TWO REPORTS: PHILIPPINES & FLORIDA KEYS Report #1: Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 09:16:37 +0800 (HKT) To: coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov From: "SU Marine Lab, COE-CRM Project" PHILIPPINES Bleaching is also going on in the CENTRAL PHILIPPINES. Off the beach at Silliman Marine lab, we have extensive bleaching of large Porites lobata/australiensis colonies, most of which are at least 2m in diameter. Bleaching is mostly across the top; the sides of the colonies are still healthy. On Apo Is., large colonies of Galaxea fasicularlis are also showing patches on the sides. --Laurie Raymundo Silliman University Marine Lab Report #2: Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 16:24:43 -0700 (PDT) From: Erich Mueller Subject: Re: Bleaching at SOMBRERO? We spent a lot of time at SOMBRERO over last week with our courses. Esther Peters was teaching her "Coral Disease" course so all were alert to bleaching. Bleaching did seem to kick in over the past two weeks. Here is a summary of what I saw on Saturday 8/22 along with comments. Colpophyllia natans - showed areas of bleaching, usually on top early in the summer; most colonies well-bleached 8/22. Diploria strigosa - Light to moderate bleaching. M. annularis and faveolata - did not bleach earlier in the season much; variable bleaching, mostly on top areas, from very little to fairly extensive on 8/22. None completely bleached. Agaricia agaicites - Started earlier in the summer; many colonies completely bleached. Acropora palmata - Light on top but did not see any extensively bleached. Siderastrea siderea - Have seen small colonies partially bleached at various locations all summer. On 8/22 noticed a number of large colonies not bleached at all although other species around them were. Saw one colony with band around base moderately bleached but normal on top. Millepora complanata - Saw several completely bleached. Millepora alciconis - Started bleaching early in the season; many completely bleached. Erythropodium sp. - Most very bleached. Palythoa caribaeorum - Patchy bleaching; areas bleached are very white but normal colored areas all around. Not faded but sharp lines. Notes from Eastern Sambo on 8/14: Backreef A. palmata (1 m)- very bleached on top Forereef A. palmata (3m)- very little bleaching <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Erich Mueller, Ph.D., Director Mote Marine Laboratory Pigeon Key Marine Research Center Email: emueller@mote.org P.O. Box 500895 Marathon, FL 33050