[Coral-List] Palythoa discussion

[dustin kemp]

 Hi
Dawn, 




Interesting observation concerning
differences in Palythoa bleaching from inshore vs. offshore colonies. 
This acclimatization process has been shown with Palythoa caribaeorum (and
their zooxanthellae types C1 & D1a) on a geographic scale in S. Florida (Kemp, DW, et al.
Journal Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 2006).  We found
that P. caribaeorum from regions with larger annual temperature ranges did not
bleach as much as P. caribaeorum with smaller annual temperature ranges. 
I know this has also been seen in corals as well (Cook et al. Coral Reefs,
1990; among others).



 
An interesting observation that I could
never figure out during this project is why along the east coast of Florida (up
to West Palm Beach) you can find P. caribaeorum right off the beach but in the
FL Keys to find P. caribaeorum you must go offshore past Hawks channel (appx
> 2-3 miles out).  Even on patch reefs inside of Hawks channel I was
unable to find P. caribaeorum.

 

Cheers, Dusty


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