Patterns of bleaching in corals at Myrmidon Reef on the Great Barrier Reef

Annual changes in coral communities were monitored using six photo-transects (1 x 10 m) at Myrmidon Reef between November 1980 and December 1983. Three transects were at a northern site at depths of 0, 8, and 17m, and 3 at a southern site (1, 8, 17 m) and covered 3 community 'types' (shallow turbulent, mid-slope, deep mid-slope).Numbers were assigned to colonies on maps drawn from the stereophotographs and colony areas computed from digitised outlines. The fate of colonies were monitored over the 3 year period. To determine changes in coral communities at Myrmidon Reef over a time during which coral bleaching was observed.1980年11月至1983年12月，研究人员在默米顿礁（Myrmidon Reef）布设6条1×10米的摄影样带（photo-transects），以监测珊瑚群落的年际变化。其中3条样带设于北部站点，水深分别为0 m、8 m与17 m；另外3条样带位于南部站点，水深同样为1 m、8 m、17 m，覆盖了3类珊瑚群落生境：浅滩湍流区、中坡区及深中坡区。研究人员通过立体摄影照片（stereophotographs）绘制的地图对珊瑚群体进行编号，并基于数字化轮廓（digitised outlines）计算各珊瑚群体的面积。在为期3年的监测周期内，全程追踪了所有珊瑚群体的存续与动态变化。 本研究旨在探明观测到珊瑚白化（coral bleaching）事件期间，默米顿礁的珊瑚群落变化特征。