2019 Volume 75 Issue 2 Pages I_498-I_503
In 2016, widespread coral bleaching occurred in Amitori Bay, Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan. In this study, the coral coverage, spawning rate, number of juvenile coral colonies, water temperature, and other data were measured in 2017 and 2018 to determine the state of the coral communities after intense bleaching and predict their future recovery. The following principle results were obtained: (1) The coral coverage significantly reduced in 2017 than in 2016 and remained constantly low in 2017 and 2018. (2) No bleaching was observed in 2017 or 2018 owing to the decrease in the water temperature by the typhoons. (3) The spawning rates in 2017 and 2018 were 37.5% and 65.9%, respectively, exhibiting a certain degree of recovery from bleaching damage to a certain level in 2018. (4) Several juvenile coral colonies were observed, particularly at the mouth of the bay. (5) The coverage recovery was considered from the perspective of survey results of this study and the physical field. A nonuniform pointwise recovery was suggested, and recovery was initiated at the mouth and the Amitori side of the bay center.
