Life and Death of a Reef
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1971 - Staghorn coral and the prominent elkhorn coral are encroaching on the star coral (center mound).
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1976 - Diver's hand rests on elkhorn coral, which is now dead.
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1978 - Most of the staghorn coral above and to the left of the head coral is dead. Note the skirt of dead coral around the base of the coral head.
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1988 - Only a small patch of the staghorn coral (above and to the left of the head coral) remains alive. Notice the reduced size and lumpy nature of the star coral.
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1992 - Much of the dead staghorn coral has been removed by parrot fish, which eat algae-covered coral. Only a small part of the star coral remains alive. (The holes in the knife are approximately 1 cm in diameter.)


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