This email came across this morning on the Coral-list. Wondering if any importers have seen the signs yet. Remember those "Rare" white torch corals that went around last year about this time
Dear Coral-list,
The recent high SST’s have resulted in initial coral bleaching in Fiji. The phenomenon is just beginning (14/2/02) near Suva, Vanua Levu, and is more advanced on the north
side of Viti Levu. Unlike the 2000 event, the degree of temperature elevation from the NOAA SST observations has been greater to north of the main island, Viti Levu.
We have just had about 1.5 weeks of clear skies and intense sun. There is now a thermocline at 3-5m in the Suva area, which is unusual for Fiji. Temperatures are 310-31.60C
above the thermocline and less than 300C below it (to17m). Bleaching is confined to reef crests that are above the thermocline.
Susceptible taxa that are showing signs of paling are: Acropora, Stylophora Pocillopora, Pavona clavus, Hydnophora. The amount of bleaching at this stage is less than 1% of
colonies and few are white, most are just starting to pale. An abundance of small colonies has recruited after the 2000 mass bleaching. None of these small colonies exhibit
bleaching.
The weather is now cloudy for the first time in 1.5 weeks. A tropical low is deepening in near Fiji, which should cause the cooling of the SST's.
Fijian reefs have exhibited coral bleaching for five years. Relatively minor bleaching occurred for two years before the major bleaching of 2000. Bleaching in 2001 was
extensive in some areas but, generally, the nation's reefs were spared by the cooling influence of Cyclone Paula. Unfortunately, extensive damage was done along the southern
coasts by the associated large wave event which removed living coral down to 10m, in some cases, and much of the dead standing coral from the year 2000 bleaching
mortality.
Edward R. Lovell
Biological Consultants, Fiji
PO Box 3129, Lami, Fiji
Ph./Fax (679) 361358
Email: [email protected]
Dear Coral-list,
The recent high SST’s have resulted in initial coral bleaching in Fiji. The phenomenon is just beginning (14/2/02) near Suva, Vanua Levu, and is more advanced on the north
side of Viti Levu. Unlike the 2000 event, the degree of temperature elevation from the NOAA SST observations has been greater to north of the main island, Viti Levu.
We have just had about 1.5 weeks of clear skies and intense sun. There is now a thermocline at 3-5m in the Suva area, which is unusual for Fiji. Temperatures are 310-31.60C
above the thermocline and less than 300C below it (to17m). Bleaching is confined to reef crests that are above the thermocline.
Susceptible taxa that are showing signs of paling are: Acropora, Stylophora Pocillopora, Pavona clavus, Hydnophora. The amount of bleaching at this stage is less than 1% of
colonies and few are white, most are just starting to pale. An abundance of small colonies has recruited after the 2000 mass bleaching. None of these small colonies exhibit
bleaching.
The weather is now cloudy for the first time in 1.5 weeks. A tropical low is deepening in near Fiji, which should cause the cooling of the SST's.
Fijian reefs have exhibited coral bleaching for five years. Relatively minor bleaching occurred for two years before the major bleaching of 2000. Bleaching in 2001 was
extensive in some areas but, generally, the nation's reefs were spared by the cooling influence of Cyclone Paula. Unfortunately, extensive damage was done along the southern
coasts by the associated large wave event which removed living coral down to 10m, in some cases, and much of the dead standing coral from the year 2000 bleaching
mortality.
Edward R. Lovell
Biological Consultants, Fiji
PO Box 3129, Lami, Fiji
Ph./Fax (679) 361358
Email: [email protected]
