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While mass bleaching of corals seems
an insurmountable challenge, coral reef managers can
build resilience into their MPAs by learning and profiting
from the natural factors that help corals survive.
This section introduces the concept of resilience
by examining factors that appear to help certain coral communities
resist mass bleaching or recover quickly from it.
Certain environmental factors, such as those
that cause cooling of heated surface waters or reduction of
the harmful effects of sunlight, can ameliorate stress associated
with thermal bleaching.
Also introduced are factors that contribute
to the diverse ways that individual corals may respond to
bleaching.
Finally, this section provides MPA managers
with methods to help locate and identify areas where these
factors may be active in helping coral communities resist
bleaching or recover from it.
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Dr. Andrew Baker is a marine biologist with the
Wildlife Conservation Society who specializes primarily
in the study of the ecology and genetics of zooxanthellae. |
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| “Part of the Kiunga Marine Reserve
coral reef ecological survey team, run jointly by Kenya Wildlife
Service, WWF, and CORDIO, and involving local fisherman and
villagers. Team members monitor sites using SCUBA gear for benthic
cover, coral state, invertebrates and fish. The reserve designation
allows traditional resource use including fishing. KWS manages
the reserve, while WWF jointly operates a community-oriented
project to build consensus for management in the reserve. CORDIO
gives technical assistance and partial funding for coral reef
and fisheries monitoring. Team members, from left to right:
Mr. Anwar Mohammed-WWF; Shally Mote - Fisherman; Mohammed Bahamis
- Fisherman; David Obura - CORDIO.” |
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“When mass bleaching occurs, not
all corals bleach equally. Some corals may not bleach,
others bleach and recover, and some die. Developing an
understanding of what helps corals survive will allow
MPA managers to protect these pockets of resistance.”
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