Savina,-L.A. 1991. Naturally occurring and laboratory induced bleaching in two Caribbean coral species. AM.-ZOOL. 1991 vol. 31, no. 5, p. 48A.

The effects of bleaching on corals bleached both naturally and those induced to bleach were examined. Twenty Agaricia lamarcki and Montastrea annularis colonies from 30 m (+/- 3 m) depth were monitored from October 1989 through June, 1991. During this period, all A. lamarcki colonies monitored bleached twice as determined by appearance and reduced algal cell densities while the M. annularis colonies showed little effects of bleaching. Twelve M. annularis colonies were induced to bleach with high temperature and light in fall 1989. The colonies were placed back in the field and their recovery was monitored: 2-4 days after, 7 weeks after, 16 weeks after, and 1 year after bleaching. One year following bleaching, zooxanthellae densities returned to levels approximately 70% of normal, tissue protein increased to levels observed in normal corals, and maximum production was higher than in normal, prebleached corals. Colonies affected by bleaching appear more susceptible to subsequent bleaching, which can lead to mortality of the colony. Evidence of increasing algal cell densities precedes increasing tissue protein concentrations in recovering corals, and zooxanthellae in recovered corals appear more efficient than algae in prebleached corals.