Bleaching in Abrolhos | Branqueamento em Abrolhos

May 12, 2016  •  Leave a Comment
Canon 5DmII The Abrolhos Network (www.abrolhos.org) has just carried a survey in the Abrolhos reefs, NE Brazil. Abrolhos is the Brazilian main reef system and is under extensive bleaching, with some coral mortality already recorded, especially on Millepora spp. and Mussismilia spp. 
 
In the scope of the Long Term Ecological Research Program (PELD - http://cnpq.br/sitios-peld/), sponsored by Brazil's Ministry of Science and Technology, the  Abrolhos' coastal, offshore and mesophotic reefs were surveyed, and a widespread coral bleaching and disease outbreaks, affecting corals and even gorgonians was observed. Surveys were carried out before and during the temperature anomaly event, with transects and fixed photoquadrads at several sites, including inside and outside MPAs and covering the cross-shelf gradient. Mesophotic reefs were not affected, and coastal reefs were the most hardly hit. Bleaching and diseases are affecting scleractinians, zoanthids, anemones and gorgonians.
 
Take a look at some images of the reefs, and soon there will be more news. Take a look at the short documentary.
 
 
 
A Rede Abrolhos (www.abrolhos.org) acaba de retornar de uma expedição de pesquisa nos recifes dos Abrolhos, NE do Brasil. O principal sistema recifal brasileiro está sob a pressão de um amplo branqueamento, com alguma mortalidade já observada, especialmente de colônias de Millepora spp. e Mussismilia spp.
 
No âmbito do PELD (Programa Ecológico de Longa Duração - http://cnpq.br/sitios-peld/), financiado pelo Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, foram pesquisadas as áreas recifais costeiras, de águas abertas e mesofóticas, onde foram observados diversos eventos de branqueamento, além de outras doenças afetando corais e inclusive gorgônias. As pesquisas transcorreram antes e durante os eventos de anomalia nas temperaturas, que se mantiveram muito elevadas nas últimas semanas, realizando transectos e fotoquadrados fixos em diversos locais, incutindo áreas dentro e fora das Áreas Marinhas Protegidas, cobrindo um gradiente através da plataforma continental. Os recifes mesofóticos não foram afetados, no entanto, os recifes costeiros sofreram os maiores danos. O branqueamento e doenças estão afetando corais escleractineos, zoantídeos, anêmonas e gorgônias.
 
Abaixo estão algumas imagens da expedição e em breve mais notícias. Assista ao pequeno documentário.
 
 
 
 

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