#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

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Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 RECOVERY AFTER 1998 BLEACHING OFF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Major coral mortality was detailed on Scott and Seringapatam reefs in the Status 2000 report. Both reefs are very isolated: Seringapatam (S 13°139’ E 122°102’) and Scott (S 14°11’ E 121°148’) and both suffered extreme levels of mortality in 1998 with reductions in hard coral cover from 41% to 15%, and soft coral cover from 10% to 3% on the outer slopes. There was almost 100% mortality of large Acropora beds with no survivors on most lagoon patch reefs, and corals on the reef crests were devastated, with few survivors. All animals with symbiotic algae at 9m depth were wholly or partially bleached, with variable recovery. Now many species are either extremely rare or locally extinct. Coral cover (%) and recruitment (below) on Scott Reef before and after the major bleaching event in 1998. There is an indication of slight recovery, but it could take many years to reach the 40% level of pre-1998 because larval supply has collapsed. Recovery has been slow since 1998 and coral cover has changed little from 16% in late 1998 to 18% in 2001. The extensive branching Acropora beds have failed to return. There are few juveniles, with small pocilloporids being the majority. There has been an almost complete failure of coral recruitment at Scott Reef since 1998. Recruitment has fallen from an average of 19 recruits per settlement plate in 1996 and 1997, to less than 1 per plate between 1998 and 2002. It is likely that Scott and Seringapatam coral reefs are self seeding because of the their extreme isolation. Consequently, recovery from the 1998 bleaching event at Scott and Seringapatam Reefs could take decades or longer, provided that there are no repeats of major bleaching events. From: Luke Smith, Australian Institute of Marine Science, l.smith@aims.gov.au 38
Coral Bleaching and Mortality major losses of corals due to the coral predator, the crown-of-thorns starfish. Similarly there has been substantial recovery on reefs damaged in 1998 off the Western Australian coastline. There are insufficient data to assess either the extent of coral bleaching or recovery in PNG, however the few data presented in Chapter 9 do indicate that there are concerns about coral bleaching damage to these reefs. Southwest Pacific There was virtually no bleaching in this region in 1998; however there has been major bleaching in 2000 and 2002. Polynesia Mana – Southeast Pacific There were no large impacts throughout Polynesia from bleaching in 1998, however there was severe bleaching on some parts of reefs e.g. coral mortality was over 90% on some outer reef slopes in Rangiroa. These reefs have shown rapid recovery, although there has been some repeat bleaching. Micronesia Some of the most significant bleaching in 1998 was on the coral reefs of Palau. Data in Chapter 12 show that some reefs have coral cover in the range of 50 - 70% suggesting that they escaped the major impacts of the 1998 bleaching, or recovered soon after. There are, however, reefs with 10 - 25% coral cover and with large amounts of dead standing coral indicating that these reefs were badly affected. There were reports from Palau immediately after the 1998 bleaching of up to 50% mortality on some reefs. Acropora corals were virtually wiped out on some offshore reefs, whereas reefs in more sheltered lagoon waters showed lower rates of loss. New coral recruitment has been very encouraging, including many of the Acropora species which were severely affected in 1998, however the major concern is that there are large numbers of crown-of-thorns starfish feeding on the newly settled colonies. The other countries of the Micronesian Node were not seriously affected in 1998. Hawaiian Archipelago Bleaching was not a problem in 1998; in fact there were colder than normal sea temperatures when the other side of the Pacific was unusually warm. U.S. Caribbean While there was major bleaching in 1998 on these coral reefs, mortality was generally low as large numbers of potentially susceptible corals had been killed off by previous bleaching events. Corals adjacent to the land in this region are being impacted by a range of other factors that have caused major declines in coral cover. Northern Caribbean and Atlantic There were similar low to moderate levels of coral bleaching in this region, but most corals recovered soon after and there are no major lasting effects. Mesoamerica The coral reefs from the Yucatan, Mexico to Honduras suffered severe damage from two major disturbances in 1998. First there was severe coral bleaching which was followed 39
Page 1 and 2: Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
Page 3 and 4: FOREWORD Our two governments have r
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS Countries, States and Terr
Page 7 and 8: COUNTRIES, STATES AND TERRITORIES A
Page 9 and 10: Countries, States and Territories S
Page 11 and 12: INTRODUCTION We are pleased to endo
Page 13 and 14: Introduction Some of the larger fou
Page 15 and 16: Introduction Coral reefs are coming
Page 17 and 18: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIVE WILKINSON A
Page 19 and 20: Executive Summary This report, howe
Page 21 and 22: Executive Summary GLOBAL AND REGION
Page 23 and 24: Executive Summary There is clear ev
Page 25 and 26: Executive Summary Key sites chosen
Page 27 and 28: Executive Summary • Europa and Sc
Page 29 and 30: Executive Summary CORAL REEF TARGET
Page 31 and 32: Executive Summary ICRI OPERATING UN
Page 33 and 34: Executive Summary COLLAPSE OF CORAL
Page 35 and 36: Executive Summary Prognosis for the
Page 37 and 38: Executive Summary concern is an out
Page 39 and 40: Executive Summary Southern Tropical
Page 41: Executive Summary Achievements in E
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Status of Coral Reefs of the World:
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7. STATUS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CORAL R
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Status of Southeast Asia Coral Reef
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8. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN EAST AN
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Status of Coral Reefs in East and N
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9. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF AUSTRAL
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Status of Coral Reefs of Australasi
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10. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE SO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Southw
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12. STATUS OF THE CORAL REEFS IN MI
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Status of the Coral Reefs in Micron
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13. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE HA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaii
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14. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE U.
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Status of Coral Reefs in the US Car
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15. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE NO
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Northe
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16. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF MESOAM
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Status of Coral Reefs of Mesoameric
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17. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN THE EA
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Status of Coral Reefs in the Easter
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18. STATUS OF CORAL REEFS IN SOUTHE
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Status of Coral Reefs in Southern T
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19. SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, CORAL
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Sponsoring Organisations, Coral Ree
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#Status of Coral Reefs 2002 - International Coral Reef Action Network

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