2009/07/15 by Peter S. Vroom, Jacob Asher, Cristi L. Braun +7
paper · doi:10.1515/bot.2009.001
crossref issued 2009/07/15 · crossref published 2009/07/15 · crossref published-online 2009/07/15 · crossref created 2009/07/15 · crossref published-print 2009/09/01 · crossref deposited 2022/04/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/30
Abstract The first recorded macroalgal bloom to occur at Kure and Midway Atolls in the highly protected Northwestern Hawaiian Islands was observed during summer 2008 on shallow water reefs. The native green macroalga Boodlea composita formed dense mats centimeters in thickness in select areas and formed decomposing masses on beaches at Kure Atoll. Mild oceanographic conditions during winter 2008 likely weakened lagoonal flushing systems, and when coupled with weeks of low wind and warm sea surface temperatures during the proceeding summer months, physical conditions within the lagoons of each atoll fostered rapid growth of this normally non-blooming alga.