[Coral-List] intensive coral colors at onset of bleaching?

[Charles Mazel]

Dear Sebastian,

This kind of observation of anomalously intense fluorescence in corals  
exposed to various kinds of stress has cropped up anecdotally for  
years. I have heard similar things from reef aquarium hobbyists who  
noted extreme color changes in corals suddenly shifted to increased  
light conditions. I do not know of any demonstration of the cause/ 
effect mechanism behind this.

There have been arguments for a photoprotective function for the  
fluorescent pigments, but also arguments against, at least as a  
general function. Similarly there have been suggestions that pigmented  
corals are less susceptible to bleaching, but also that they are more  
so (e.g.,Dove, S. G., 2004. Scleractinian corals with photoprotective  
host pigments are hypersensitive to thermal bleaching, Mar. Ecol.  
Prog. Ser., 272:99-116.)

As usual, more observation and focused study needed.

Best regards,

Charlie


Charles Mazel
Physical Sciences Inc.
20 New England Business Center
Andover, MA 01810
tel: 978 738-8227
fax: 978 689-3232



On Sep 1, 2010, at 5:18 AM, Sebastian Ferse wrote:

> Dear listers,
>
>
>
> An acquaintance has passed on a report from a dive resort owner in  
> Malaysia,
> who observed that prior to each bleaching event all corals underwent a
> spectacular color change, displaying bright neon colors. I am  
> assuming that
> this is due to the higher amount of color pigments in the tissue  
> relative to
> zooxanthellae, and possibly due to a stress response triggering higher
> pigment production. Does anyone have further insights or own  
> observations on
> this?
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Sebastian
>
>
>
> _________________________
> Dr. Sebastian Ferse
>
>
> Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie (ZMT) GmbH
> Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology
> Fahrenheitstrasse 6
> D-28359 Bremen
> Germany
>
> Phone: +49-421-238 00 28
> Fax: +49-421-238 00 30
> Mobile: +49-1577-237 9259
> e-mail: sebastian.ferse at zmt-bremen.de
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
>
>
> Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie (ZMT) GmbH
>
>
>
> Fahrenheitstraße 6
>
> 28359 Bremen
>
> Deutschland
>
> Tel. +49(0)421 238 00-0
>
> Fax +49(0)421 238 00-30
>
> www.zmt-bremen.de
> <file:///C:\Dokumente%20und%20Einstellungen\Sebastian\Anwendungsdaten 
> \Micros
> oft\Signatures\www.zmt-bremen.de>
>
>
>
> Sitz der Gesellschaft: Bremen
>
> Registergericht: Amtsgericht Bremen
>
> Handelsregister Nr. HRB 25746 HB
>
> Steuer-Nr. 71/607/12036
>
> USt.-IdNr. DE 266278207
>
>
>
>
>
> Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrates:
>
> Dr. Walter Dörhage
>
>
>
> Geschäftsführer:
>
> Prof. Dr. Venugopalan Ittekkot
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list