[Coral-List] Alarming early warning bleaching signals Mona Island, PR

[Hernandez Edwin]

Dear listers:

During two recent surveys conducted in April 29 - May 2, 2011, and in between May 30 and June 3, 2011 our diving team witness significant bleaching on several isolated colonies of the following species:

April 29-May 1:

Montastraea anularis (8 m)
Diploria clivosa (4-6 m)

Millepora alcicornis (8 m)
Siderastrea siderea (5-8 m)
Meandrina meandrites (5-8 m)

May 30-June 3:


Agaricia agaricites (20-35 m)*
Agaricia lamarcki (15-43 m)*
Agaricia 
grahamae (27-40 m)*
Leptoseris cucullata (25-35 m)*
Montastraea annularis (2-20 m)*
Montastraea faveolata (5-20 m)*
Montastraea cavernosa (20 m)

Eusmilia fastigiata (8-30 m)
Meandrina meandrites (8-30 m)
Meandrina memorialis (8-30 m)
Diploria strigosa (2-5 m)
Diploria clivosa (2-10 m)*
Diploria labyrinthiformis (3-20 m)

Porites astreoides (5 m)
Dendrogyra cylindrus (8-20 m)


Millepora alcicornis (2-20 m)

Pseudopterogorgia americana
Pseudopterogorgia bipinnata 

Temperatures at Mona were approximately 27.0C in late April and 28.5C in late May. We do have pictures for most of the species.

Please, keep your eyes opened around the region for additional abnormal bleaching signs on susceptible colonies.

Saludos!

E


Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado, Ph.D. 
Affiliate Researcher 

University of Puerto Rico 
Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation 
Coral Reef Research Group
P.O. Box 23360
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360

Tel (787) 764-0000, x-2009 
Fax (787) 764-2610

e-mail: coral_giac at yahoo.com 

http://upr.academia.edu/EdwinHernandez
http://crest-catec.hpcf.upr.edu/research_fellows/edwin_hernandez
http://ccri.uprm.edu/researcher/Hernandez/