The recent heatwave is causing small furry mammals to suffer hot and sweaty nights. Zooxanthellate sea creatures, many of which lack the means to hop away from high temperatures, appear to holding up less well. Soft corals, scleractinians and sea anemones on a number of local shores as well as regional waters have been showing signs of bleaching, turning from a rich palette of throbbing colours to glow with a ghostly shade.
Some populations could learn to take the heat, but the triple whammy of warmer seas, acidifying oceans and overfishing is likely to chip at the ability of these cnidarians to resist each scorching cycle of faltering trade winds. And Singapore's reefs will find a little less room for manoeuvre each year as they lose what little ground they still hold to the notion that it's only natural that every square inch of land and sea must eventually gives way to the greater good in the irrefutable pursuit of progress and even more people.
Hi,
Enjoyed going through your posts. Great!
Are you familiar with box starfish? I have two species that I photographed in the shallows of Sipadan Island and I just cannot identify them. Any suggestions or references I should look at?
Cheers,
Noramly.
Posted by: Noramly | 03 June 2010 at 01:37 PM
Hi,
do you mean cushion stars? http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/culcita.htm
Posted by: budak | 03 June 2010 at 01:59 PM