Early in 2002, large scale bleaching affected the world’s largest continuous coral reef.  More than 60% of the Great Barrier Reef bleached and up to 5% was severely damaged as a result. Bleaching events have also been recorded in many important reef systems worldwide, particularly those in the Caribbean region.

Bleaching refers to the loss of symbiotic dinoflagellate algae, Symbiodinium, within the coral host leading to a bleached, white appearance. Bleaching is a response of the coral host and associated with elevated seawater temperature. Over extended periods bleaching can result in death of the coral

This Working Group draws together international experts to investigate the impacts of coral bleaching, local ecology and climate change on the world’s coral reefs. 

Working Group Members

• Working Group members bring international experience to this targeted research.

Project Partners

• The Centre for Marine Studies, University of Queensland, Australia 
• Department of Marine Sciences and Coastal Management,  Newcastle University, UK 
• Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, The University of Georgia, USA
• Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA
• Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
• Department of Zoology, University of New Hampshire, USA
• Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel
• CORDIO-East Africa, Kenya
• Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, USA
• Coral Reef Conservation Project, The Wildlife Conservation Society, Kenya
• The IOC/UNESCO supports annual training exchanges with Semerang University, Indonesia

Links

• Experimental satellite coral bleaching monitoring products
• IMAGES: Coral Bleaching Working Group 

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High Accolade for Bleaching Co-Chair

Professor Yossi Loya, Co-Chair of the CRTR Bleaching Working Group, is the first ecologist in his nation's history to be named as a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities

Established by law of the Knesset in 1961, the Academy comprises 87 of Israel's most distinguished scholars in the Natural Sciences and the Humanities (including the social sciences).

Membership to the Academy is the nation's highest scientific honour for residents. The home of the Academy in Jerusalem is located next to the official residence of Israel's President.

As a member, Yossi joins an eminent group whose responsibilities include advising the Israeli government on activities relating to research and scientific planning of national significance.

Yossi received confirmation of his appointment during a visit to Heron Island Research Station in May for a "synthesis" workshop with members of the CRTR Bleaching Working Group.