Anomalous Fluorescence Patterns in Corals

We have noticed several kinds of anomalous patterns in corals that show up clearly in fluorescence but are not visible under white-light illumination. These include:

• bright or dark patches within areas of more uniform fluorescence
• isolated patches of fluorescent color
• color patterns that are only seen in fluorescence

The significance of these effects is completely unknown, but they almost certainly point to underlying differences in internal chemistry.

Example:

White-light (left) and fluorescence (right) photographs of a coral, Roatan, Honduras. Note the yellow-fluorescent area in the photograph on the right that is not evident in the other image.

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