Coral mortality in the tropics: Massive causes and effects

In the period 1997-1998 there has been mass bleaching and mortality of the world's corals. In many areas, close to 100% of the corals have died; for e xample, large areas of the East African coast and the Indian ocean. Other r egions have been severely affected with coral mortality figures of 50 to 70 % e.g. the Western pacific and South China Sea. However, the Eastern Pacifi c and the Caribbean report lower figures. These mortality levels are unprec edented and there are no existing records that indicate that corals have pr eviously died to this extent.