Articles tagged with Coral Reefs
A comprehensive survey of Pacific coral reefs has shown that green sea turtle populations are increasing, driven by warmer ocean temperatures and productivity. The study, published in PLOS ONE, provides critical insights into the density and drivers of sea turtle populations across the tropical Pacific.
A global atlas offers a new way to map coral reefs from space, containing over 65,000 square kilometers of coral reefs and surrounding habitats. The high-resolution maps provide information on shallow water marine habitats, helping track changes in reef composition and structure over time.
Researchers discovered that reef fish rely heavily on food from the open ocean, with some species relying on more than 400 grams of plankton per kilogram of fish produced. The study found that areas of the reef exposed to the open ocean produce the largest quantities of fish, offering hope for resilient reefs.
Scientists at the University of Hawaii have developed a technique to measure living coral on reefs by analyzing DNA in small seawater samples. This new method, known as metabarcoding, can track changes in coral reef health and detect rare species.
Researchers discovered that bacteria in coral reef waters change dramatically at night, and then return to the same daytime community the next morning. A group of microbes called Psychrobacter appears to be leading the way, dominating the marine microbial community during the day and being a hundred times more abundant at night.
Coral reefs surrounding Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific recovered dramatically after a 2015 bleaching event, with less than 10% dying. Imaging software and 3D structuring helped scientists monitor coral growth and decline over time.
New research reveals that global warming has made it difficult for coral reefs to recover, with a 89% decline in adult corals and a 93% drop in coral replenishment. The study's findings indicate that the Great Barrier Reef's resilience is now severely compromised by global warming.
Researchers analyzed 13 UV filters, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, in seawater, sediment, and coral tissues near Hawaiian coral reefs. The study found low concentrations of oxybenzone, but no octinoxate, and revealed surfactant degradation products in seawater that may impact corals.
A new study published in Nature Communications found that coral reefs near the equator are less affected by ocean warming than those at higher latitudes. Corals in these regions were found to be more tolerant of high temperatures, with some even able to withstand temperatures that would bleach corals elsewhere.
Chronic exposure to poor water quality limits coral recovery rates across the Great Barrier Reef. Improving water quality can enhance recovery rates, but it won't suffice to rescue the reef from threats like climate change and pollution.
A study by WCS and other groups found that even the best coral reef marine parks contain less than half of the fish biomass found in remote reefs. Fishing closures had an average biomass of 740 kg/ha, compared to 1,870 kg/ha in offshore reef sites.
A new study by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences reveals that a diverse portfolio of herbivore fish species is equally important to keeping reefs well grazed and hospitable to baby corals. This finding has significant implications for the management of tropical fisheries.
New research confirms that drastic changes in ocean salinity can cause 'freshwater bleaching' of coral reefs, leading to cell function collapse. The study found corals sensitive to slight changes, with nearshore reefs exposed to half normal ocean salinity causing a shock response preventing normal cell function.
A new study found that marine wildlife near coral reefs respond differently to climate change events depending on their distance from the mainland. Surveys of fish and coral habitats showed an increase in herbivorous species in middle- and outer-shelf reefs after severe environmental disturbances, but not near the coast.
A new study finds that ocean warming is the primary cause of coral decline, contrary to the effectiveness of managed resilience efforts. Coral reefs face devastating impacts from extreme temperatures and mass bleaching, highlighting the need for drastic greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
Research in Moorea, French Polynesia, reveals that intense herbivory is required to prevent seaweed establishment and that seaweed-dominated patch reefs are resilient to moderate disturbances. The findings suggest that preventing shifts to seaweed should be a focus of reef management.
Researchers at University of Queensland found that corals from the 'twilight zone' can grow faster in shallow light environments, offering a potential solution to preserving coral habitats. The study suggests that mesophotic corals can thrive with limited light, challenging current views of these deep-water ecosystems.
Coral reefs optimize their photosynthetic capacities to prevailing environmental conditions, such as light availability, temperature, and nutrient levels. This adaptation allows reef organisms to respond to stresses like global climate change, with potential implications for measuring reef health and ecosystem function.
The ESA releases new research on the Great Barrier Reef, where sharks are declining despite protected areas. The study suggests that illegal fishing is a major factor, while stricter regulations have led to fish population recovery in the Northeast Atlantic.
Scientists found that sponges hollow out and take over reef skeletons to protect themselves from predators, using chemical and mechanical techniques. Ocean acidification enhances this process, making it possible to predict future coral reef conditions more accurately.
Researchers discovered that corals use green fluorescent light to signal the presence of Symbiodinium, a type of mobile microalgae critical to the establishment of a healthy partnership. The study found that this 'positive phototaxis' mechanism enables corals to attract Symbiodinium, which provide essential nutrients via photosynthesis.
Researchers directly measured calcium, carbonate and pH at coral calcification sites using microscopy and microsensor measurements. They found that parameters are higher in corals than in surrounding seawater, highlighting the importance of calcium and carbon concentrating mechanisms.
A robot has successfully delivered heat-tolerant coral larvae to the Great Barrier Reef in the first small-scale pilot of a new technique to help restore and recover coral reefs. The robot, called LarvalBot, disperses microscopic baby corals onto damaged reef areas allowing them to settle and develop into coral polyps.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that coral reefs' soundscape influences coral larvae's choice of settlement, with healthy reefs having more fish sounds attracting larvae. The study suggests using sound to aid in coral reef preservation and potentially rebuild damaged reefs.
A £1 million research program is assessing human impacts on the pristine Chagos Archipelago, a remote British Indian Ocean Territory. The study aims to understand how conservation practices can benefit other areas of the marine environment.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that corals that survived 2016 bleaching were more resistant to heat stress in 2017. The research highlights the extent of damage caused by multiple coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, with only 7% of reefs escaping bleaching entirely since 1998.
Distinguished Professor Terry Hughes exposed coral reef damage caused by rising water temperatures, while Britt Hermes publicised her research on evidence-based medicine. Both received the 2018 John Maddox Prize for their courage in promoting science.
New research suggests that rising global sea levels and high-energy wave events could actually build, rather than destroy, coral reef islands like the Maldives. This is possible if the coral reef remains healthy to provide building material, but threatens island infrastructure with devastating consequences.
A new study reveals that coral reef fish employ a sequence of well-defined decision rules to generate evasion behavior in complex natural environments. The escape response is influenced by the perceived size and expansion rate of the threat stimulus, as well as the location of nearby safe shelter.
Researchers have discovered a history of bleaching on a coral reef in the central Pacific, which has survived extreme heatwaves due to currents that bring cold, nutrient-rich water. The reef's ability to recover after severe bleaching events is crucial for understanding how other reefs may grow back in the future.
A study calls for a shift in focus from coral reefs to seagrass meadows as they face increasing threats from climate change and human activities. Seagrass conservation is crucial for global fisheries production, carbon cycle, and coastal ecosystem health.
Scientists are using a QUT-developed robot, transformed into LarvalBot, to deliver baby coral larvae onto targeted reefs as part of coral restoration efforts. The technique, known as larval restoration, has the potential to revolutionize coral restoration on reefs worldwide.
The California Academy of Sciences has described 17 new species of sea slugs, shedding light on the evolution of color patterns and their significance in coral reefs. The discovery highlights the importance of nudibranchs as indicators of ocean health and reveals diverse ecosystems across the Indo-Pacific region.
A new paper proposes a broadly applicable formal definition of semantic information, which emphasizes how information contributes to a system's ability to perpetuate itself. Semantic info is causal necessary for a system to maintain its existence over time.
Researchers found that more aggressive farmerfish groups, which defend their territories from intruders, resided near branching corals and provided better protection. Additionally, corals planted in the territories of aggressive fish suffered less damage than those in non-aggressive groups.
Researchers found that gas bubbles released during photosynthesis produce a 'ringing' sound, correlating with algal cover on coral reefs. This discovery may enable rapid and inexpensive estimation of algal abundance, a key indicator of stress on coral reefs.
Researchers found that installing small hexagonal structures called 'spiders' across 5 acres of reef increased live coral cover from less than 10% to over 60%. This cost-effective method has the potential to inform other large-scale coral reef restoration efforts.
Researchers are creating artificial structures to mimic natural surfaces for coral larvae to settle on. By understanding the interactions between larvae and materials, they aim to increase reef regeneration rates and combat coral bleaching. The project combines engineering and biological expertise to tackle this critical issue.
A recent study found that climate change is causing a shift in reef composition, with gorgonians taking the place of declining coral species in some regions. The research suggests that gorgonians are better adapted to changing conditions due to their flexible trophic structure.
Researchers discovered that storms can create coral reef islands by depositing giant coral blocks, forming the island over time. The study found distinct clusters of ages on the piled coral blocks, indicating two major storm events occurred about 600 and 350 years ago.
A new study reveals that mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef impacted both shallow and deep reefs, highlighting the vulnerability of the ecosystem. The research found substantial bleaching effects on deep reefs, despite their depth providing some protection from thermal anomalies.
Researchers discovered that clownfish ancestors had three white stripes, which later evolved into different stripe patterns in individuals from various species. The study found that some species acquire more stripes as juveniles than they do as adults, and that a decrease in iridophores inhibits stripe formation.
A new study uses modeling tools to identify areas where forest conservation in Fiji can reduce harm to coral reefs and their fish populations. The research found that protecting or restoring native forests can provide the most benefit to downstream coral reef systems.
A new study reveals that even deep coral reefs in Palau are exposed to thermal stress at intervals different than those near the surface. By combining sea level and temperature data sets, researchers developed a forecast tool for predicting temperature stress on corals up to 150 meters below the surface.
Researchers found a novel approach combining manual removal and native urchin outplanting effective in reducing invasive macroalgae on Hawaiian coral reefs. The method reduced algae growth by 85% over two years without harming corals or other reef species.
Research on ancient coral cores from the Great Barrier Reef reveals two distinct periods of rapid sea level fluctuations between 22,000 and 19,000 years ago. These findings challenge current understanding of glacier dynamics and suggest that climate models may need to be revised to account for faster changes.
A recent study reveals that the marine heatwave had a significant impact on fish and invertebrate communities across the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. The loss of coral was only part of the story, with changes also occurring in other animal populations.
Deep mesophotic reefs are unique habitats facing the same threats as shallow reefs, including climate change, storms, and pollution. The study's findings contradict the 'refuge hypothesis' and highlight the critical importance of protecting twilight zone reefs.
A new report suggests that deep water coral reefs are not refuges for shallow reef organisms and require protection. The study found that mesophotic coral reefs have their own independent communities with little species overlap between depth zones.
A six-fold decline in coral recovery rates has been identified across the Great Barrier Reef over an 18-year period. Effective local management and strong global action to limit climate change are crucial to prevent further decline.
New research highlights the critical impact of invasive rats on coral reef ecosystems, leading to severe ecological harm. Rat eradication is proposed as a high conservation priority to restore seabird-derived nutrient subsidies, benefiting terrestrial ecosystems and coral reefs.
A new commentary suggests that understanding coral immunity can help identify corals better able to withstand climate change. Researchers propose a model of coral susceptibility, where investing in immunity enables corals to tolerate more damage before initiating an immune response.
Distinguished Professor Terry Hughes has been honored by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for his climate change research on coral reefs. His work recognizes the influence of rapid climate change on world's coral reefs.
Researchers found that barnacle density decreases with depth and extent of coral cover, suggesting a preference for spreading out. This study provides insight into the importance of barnacles in reef erosion and their potential as indicators of reef health.
Researchers identified small coral 'oases' thriving against the odds, with some areas rebounding from devastation. These 'escape', 'resist', and 'rebound' oases offer insights into why some ecosystems are more resilient to climate change and local impacts.
A study evaluating human pressures on coral reefs found that high human pressure decreases effectiveness of conservation strategies, while low pressure preserves fish biomass and top predator populations. Conservation gains were highest in areas with moderate human pressure, highlighting the need for targeted management approaches.
Researchers found that removing coral-eating snails significantly boosted corals' resilience to bleaching, with only 50% of corals experiencing bleaching when snails were removed. In contrast, corals with high snail densities experienced near 100% bleaching.
New research suggests many coral reefs will be unable to keep growing fast enough to keep up with rising sea levels, leading to increased erosion and flooding risk. Coral reefs are struggling due to combinations of coral disease, water quality deterioration, fishing pressure, and severe impacts from climate change-induced coral bleaching.
A new biomass-yield model developed by WCS captures factors for accuracy and predicts actual catches with confidence. The study suggests that fish biomass should be increased to 50 metric tons per square kilometer to achieve the maximum sustainable yield of six metric tons.
A new study suggests that many coral reefs will be unable to keep growing fast enough to keep up with rising sea levels, leading to increased erosion and flooding risk. The researchers found that growth rates for over 200 tropical western Atlantic and Indian Ocean reefs are slowing due to coral reef degradation.