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Figure 3. (A-D) Photo pairs show vitality of head and branching corals in the recent past (top row) and their present state of decline (bottom row) in the Florida Keys. Each pair is of the same corals at two different points in time. Note coral rubble and presence of macroalgae, sea whips, and sea fans in the later photos. Photos in (C) are from Shinn et al. (2003). (E) Similar degradation of Acropora palmata is present at Carysfort Reef.

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Colpophyllia natans at Grecian Rocks 1988 and 1998	Montastrea annularis at Carysfort Reef 1986 and 2001
Montastrea franksi under diver, Acropora palmata at left and back right, and A. cervicornis in foreground at Grecian Rocks 1971 and 1988	Montastrea franksi at Grecian Rocks 1971 and 1999
Carysfort Reef 1975, 1985, and 1995 Healthy elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata). For scale, note striped sergeant majors (Abudefduf saxatalis) in center (14-15 cm). Surface-water wavelets are visible above the shallow reef. Same view shows widespread physical damage to coral and absence of fish. Cause of damage is unknown but could be boat groundings or storms. Parts of live coral colony are visible around photo edges and at right center. The shallow reef is reflected on the water surface. Same view shows complete death and destruction of coral and no fish. Photos courtesy of Phillip Dustan, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC.

Coastal & Marine Geology Program > Center for Coastal & Watershed Studies > Professional Paper 1751