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Coral Reefs: 1998 Publications

Author: Linden, O.
Title: Coral mortality in the tropics: Massive causes and effects.
Publication: Ambio 27(8): 588, 1998.
© Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Notes: In the period 1997-1998 there has been mass bleaching and mortality of the world's corals. In many areas, close to 100% of the corals have died; for example, large areas of the East African coast and the Indian Ocean. Other regions have been severely affected with coral mortality figures of 50 to 70%, e.g., the Western Pacific and South China Sea. However, the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean report lower figures. These mortality levels are unprecedented and there are no existing records that indicate that corals have previously died to this extent.