GBR bleaching

[Ove Hoegh-Guldberg]

Jan 5 2002 - checked reef crest after getting reports from tourists of
bleaching
in the intertidal - found bleached corals from intertidal to 10 m at several
sites around Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef.  Rough visual
estimates - approximately 10-20% of the corals on the reef crest and slope
(down
to 10 m) are affected strongly. Acroporas are mainly affected at this point
although there is a general paling of most species. Pocillopora, Stylophora
and
Seriatopora are among the next most affected species. Water temperatures
reveal
that Heron Island is warm - and that we are at least at the broad bleaching
threshold for this region.

Pictures can be seen at:  http://www.marine.uq.edu.au/ohg/gbr-2002/

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
Director, Centre for Marine Studies
University of Queensland
St Lucia, 4072, QLD
Australia
Phone:  +61 07 3365 4333
Fax:       +61 07 3365 4755
Email:    oveh at uq.edu.au

My staff  page:
http://www.marine.uq.edu.au/staff/ohg.html

International students- College at sea on the Great Barrier Reef!
http://www.collegeatsea.marine.uq.edu.au/

Researchers: Visit the Great Barrier Reef Research Stations.
http://www.marine.uq.edu.au/stations.html

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