Lettuce coral in a reef off of Pingelap Atoll in Pohnpei. The coral survived despite the heat stress during the last El Niño several years ago. Photo: UOG
A new study has found corals in the remote atolls of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are more resistant to bleaching than those around the main islands.
The venture covered more than three thousand kilometres, and visited 10 to 12 atolls.
The last El Nino brought rising sea temperatures to the coral reefs in the FSM which caused major coral bleaching - to the point where they were expelling symbiotic algae, draining them of colour and leaving behind whitened skeletal frames.
But an expedition found the coral reefs in the remote atolls of the FSM survived the bleaching event.
It also learned they're more resistant to it, in comparison to those around the FSM's main islands.
University of Guam Professor Peter Houk said this was a collaboration between University of Guam, FSM National and state governments, National Geographic, and other environmental agencies.
"This is the largest most extensive trip that's ever been done in the outer atolls of Federated States of Micronesia to provide access to the underwater resources," he said.
The preliminary report can be found here.