Home > Environment > Coral Bleaching

Threats to the Marine Environment

Coral Bleaching

Kaneohe Bay, Oahu

 
Bleached Cauliflower Coral, Pokai Bay, Oahu

Pokai Bay, Oahu

 

Kaiona, Oahu

Filamentous algae overgrowth 

Kaiona, Waimanalo, Oahu
Coral bleaching, is occurring throughout the warm oceans, laying waste to once-beautiful reefs.  As global temperatures increase so will our corals suffer.  Bleaching occurs when environmental stress causes the coral host to expel beneficial zooxanthellae, and the transparent coral tissue reveals the white skeleton.  In this weakened state the coral becomes more susceptible to disease & algae overgrowth.  Fast-growing species such as Rice coral seem to be capable of recovery.