[Coral-List] Coral bleaching observation: Dubai, Arabian/Persian Gulf

[Michael Risk]

I just got back from Iranian side of the Persian Gulf-the
Asaluyeh/Nyband Bay region. Air temps 40, sea temps 35. (Email me
privately if you want comments on the joys of doing field work under
those conbditions.)

We observed corals at depths from 4-15m. No corals, at any depths, were
bleached. Gives perhaps some relevance to the term "resilience."

BTW, those mostly undescribed reefs had coral cover of approx
30%-higher than the Florida Keys.

Mike

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:55:27 +0400
 "John Burt" <John.Burt at zu.ac.ae> wrote:
>  
> Coral bleaching has been observed at several reefs and breakwaters in
> Dubai, UAE in the past week. Species primarily affected include
> Acropora downingi, Porites lutea, P. lobata, Cyphastrea micropthalma,
> and Turbinaria reniformes. Most bleaching is restricted to depths
> less than 4 m. 
>  
> Similar observations were reported last here year, and most bleached
> colonies in permanent quadrats recovered 'normal' appearance within
> one month during that event.
>  
> John Burt 
> 
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Mike Risk
Marine Ecologist
PO Box 1195
Durham Ontario
N0G 1R0