Specific Thermal Regime and Coral Bleaching Pattern in Hengam Island, the Eastern Persian Gulf

Authors

  • Abolfazl Saleh Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science
  • Ali Mehdinia Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science
  • Arash Shirvani Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science
  • Hasan Sharifi Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science
Abstract:

Thermal anomaly is among factors initiating coral bleaching and mortalities and threatening coral reefs worldwide. Therefore, susceptibility of corals to thermal stress is a central concern in reef conservation. In this study, we evaluated underwater temperature during 2012-13 and bleaching status of corals during summer 2012 in Hengam Island located in the eastern Persian Gulf. Hengam coral community - faced with milder seasonal temperatures compared with more inward coral communities of the Persian Gulf – usually experiences substantial mitigation of underwater temperature (i.e. ~1-5°C) during high-tides in the warm season. In August 2012, some corals of Hengam community including species from the families Faviidae, Pocilloporidae, Poritidae and genus Coscinaria, Psammocora, Turbinaria, Montipora and Symphyllia bleached after ~3 weeks of exposure to daily average underwater temperature >33°C. Therefore, bleaching threshold (BT) of the corals was ~2°C lower than BT of southeastern counterparts. Acropora downingi, the dominant coral with high live coverage was not affected by the bleaching. This contradicts the usual bleaching pattern observed in the Persian Gulf, in which acroporids were the most extensively damaged coral or among the bleached ones. Based on results, it is postulated that bleaching of Acropora is slowed down by the fast tidal flows and rapid cooling in Hengam, a promising event for times of increasing temperature.

Upgrade to premium to download articles

Sign up to access the full text

Already have an account?login

similar resources

Estimation of Coral fish Standing Biomass in Hengam Island, The Persian Gulf

 Standing biomass of coral fish was estimated by the Underwater Visual Census method(UVCm) and belt transect in five stations (St.) (dead corals, continuous and developed reefs, discrete and undeveloped reefs, Acropora spp. in small amounts and rocky reefs), in Larak Island from Sep.2020 to Apr.2021seasonally.The maximum and minimum of standing biomass was estimated  908.79 (Kg/Km2) and 235.85 ...

full text

Short Term Growth Rate of Acropora downingi in the Coral Reef of Hengam Island, the Persian Gulf

In the Persian Gulf, Acropora- dominated coral reefs have been damaged by global and local disturbances. Inversion of coral colonies mostly occur due to anchoring and fishing in many coral reefs, particularly those established nearby human societies, like the coral reef of Hengam Island, in the Persian Gulf. The short term growth rates (weight increment) of inversely and normally transplanted c...

full text

Historical Remotely Sensed Sea Surface Temperature Data for Prediction of Coral Bleaching Event in Kish Island, the Persian Gulf

The capability of Degree Heating Weeks index (DHWs) was examined for prediction of bleaching events in the coral reef communities of the Kish Island located in the north of the Persian Gulf. In doing so, weekly Sea Surface Temperature (SST) values (in 1°×1° spatial resolution) prepared by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coupled with documented bleaching events, such...

full text

Past, present and future state of the carbonate system and acidification in Hengam coral reef in the Persian Gulf

Assuming the possible scenario ICCP RCP8.5, by 2100, the pH of seawater in Hengam coral reef in the Persian Gulf will decrease by 0.46 compared to 1880 (to less than 7.72). Total dissolved inorganic carbon will increase from 2006 to 2263 µmol/kg. The concentration of bicarbonate ions will increase by 24% and the carbonate ions will decrease by 51%. The saturation of calcium carbonate in seawate...

full text

A Report on the Isopods of the Coastal Waters of the Persian Gulf: the Hengam Island

The materials of this study were collected from intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats of the Hengam Island coasts from May 2013 to May 2014. A total of 10 species representing eight genera and four families are reported as follows: Sphaeromopsis persikolpos Khalaji-Pirbalouty and Wägele 2009, S. sarii Khalaji-Pirbalouty and Wägele 2009, Sphaeroma khalijfarsi Khalaji-Pirbalouty and ...

full text

Prediction of Bleaching in Coral Reef Communities Using a Temperature Index(Southern and northern Persian Gulf)

Sea surface temperature is one of the most effective physical parameters that affects the health of coral reefs communities.High frequency of the bleaching phenomenon has extensively occurred in the Persian Gulf in the recent years due to the increase in temperature and increased changes in the sea surface temperature (SST) resulting in great mortality in the coral communities. The aim of this ...

full text

My Resources

Save resource for easier access later

Save to my library Already added to my library

{@ msg_add @}


Journal title

volume 5  issue 17

pages  15- 26

publication date 2014-09

By following a journal you will be notified via email when a new issue of this journal is published.

Keywords

Hosted on Doprax cloud platform doprax.com

copyright © 2015-2023