A recent investigation found that coral species have recovered from the atomic blast, with diverse and abundant marine life observed. However, some species are locally extinct due to the bomb's effects on water temperatures and nutrient levels.
Scientists found that rabbit fish are efficient herbivores capable of controlling weedy growth on coral reefs. The fish concentrate their efforts on the reef crest, but less effectively on slopes and flats, highlighting the need for a diverse 'guild' of species to maintain reef resilience.
Scientists warn that butterflyfish, such as the Chevroned Butterflyfish, are at risk of extinction due to their specialized feeding habits. The coral reefs' decline is threatening these fish's survival as they can only eat one type of coral, leading to a high risk of extinction.
Coral reefs face irreversible destruction due to global warming, with scientists urging immediate action to reduce emissions and implement no-fishing reserves. The Great Barrier Reef alone generates $6.9 billion annually in economic activity, supporting over 65,000 jobs.
Researchers have discovered an ancient light-sensitive gene, known as a cryptochrome, that appears to act as a trigger for the annual mass spawning of corals across Australia's Great Barrier Reef shortly after a full moon. The Cry2 gene, stimulated by faint blue light, plays a central role in triggering the event.
The world's oceans are becoming more acidic, potentially devastating for corals and marine organisms. Corals with chalky skeletons face declining calcification, affecting the marine food web and global oxygen production.
Researchers have compiled the world's first detailed gene expression library for Symbiodinium, a microscopic algae that feeds corals and drives the reef's fate. Understanding its biochemical relationship with corals is crucial for addressing coral bleaching and climate change.
Systematic conservation planning can help protect endangered species and habitats in a changing world, say experts. The Great Barrier Reef is a case in point, as climate change advances, corals will migrate towards more suitable environments, requiring protected areas to shift.
Researchers have identified a silent, natural disaster that silently wipes out coral reefs on clear sunny days during extreme low tides. The study reveals that these events are highly predictable and can be anticipated through alignment of weather patterns and tidal charts.
Researchers have pioneered a new way to study fish populations by 'tagging' adult fish with a harmless isotope, enabling them to understand the extent to which young fish return to their 'home' area or go off to interbreed. The findings reveal that around 60% of juvenile clownfish returned to the home reef, while 40% came from distant ...
Corals have been found to possess a large and complex genetic repertoire, with estimates suggesting up to 25,000 genes. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the evolution of complex features such as the nervous and immune systems in vertebrates.
Coral reefs on Pulau Simeulue and Pulau Banyak were severely damaged due to the 2005 earthquake, with some species suffering up to 100% loss. However, despite initial mass mortality, some coral species are beginning to re-colonize shallow reef areas, offering hope for recovery.
Researchers warn of imminent ecological extinction for reef sharks, with populations declining at alarming rates. Immediate reductions in fishing pressure are needed to give threatened species a chance of recovery.
A scientific team has developed the world's first engineering model to predict how coral reefs will be affected by intense storms. The model takes into account factors such as colony shape, sea-bed strength, and wave force to estimate the likelihood of coral damage.
A fossil coral reef in Western Australia indicates that sea levels may rise by 3-4 meters during the 21st century due to global warming. The reef, dated to 128-125,000 years ago, suggests that rapid melting of land-based ice sheets contributed to this predicted rise.
A new study reveals that coral reefs in Aceh, Indonesia, can survive devastating events like tsunamis, economic crises, and civil wars if effectively managed. Managed reefs showed significantly higher coral cover than open-access areas.