group is a volunteer environmental NGO in Sri Lanka dedicated to the preservation of Coral reefs and Marine Ecosystems in Sri Lanka.