[Coral-List] Bleaching in NMI

[Peter Houk]

Greetings All,
     The NOAA ship Oscar Elton Sette just returned from the Northern Islands where bleaching was observed in coral community surveys.  The northern most islands had a higher percentage of bleaching (based on visual observations), however benthic video transects and coral community data were collected too, and not analyzed yet.  The coral community on many of the northern islands indicate that there may have been a previous disturbance(s) based upon skeletons covered with new reef growth.  Could this have been a result of the June/July 2001 thermal event that was noted in the Saipan Lagoon?  Any information is appreciated.

All the Best,
Peter Houk