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NorthCoast's Regional Information
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NATURESea, land, river ECONOMYRegional PLACEBooks+ PEOPLESCommunity |
EXAMPLES of Bleaching |
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Thesis: In this page show extent of ‘worst’ episode of
2004. As the bleaching soon disappears, but other
episodes follow later in summer Suggest that
bleaching events require series of small ‘high tides’ (neaps) and sunny
weather To be removed by large high tides (spring tides) – see next page |

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Most
the upper intertidal algae affected |
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Probably
the M parksii (c left---- c = cornucopeia which is an older
name for the entity and for which many recognize it by still) The
m represents Mazzaella which as we see
below appears to be often killed by the bleaching (especially the ones that
are highest up on shore) The
Endocladia grows between m and c on image left and seems less affected.
Porphyra which has lasted into summer does not bleach at all |
Close
ups (from north Island material)
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After series of Spring tides the bleaching no longer evident
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Alternative Hypothesis
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While I
accept the correlation between higher tides and the evident disappearance of
the bleaching, an alternative explanation is that intense grazing is removing
the bleached areas. Note the
apparent striped tentacle of the Littorina scutulata and the ‘huge’ barnacle
which given the plates configuration is merely a B glandula |
Created by LG on 9/12/2004
Last updated on Monday, September 13, 2004