We had the unfortunate opportunity to dive at Peros Banhos both before (30˚C) and during (31˚C) a mass coral bleaching event. Had I known we would have this opportunity, I would have tagged colonies to be sampled twice. Unfortunately, the best I’ve got is corals from the same reef sampled at both times (n=4 sites: 69, 70, 72, & 74). I am going to analyze the proteomes of P. acuta colonies sampled before and during bleaching, and it is worth noting that not all colonies had bleached upon our return in late April/early May. I also have a mix of S. hystrix samples that did (n=7) or did NOT (n=20) resist bleaching (latter sampling time only).
Sites 69, 70, 72, and 74 were all sampled+surveyed both before and during a bleaching event.
BiPb110 (2015-04-30) This was out first dive to this leeward lagoonal channel where, where one P. damicornis (ChPd150) and one Seriatopora sp. (ChSe156) were sampled.
coral cover=39.3%, algal cover=41.6%, benthic data
BiPb70b (2015-05-1) Our first re-visit to a badly bleaching leeward lagoonal patch reef site. Five P. damicornis (ChPd151-155) and three Seriatopora spp. (ChSe157-159) colonies were sampled; although none of the P. damicornis colonies had bleached, all of the seriatoporids had. Note that, although the pocilloporids were genotyped via RFLP as P. damicornis, they certainly look like P. acuta. coral cover=60.3%, algal cover=32.9%, benthic data
BiPb72b (2015-05-1) A re-visit to a series of badly bleaching back reef pinnacles. Two P. damicornis (ChPd156 [bleached] & ChPd157 [unbleached]) and five Seriatopora spp. (ChSe160-164) colonies were sampled; although only one of the two P. damicornis colonies had bleached, four of the five seriatoporids had (ChSe163 being the exception). Note that, although the pocilloporids were genotyped via RFLP as P. damicornis, they certainly look like P. acuta. coral cover=72.4%, algal cover=22.4%, benthic data
BiPb74b (2015-05-1) A re-visit to a badly bleaching leeward lagoonal patch reef. Three unbleached P. damicornis (ChPd158-160) and one completely bleached Seriatopora sp. (ChSe165-the only one seen at the site) colonies were sampled. Note that, although the pocilloporids were genotyped via RFLP as P. damicornis, they certainly look like P. acuta.
coral cover=62.4%, algal cover=32.0%, benthic data
BiPb111 (2015-05-01) did not dive at this leeward lagoonal channel reef, nor was it formally surveyed.
BiPb69c (2015-05-02) Our third dive to this leeward lagoonal patch reef (the first during the bleaching event). Six P. acuta/damicornis (ChPd161-166) and five Seriatopora spp. (ChSe166-170) colonies were sampled. I will later provide the bleaching data (% of coral tissue area bleached).
BiPb112 (2015-05-02) The second whale shark of my life (and my first ever photo of one). P. acuta/damicornis was not present at this windward fringing reef, though four Seriatopora spp. colonies (ChSe171-174) were sampled (representing the last sampled colonies of the mission).
coral cover=45.0%, algal cover=40.7%, benthic data
Site 113 (BiBl113) was done back at Blenheim.
BiPb114a (2015-05-02) was a windward fringing reef. Although no P. acuta, P. damicornis, or Seriatopora spp. colonies were observed there, other pocilloporids were sampled for collaborators.
coral cover=39.6%, algal cover=33.8%, benthic data
BiPb114b (2015-05-3) This was such a gorgeous site that we opted to do a second dive there. The data provided above represent the average of surveys from both dives.
The last dive of the mission (BiSp115) was done at Speaker’s Bank.
Fin
Fare thee well Chagos. Let us not have been the last to have seen your magnificent reefs in all their glory.