A study has revealed a devastating coral bleaching event at One Tree Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, with over 40% of monitored coral colonies killed by heat stress and flesh-eating disease. Researchers described the scenes as 'catastrophic', highlighting the widespread impact of climate change on the reef.
More than 40% of individual corals monitored around One Tree Island reef bleached by heat stress and damaged by flesh-eating diseaseisland were killed last year in the most widespread coral bleaching outbreak to hit the reef system, a study has found.
Similar falls in coral cover were also recorded by Aims scientists in parts of the northern section of the reef, whereByrne and colleagues set up the study in early February last year. The team used temperature loggers, video and direct observations to track the welfare of 12 different types of coral.The scientists wrote in the study: “As corals can recover from mild bleaching when water cools, there is a perception that while bleaching is bad, it is not necessarily catastrophic.
March is usually the peak month for heat stress on the reef. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said last week temperatures were currently up to 1.2C above average across most of the marine park.Reef Watch program is projecting parts of the reef, north of Cooktown, will be subjected to heat stress and potentially more widespread bleaching by mid-February.
“We know the reef is under increasing pressure from climate change and its world heritage status is under increasing pressure.”
CORAL BLEACHING CLIMATE CHANGE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE LIFE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
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