Coral Bleaching

I recently read this article about Florida's coral reefs by Chelsea Harvey of the Washington Post that was picked up by the Tampa Bay Times.  She discusses this being a particularly bad year for coral bleaching due to rising ocean temperatures and a disease outbreak that is affecting the state's Atlantic barrier reefs.  There is a good summary of what happens during bleaching and how the reefs are disrupted.  Some of the threatened corals are over 400 years old.  Click HERE to read the article.  

Some coral along the Florida reef is afflicted with "white plague disease." A widespread bleaching event on the Florida reef tract has left coral vulnerable to disease. [Photo by Brian Walker via Washington Post]

Tampa Bay Aquatics would love the opportunity to feature your original photographs of Florida's reef ecosystems, or any US marine environments (full credit to the photographer).  If you have something to share, please submit to TampaAquatics@gmail.com.