The last stunning cry of the living corals and their symbiotic algae before full on bleaching and subsequent coral death during a global bleaching event in the summer of 2010.
At this stage the zooxanthellae algae is experiencing acute heat stress, causing the algae to turn these vibrant shades otherwise not seen in corals. Upon returning to the site after only a matter of months, all coral pictured here were dead, completely bleached.
See more photos of thriving and threatened coral reefs.
Taken in: Taytay, Palawan, Philippines
Photo Credit: Ryan Goehrung/Marine Photobank (for non-commercial use only)
