[Coral-List] Solomon Islands Reef Status
Alan E Strong
Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov
Mon Oct 29 10:45:34 EDT 2007
Thanks for this report, Charles -- Any hints of disease in the Solomon
corals??
From our collated observations here at Coral Reef Watch over the past
several decades....substantiated by a few notes from locals...this
appears to be one region [of few!] across the planet that has escaped
any major bleaching events to date.
Cheers,
Al
Charles Delbeek said the following on 10/28/2007 8:42 PM:
> In light of recent reports of coral bleaching and coral diseases in
> various locales I thought a little good news might be welcomed.
>
> I recently returned from 12 days of diving in the Solomon Islands
> (Russell Islands, Mari Island, eastern Morovo Lagoon and the Arnavon
> Islands) and can report that the corals on these reefs (primarily
> Acropora, Isopora and Porites dominated) appeared very healthy and
> vibrant. Some on the trip have been diving these reefs for over 15 years
> and have seen several bleached and storm damaged over that period. Those
> reefs that were revisited on this trip showed significant recovery over
> the last 10 years to the point where it was hard to see any hint of the
> damage they suffered. In one case, a large head of Isopora that appeared
> completely dead ~10 years ago has successfully regrown its old skeleton
> with new growth and added new branches.
>
> It appears that, at least in this case, some types of coral reefs can
> recover, given the proper conditions, from seemingly drastic insults.
>
> Aloha!
>
>
--
**** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< *******
Alan E. Strong, Ph.D.
NOAA Coral Reef Watch, Senior Consultant
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Coral Reef Watch Program
e-mail: Alan.E.Strong at noaa.gov
url: coralreefwatch.noaa.gov
E/RA31, SSMC1, Room 5304
1335 East West Hwy
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226
301-713-2857 x108 Fax: 301-713-3136
Cell: 410-490-6602
More information about the Coral-List
mailing list