March 9, 2023

2016, Coral Bleaching and Mortality in Gulf of Mannar, India

The Third Global Coral Bleaching Event caused significant coral mortality in Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India during 2016. Percentage of bleaching during April-June in Gulf of Mannar was 23.92±10.55%. Live coral cover was reduced to 22.69±9.07% during October 2016 from 38.86±10.2 during 2015 with a significant mortality of 16.17±8.46%. Fast growing coral growth forms including the genera Acropora, Montipora and Pocillopora were most affected. Boulders such as Porites, Favia and Favites were found resistant to the bleaching and mortality. During the bleaching, water temperature ranged between 27.3 and 32.6⁰C.