REDUCED GROWTH-RATE OF MONTASTREA-ANNULARIS FOLLOWING THE 1987-1988 CORAL-BLEACHING EVENT

Montastrea annularis, the major Caribbean reef building coral, was severely affected by the unprecedented 1987-1988 bleaching event. Most colonies on the fore reef were affected but few were bleached in the back reef. Skeletal growth rates of M. annularis populations were measured non-destructively in the field at Discovery Bay, Jamaica, from the peak of bleaching in Nov. 1987 until recovery was almost complete, in May 1988. Unbleached corals grew at normal rates. Partially bleached corals survived but skeletal growth ceased through this period. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.