Participate in the program “An Eye on Coral” by reporting the bleaching events observed on our islands. Fill out an observation sheet for each phenomenon observed on the Pacific Coral Reef Institute (IRCP) website here to help monitor our reefs!
Since January, many testimonials were received mentioning the bleaching of corals on the outer slopes of the reef but also in the lagoon of Moorea.
Based on the observations from our teams last week in the Moorea lagoon, all types of corals are impacted: tabular corals, encrusting corals, branching corals, etc.
Coral bleaching is a phenomenon of coral die-back which results in its discoloration, following the expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae or due to the loss of algae’s pigmentation. When the coral bleaches, it does not mean that it dies. Corals have the ability to recover. However, they are much more vulnerable to stress and especially temperatures.
On a global scale, recent studies report a coral bleaching phenomenon that occurs 5 times more than in 1980. Global warming is considered to be one of the reasons.
For more information, contact the scientists of the CRIOBE (Center for Island Research and Observatory of the Environment).
