Articles tagged with Coral Reefs
Researchers found that cardinalfish, thought to be monogamous, engage in complex mating behaviors including infidelity and cannibalism. The study suggests that males can offset the energy costs of brooding eggs by eating them or accepting eggs from other females.
A new study found that over half a million corals were killed within 550 yards of the dredged channel, and that dredging impacts may have spread across more than 15 miles of Florida's reef tract. The researchers used satellite data to predict impacts on reefs below.
Researchers discovered that tiny fish living in the gaps of coral reefs play a crucial role in sustaining the ecosystem. These 'cryptobenthics,' which include species like gobies and blennies, reproduce rapidly and are consumed by other animals, providing a vital food supply for larger species.
Tiny cryptobenthic reef fishes play a vital role in maintaining coral reef diversity and productivity by producing a steady stream of larvae to replace adults devoured by predators. These small fish contribute nearly 40% of reef-fish biodiversity and nearly two-thirds of near-reef larval fish pools.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University discovered that tiny fish species around the world are a crucial food source for larger fishes on coral reefs. These 'cryptobenthic' fishes dominate larval communities near reefs and create a steady stream of babies that rapidly replaces each adult fish devoured on the reef.
A new study published in Science has found that tiny, mostly bottom-dwelling creatures called cryptobenthic reef fishes perform a critical role on coral reefs. These small fish supply almost 60% of the consumed fish food by constantly replenishing their populations.
Tropical Cyclone Ann is moving over the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to northeast Queensland. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for areas including Peninsula, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Herbert and Lower Burdekin Forecast Districts.
A new study finds that when competing fishermen cooperate over local environmental problems, they can improve the quality and quantity of fish on coral reefs. The research, conducted across five coral reef fishing communities in Kenya, reveals that communication among competitors leads to more fish and higher quality catches.
A study published in Nature Communications found that cooperation among competing fisheries can lead to improvements in both the quality and quantity of fish in local reefs. Fishers who communicated with their competitors about fishing gear and rules reported higher fish stocks.
Marine scientists investigate the relationship between bumphead parrotfish and their coral reef habitat using molecular analysis, finding that coral rock contains more calories than live coral. The study sheds light on the complex dynamics of coral reef ecology and the role of bumphead parrotfish in shaping their environment.
Researchers developed a new tool to pinpoint areas where improved wastewater management and landscape practices can benefit downstream reefs. This study highlights the importance of coordinating local actions across land and sea to promote resilience of coral reefs to global climate change.
Researchers found that coral reef halos are more likely to occur in no-take marine reserves and are influenced by species interactions between plant-eating fishes and invertebrate-eating fishes. The presence of halos may serve as an indicator of aspects of reef ecosystem health.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.