Abstract

Extensive bleaching of Montastrea annularis spp. group and several other scleractinian species occurred on the reefs within the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park of Cozumel after the passage of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Rina. Bleaching was noted at depths of 10 - 40m and in a variety of scleractinian species. Considering that local dive guides had not observed bleaching prior to the storm and the sea surface temperature did not exceed the local bleaching thresh-old, it is likely that the extensive rainfall associated with Rina lowered salinity sufficiently via subsurface freshwater springs to cause bleaching in susceptible species. This suggests the necessity to monitor not only subsurface sea tem-perature but also subsurface salinity in localities where freshwater springs occur.

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