========================= Bleaching Report =========================== *************************************************** ************* Report from Palmyra *************** *************************************************** Report from: Jim Maragos Date: 4 September 2001 "I just returned from Palmyra yesterday. There was no sign of bleached corals from temperature stress observed at the eight sites visited August 30- Sept 2 in the water and during the circular aerial overflight of the atoll before landing on August 30th. "However, there are many coral skeletons bleached as a result of Acanthaster (crown-of-thorns starfish) predation, which is reaching infestation levels along the south central reef slope near the outer entrance to the dredged channel. At least 40 of the sea stars were noted during a 45-minute dive to 60 feet off the channel on Sunday morning, and many corals were preyed upon: Acropora, Montipora, Favia, Favites, Pocillopora, Pavona, Platygyra, etc. Additional predation was noted off the SE reef slope, but at less intensity. It is possible that less experienced observers may confuse the bleaching from Acanthaster as being attributed to thermal stress. "Water temperatures were indeed warm during last week's visit, but no bleaching from temperature stress was observed. However, Palmyra was hit by a massive bleaching event sometime in 1997 or early 1998. In September 1987, I observed almost 100% coral coverage along the entire western reef terrace and southern facing reef slope, dominated by table and staghorn Acropora. However, when I returned in November 1998, virtually all the Acropora and much of the Pocillopora were killed. Porites and many brain corals survived the bleaching event, and Pocillopora was already recolonizing dead colonies covered with crustose coralline algae." ======================================================================== Alan E. Strong NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Project NOAA/NESDIS 5 September 2001