Warnings about thermally induced die-off of corals around the world first appeared in 2014. In 2015, I observed coral bleaching on the West shore of Maui from Lahaina to the Honolua Bay Marine Life Conservation District, an area in which I’ve snorkeled for more than 30 years. The cauliflower coral was hit particularly hard, transforming from light brown in 2014 to snow white in 2015. Coral colonies of all colors were dying, leaving behind a white carbonate exoskeleton.
In August 2016, Karen Weintraub1 reported on a coral comeback in the Pacific. I was eager to see for myself during a November trip to Maui. Judging from the colors to my eye, the green and yellow corals (as I know them) were back; the cauliflower coral was no longer white but a lighter brown than it was four years ago. Sadly, the blue corals seemed to have the lowest recolorization, which seems to indicate that they have recovered the least.
Weintraub points out that the reason for the die-off and resurrection cycle of corals is not known, but citizen scientists can help with observations and reports. Resurrection from obvious signs of catastrophic decline to apparent recovery in a year or two is unprecedented. If it can be shown that this is real, and not an error in observation or another phenomenon, could this knowledge be used to help save other endangered species?
Reference
- http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/16/science/coral-reef-climate-change.html
Robert L. Stevenson, Ph.D., is Editor Emeritus, American Laboratory/Labcompare; e-mail: [email protected].
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