In the late 1990s, this Sclerophytum began to take over large areas of some Kwajalein Atoll southern lagoon pinnacles, such as those at G-buoy and Mar Fill. As the patches grew, they overgrew and choked out some of the hard corals. Finally, during a couple of coral bleaching episodes in 2014 and 2016, a good deal of this Sinularia also bleached and died, cutting it back and exposing the now dead coral beneath it. Since our observations ended at the beginning of 2017, we do not know how or if the areas recovered.
Some of the bleached colonies below may not have recovered.
Created 16 October 2020
Updated 14 March 2024