Millepora sp. (bleached branching variety)

The first two photos show Millepora colonies that are in the process of bleaching, although both retain a little bit of their normal yellow color.

The next three appear to be fully bleached but probably still alive, since brown algae has not yet started to grow on the skeletons.

The next shot shows the same colonies as in the previous photo. The photo above was taken on 11 November 2013 and the colony appears to be bleached although still alive. In the photo below, taken one month later, the tops of the colony are starting to develop an external coat of brown algae, indicating that living coral tissue is no longer present at least in those areas.

Brown algae growning on the skeleton confirms the death of the colony below.

Created 4 April 2020

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