With this study we estimated the changes in colour, bleaching and mortality of coral colonies from February to December 2007, using the colour reference card method. The study was developed in the Watamu Marine Park lagoon (Kenya), bridging the local summer when seawater temperatures were highest and coral bleaching risk was at its maximum. Seven coral genera were selected, and their colour recorded using a colour reference card (Coral Watch card). Seven different scenarios of bleaching and mortality were observed, varying among the coral genera and between two species in the genus Pocillopora. Twenty percent of the colonies bleached, of which 50% died. Only 15% of the coral that did not bleach died. Branching genera had a higher bleaching incidence than massive and sub-massive genera. Pocillopora showed the highest bleaching susceptibility, followed by Acropora, and the highest level of mortality. Of the two species of Pocillopora considered in this study, P. eydouxi showed higher bleaching and mortality levels, while P. verrucosa bleached less and experienced only partial mortality. Our results evidenced different patterns of coral bleaching and mortality which were easily and clearly detected with the colour card method during both bleaching and a post-bleaching events.

Montano, S., Seveso, D., Galli, P., Obura, D. (2010). Assessing coral bleaching and recovery with a colour reference card in Watamu Marine Park, Kenya. HYDROBIOLOGIA, 655(1), 99-108 [10.1007/s10750-010-0407-4].

Assessing coral bleaching and recovery with a colour reference card in Watamu Marine Park, Kenya

MONTANO, SIMONE
Primo
;
SEVESO, DAVIDE
Secondo
;
GALLI, PAOLO
Penultimo
;
2010

Abstract

With this study we estimated the changes in colour, bleaching and mortality of coral colonies from February to December 2007, using the colour reference card method. The study was developed in the Watamu Marine Park lagoon (Kenya), bridging the local summer when seawater temperatures were highest and coral bleaching risk was at its maximum. Seven coral genera were selected, and their colour recorded using a colour reference card (Coral Watch card). Seven different scenarios of bleaching and mortality were observed, varying among the coral genera and between two species in the genus Pocillopora. Twenty percent of the colonies bleached, of which 50% died. Only 15% of the coral that did not bleach died. Branching genera had a higher bleaching incidence than massive and sub-massive genera. Pocillopora showed the highest bleaching susceptibility, followed by Acropora, and the highest level of mortality. Of the two species of Pocillopora considered in this study, P. eydouxi showed higher bleaching and mortality levels, while P. verrucosa bleached less and experienced only partial mortality. Our results evidenced different patterns of coral bleaching and mortality which were easily and clearly detected with the colour card method during both bleaching and a post-bleaching events.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
coral bleaching
English
2010
655
1
99
108
reserved
Montano, S., Seveso, D., Galli, P., Obura, D. (2010). Assessing coral bleaching and recovery with a colour reference card in Watamu Marine Park, Kenya. HYDROBIOLOGIA, 655(1), 99-108 [10.1007/s10750-010-0407-4].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/20710
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