Coral death by bleaching and predators

Because corals grow slowly, mass mortality events are of great concern. Elevated sea temperature resulting from global warming is a form of stress that leads to the endosymbionts leaving the live coral resulting in coral bleaching and mortality. Population outbreaks of the coral eating Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (a.k.a. COTS) have resulted in several large scale coral mortalities. Predation results in patchy bleaching pattern from where the COTS was in contact with the live coral.

Staghorn Coral detail
Close-up shot of Staghorn Coral (Acropora muricata) showing individual calices and live polyps within bu mostly retracted. This coral appears to be bleached but still alive (evidenced by polyp presence).
Palau PalauMarine PalauUnderwater UnderwaterPalau Acropora muricata Acroporidae Animal Anthozoa Biology Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Invertebrate Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Sand Bar dive site Seacam underwater housing Staghorn Coral Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia biological cnidarian coelenterate living organism underwater www.salmonography.com
Partially beached Antler Coral
This partial bleach pattern of Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) is consistent with ipredation by the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS; Acanthaser planci). The COTS would have attached itself to the portion of the coral head that is now bleached leaving the remaining part unnaffected.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology COTS COTS predation Class Anthozoa Class Asteroidea Class Dinophyceae Cnidaria Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Echinodermata Ecology Family Symbiodiniaceae Genus Symbiodinium Hawaii Invertebrate Kauai Kingdom Chromalveolata Order Scleractinia Order Suessiales Order Valvatida Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Plant Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae spring Stone House dive site Subclass Hexacorallia Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Zoantharia biological cnidarian coelenterate echinoderm fish behavior living night nocturnal organism sea star starfish underwater zooxanthellae
Predation on coral
Predation on coral by Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) in progress on the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii.
Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Biology COTS Class Asteroidea Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Dangerous marine animal Echinodermata Ecology Hoover's Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Valvatida Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Venomous biological biosphere dangerous deadly detrimental echinoderm fatal harmful in situ lethal living mortal naturalworld organism pernicious sea star starfish toxic underwater venomous invertebrate winter
Predation on coral
Predation on Antler Coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) by Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) in progress on the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology COTS Class Anthozoa Class Asteroidea Cnidaria Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Echinodermata Ecology Hoover's Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Order Valvatida Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching echinoderm in situ living naturalworld organism sea star starfish underwater winter
Predation on coral
Predation on Antler Coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) by Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) in progress on the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology COTS Class Anthozoa Class Asteroidea Cnidaria Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Dangerous marine animal Echinodermata Ecology Hoover's Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Order Valvatida Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Venomous Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching dangerous deadly detrimental echinoderm fatal harmful in situ lethal living mortal naturalworld organism pernicious sea star starfish toxic underwater venomous invertebrate winter
Predation
Predation on Antler Coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) by Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) in progress on the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology COTS Class Anthozoa Class Asteroidea Cnidaria Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Dangerous marine animal Echinodermata Ecology Hoover's Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Order Valvatida Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Venomous Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching dangerous deadly detrimental echinoderm fatal harmful in situ lethal living mortal naturalworld organism pernicious sea star starfish toxic underwater venomous invertebrate winter
Stages of coral bleaching and death
An Arceye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus)) rests on Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) at various stages of coral bleaching (behind the fish) and death (in front of the fish). Dead coral is being colonized by turf algae in the foreground. There is live coral below and behind the dead coral.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Actinopterygii Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Arceye Hawkfish Biology Chordata Cirrhitidae Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Neopterygii Order Scleractinia Paracirrhites arcatus Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Pyramid Pinnacle Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Zoantharia biological biosphere chordate cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild winter
Partially Bleached Antler Coral
A pattern of partial bleaching of an Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) that suggests predation by a Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci). Photographed under water while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology COTS Class Anthozoa Class Asteroidea Cnidaria Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Echinodermata Ecology Golden Arches Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Order Valvatida Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching echinoderm in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism sea star starfish underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild winter
Double jepardy: coral bleaching and seastar predation
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming being attacked by a Crown-of-Thorns Starfish or Seastar (Acanthaster planci) photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Biology COTS Class Asteroidea Cnidaria Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Dangerous marine animal Echinodermata Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Valvatida Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Touch of Grey Venomous biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching dangerous deadly detrimental echinoderm fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving sea star starfish toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous invertebrate wild
Double jepardy: coral bleaching and seastar predation
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming being attacked by a Crown-of-Thorns Starfish or Seastar (COTS; Acanthaster planci) that also leaves a bleached-white coral in its wake. This was photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island towards the end of the 2015-2016 event. Excessively warm seawater temperature that commenced during that El Nino was stressful to live corals resulting in widespread coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Biology cots Class Asteroidea Cnidaria Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Dangerous marine animal Echinodermata Ecology El Nino Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Valvatida Pacificstock RF Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Touch of Grey Venomous biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching dangerous deadly detrimental echinoderm fatal gobal warming harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious predation scuba scuba diving sea star seastar predation starfish toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous invertebrate wild
Double jepardy: coral bleaching and seastar predation
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming being attacked by a Crown-of-Thorns Starfish or Seastar (COTS; Acanthaster planci) that also leaves a bleached-white coral in its wake. This was photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island towards the end of the 2015-2016 event. Excessively warm seawater temperature that commenced during that El Nino was stressful to live corals resulting in widespread coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Biology cots Class Asteroidea Cnidaria Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Dangerous marine animal Echinodermata Ecology El Nino Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Valvatida Pacificstock RF Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Touch of Grey Venomous biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching dangerous deadly detrimental echinoderm fatal gobal warming harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious predation scuba scuba diving sea star seastar predation starfish toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous invertebrate wild
Bleached Antler Coral
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Touch of Grey Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Coral Bleaching at Hawaii
Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
Animal Biology Class Dinophyceae Cnidaria Ecology El Nino Family Symbiodiniaceae Genus Symbiodinium Invertebrate Kingdom Chromalveolata Kona coast dive site Order Suessiales Phylum Cnidaria Plant Seacam underwater housing Touch of Grey biological biosphere climate change cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching global warming in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild zooxanthellae
Double jepardy: coral bleaching and seastar predation
Antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming being attacked by a Crown of Thorns Seastar (Acanthaster planci) photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
Animal Biology Class Dinophyceae Cnidaria Dangerous marine animal Ecology El Nino Family Symbiodiniaceae Genus Symbiodinium Invertebrate Kingdom Chromalveolata Kona coast dive site Order Suessiales Phylum Cnidaria Plant Seacam underwater housing Touch of Grey Venomous biological biosphere climate change cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching dangerous deadly detrimental fatal global warming harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous invertebrate wild zooxanthellae
Coral Bleaching at Hawaii
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Class Anthozoa Class Dinophyceae Cnidaria Ecology El Nino Family Symbiodiniaceae Genus Symbiodinium Invertebrate Kingdom Chromalveolata Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Order Suessiales Phylum Cnidaria Plant Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Touch of Grey Zoantharia biological biosphere climate change cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching global warming in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild zooxanthellae
Coral Bleaching at Hawaii
Cauiflower coral (Pocillopora meandrina) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white.
Animal Biology Cnidaria Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Phylum Cnidaria Pipedream Seacam underwater housing biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Coral Bleaching at Hawaii
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island during the spring. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white. Algae colonizing dead coral as shown here is an outcome of prolonged bleaching.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Pacificstock RF Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Pyramid Pinnacle Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Coral Bleaching at Hawaii
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white. Algae will colonizing dead coral as shown here is an outcome of prolonged bleaching.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Pyramid Pinnacle Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Coral Bleaching at Hawaii
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white. Algae will colonizing dead coral as shown here is an outcome of prolonged bleaching.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Pyramid Pinnacle Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Coral Bleaching at Hawaii
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white. Algae will colonizing dead coral as shown here is an outcome of prolonged bleaching.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Pyramid Pinnacle Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Coral Bleaching at Hawaii
Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white. Algae will colonizing dead coral as shown here is an outcome of prolonged bleaching.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Pyramid Pinnacle Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Bleached antler coral in a coral reef setting
Bleached antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) in a coral reef setting with scuba divers off the Kona coast, Hawaii.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Order Scleractinia Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Pyramid Pinnacle Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Zoantharia biological biosphere cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba divers scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Crown-of-thorns sea star attacking its prey
Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) attacking its prey, coral, in this case a Porites sp. This was photgraphed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island
Acanthaster planci Acanthasteridae Animal Biology COTS Class Asteroidea Crown of Thorns CrownofThorns Starfish Sea Star Dangerous marine animal Echinodermata Ecology Invertebrate Kaloko Canyon Kona coast dive site Order Valvatida Phylum Echinodermata Seacam underwater housing Spring Subphylum Eleutherozoa Superclass Asterozoa Venomous biological biosphere dangerous deadly detrimental echinoderm fatal harmful in situ lethal living marine life mortal naturalworld nature organism pernicious scuba scuba diving sea star starfish toxic underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto venomous invertebrate wild