Figure 4. Response of the Dongsha Atoll reef flat coral community to thermal stress.

At the top, a 100-year old coral colony photographed alive in June 2013 (left) and after its death in July 2015, confirmed by absence of living polyps (inset). Below, bleaching-induced mortality varied by genus. Green, white, and black areas represent percent of live and healthy/pigmented, bleached, and recently dead corals, respectively, by genus in late July surveys. Live polyps were present in bleached Porites colonies (inset), whereas most Acropora succumbed quickly and were covered in algae after death. Photos at the bottom show healthy and pigmented corals in the channel and on the upper fore reef slope in late July. The absence of bleaching in the channel was based on visual observations, while ecological surveys were conducted on the fore reef.