Cauliflower Coral (Pocillopora damicornis): Miraculous Resurrection After Death By Bleaching from OnBird’s Observation

This is an unbelievable discovery by OnBird’s team after the observations on death Cauliflower Coral after a massive bleaching event in Phu Quoc between May and June which leads to the death of almost 95% cauliflower corals (Pocillopora damicornis) in Phu Quoc. We are still keep observing the coral resurrection’s proceed to see if what we thought is true?

Cauliflower Coral is one of the more persistent hard corals in the Gulf of Thailand. Common on the reefs of Phu Quoc but also a survivor in the shallows at Coral Jungle Reef.

Characters of Pocillopora damicornis: Colonies are compact clumps reaching several meters across. There is no clear distinction between verrucae and branches as these intergrade with each other. Branches are highly compact and sturdy in habitats exposed to strong wave action and are thin and open in deep or protected habitats.

Color: Usually pale brown, greenish or pink.

Cauliflower Corals After Bleaching Event

The photo below captured by OnBird’s team, it has shown that cauliflower considered totally death after the massive bleaching event between May and June 2024 in Phu Quoc, all cauliflower turned black and covered completed by algae, almost no life signal found, with macro photos you dont see any coral issues and zooxanthellae.

Cauliflower considered totally death after the massive bleaching event between May and June 2024 in Phu Quoc

No life signal found 2 months after the massive bleaching event, all cauliflower are covered with harmful algae like photos above and below but there is a kind of green sponge formed outside coral and algae. And this is miracle.

A cauliflower coral is recovering from bleaching as it cleaning off algae and be bared skeleton whereas collecting photosynthesis algae Zooxanthellae

We assume that the green sponge layer created and formed and cover cauliflower branches completely turn black to death after consumed all algae invaded the coral skeleton, after that this black sponge layer will be cleaned off the skeleton and skeleton become white again without harmful algae, this provide opportunity for photosynthesis algae Zooxanthellae and coral larvae re-enter the tissues of a coral polyp after being expelled during a coral bleaching event.