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Maze Coral Bleaching
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Maze Coral
(Meandrina meandrites)
 Autumnal Bleaching Cycle
Gulf Stream Reef, Boynton Beach, Florida

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Meandrina meandrites colonies on Gulf Stream Reef (26 31 00 N, 80 02 00 W) Boynton Beach, Florida have been observed to bleach and recover on a predictable annual cycle. Six years of observation (2000 to 2005) has documented this occurrence. The annual onset of bleaching begins within days following the autumnal equinox, suggesting this phenomenon is likely triggered by shortening day length.

The 2006 bleaching episode has begun on schedule. On September 30, 2006 the first bleaching colonies of the season were observed.
September 30, 2006 bleached Meandrina meandrites.
Gulf Stream Reef, Boynton Beach, Florida.
Photo by Kurt Spaugh.
2000 to 2006 Meandrina Meandrites Autumnal Bleaching Cycle

 

2000 to 2006 Meandrina Meandrites Autumnal Bleaching Cycle

Gulf Stream Reef, Boynton Beach, Florida

Percentage of Completely Bleached Colonies

 

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

date       %        OF

date       %        OF

date       %        OF

date       %        OF

date       %        OF

date       %        OF

date       %        OF

9/23     0%      85

9/22     0%         84

9/21     %         85

9/20      0%        82

9/18       0%       84

9/24       0%       84

9/23       0%       86

 

 

9/28    BR       84

 

10/02   5.26%    82

10/01   2.80%    84

9/30     5.83     84.5

 

10/06    BR        82

 

10/05   10.3%    81

 

 

 

10/07     BR       82

 

 

 

 

10/08   3.92%    84

 

10/14     BR       80

10/13    BR        81

 

10/11   14.3%    81

10/10   9.09%    81

10/11   ~5%       84

 

 

 

 

10/18   24.5%    79

10/16   16.7%    81

10/15   9.76%    84

 

10/21  ~ 20%     81

10/20   ~ 20%    80

 

 

10/21   20.5%    82

10/22   17.8%    82

 

 

 

 

 

10/23   23.9%    81

(1)

 

10/28  ~>20%   79

 

 

10/29   28.7%    80

10/30   21.5%    80

(1)

 

 

 

 

11/06   18.2%    78

11/06   13.2%    80

11/05    20.1%   80

 

 

11/10 ~>20%    78

 

11/08   14.4%    78

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/15   7.50%    79

11/13   5.36%    79

11/12    18.2%   79

 

11/18   ~<5%    78

 

 

11/22   3.92%    77

11/20   3.57%    78

11/19    15.2%   78

 

 

11/25  ~<10%   77

 

 

11/27   1.52%    77

11/26    11.1%   77

 

 

 

11/30     0%     75

11/30      0%      76

 

 

 

12/02     0%       76

 

 

12/06      0%      75

12/04   < 1%      75

 

 

 

12/08   ~<5%    76

 

12/13      0%      74

12/11      0%      75

12/10    7.30%   77

 

 

12/15     0%      76

 

 

 

12/16    3.95 %  75

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/24    <2%      75

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/31      0%      74

 

 
Funding for this project provided by:
P.O. Box 207
Boynton Beach, Florida 33425
(561) 699-8559
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Questions or comments?  email
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