Net growth rates were positive for 1996-97. Growth exceeded tissue loss. Growth exceeded tissue loss. Diploria strigosa and Montastraea spp. There were virtually no detectable changes in coral coverage or coral mortality observed in the 1400-m2 video transect images.
Indications are that the source is either condensate, oil seepage or ship fuels.
Pesticides and PCBs were also recorded in the SPMDs. Analysis of trends in k values indicate at least two attenuation regimes most likely related to plankton blooms which reduce the transmissivity of the water column. Water temperatures ranged from 20.1 to 30.1 o C at the East Bank and 20.2 to 30.0 o C at the West Bank. Daily water temperatures at the West Bank were higher than average from early March through the first week of April and again from mid-June through early September, 1997. Due to weather conditions, no deep reef surveys were attempted in 1996.