[Coral-List] More coral bleaching/mortality in Palm Beach County

[Etichscuba at aol.com]

More coral bleaching/mortality in Palm Beach County 
In the wake of the 11 July 2010, Palm Beach County, cold water event 
additional  evidence of coral bleaching, paling, tissue loss and mortality has 
been  documented. Video from 14 August 2010 was taken on Horseshoe Reef, Lake 
Worth. This location  is roughly 3 nm south of the Bath & Tennis Reef 
bleaching video posted at: _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ1SItjnlMw_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ1SItjnlMw)  
No Acropora was observed on Horseshoe Reef, a brain coral  1.2 meters in 
diameter at the base, was previously photographed April 2007. The  2007 image 
is included in the video for comparison. Also, noted were damaged sea  fans 
overgrown with algae. While damaged sea fans were not obvious on the 4  
August 2010 dive, we are now receiving reports of similarly impacted sea fans  
from the Bath & Tennis Reef area.  
To date, compromised corals have been documented from 26  36.000 N, north 
to 26 41.700 N. Inspection dives to the north and south of this  area have 
not detected any significant coral impacts. 
The 14 August 2010, Horseshoe Reef video is posted at: 
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4beXU12GOKY_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4beXU12GOKY)  
Ed Tichenor 
Palm Beach County Reef Rescue 
www.reef-rescue.org