bleaching colony of cauliflower coral, Pocillopora meandrina, showing protective fluorescent colors, Honokeana Cove, West Maui, Hawaii, USA

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bleaching colony of cauliflower coral, Pocillopora meandrina, during a marine heat wave in 2019, Honokeana Cove, West Maui, Hawaii, USA ( Central Pacific Ocean ); the bleached portions are fluorescing violet - this is believed to be a protective response that reduces cell damage from sunlight; the surrounding reef is already dead and covered with algae

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Size: 8256px × 5504px
Location: Hawaii, USA
Photo credit: © Doug Perrine / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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