Coral revival in the Great Barrier Reef reaches critical levels

Coral revival in the Great Barrier Reef reaches critical levels

The record-breaking ones Ocean water temperatures have had a devastating impact on one of the world's greatest natural wonders. A new study shows that coral bleaching is on Great Barrier Reef has reached catastrophic proportions in Australia.

Catastrophic losses of corals

More than 50% of the corals monitored near an island in the southern part of the reef died during last year's most severe and widespread outbreak Bleach, ever recorded in this area. According to a team of Australian scientists, 2024 was the worst summer the reef has ever experienced. The sharply increasing ones Ocean temperatures have broken records and to that seventh degree whitening of the reef. When marine heat waves put corals under pressure, they lose their algae and fade.

Influence of fossil fuels and weather phenomena

The main cause is the burning of natural gas-producing fossil fuels, which are driving up global temperatures. Last year reinforced that El Niño -Weather phenomenon caused this damage by increasing the temperatures of the oceans in this region.

Study and its results

Scientists from the University of Sydney monitored 462 coral colonies on One Tree Island in the reef over a five-month period, starting at the peak of the heatwave in early February. By May, 370 of these colonies were bleached and by July, 52% of the bleached corals were dead, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the Limnology and Oceanography Letters was published.

The urgency of action

Some coral species had a mortality rate of 95%. Researchers observed the beginning of “colony decay,” where the dead skeleton breaks off from the reef and crumbles into rubble. “Our findings highlight the urgent need for action to protect coral reefs, which are not only biodiversity hotspots but also critical for food security and coastal protection,” said lead author Maria Byrne from the university’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Although the area studied is in a protected part of the reef, far from shore and free from mining activities and tourism, "despite its protected status, it was not immune to the extreme heat stress that triggered this catastrophic bleaching," she added.

Economic significance and global relevance

The Great Barrier Reef covers nearly 133,000 square miles (345,000 square kilometers) and is the largest coral reef in the world, supporting more than 1,500 species of fish and 411 species of hard corals. It contributes billions of dollars to the Australian economy annually, primarily through tourism, and is heavily promoted as one of the country's and the world's greatest natural wonders.

The authors emphasize that mass bleaching is increasingly becoming “a biennial event,” thus necessitating the need for global action to meet ambitious climate targets and reduce emissions.

The impact on more resilient coral species

Bleaching also affected areas of the reef that had not previously been affected, and disease and death were noted even in coral species considered resilient. “Seeing the impact on a reef that has so far been largely spared from mass bleaching is devastating,” said marine scientist Shawna Foo, co-author of the study. “The high rates of death and disease, particularly in such a remote and pristine area, highlight the severity of the situation.”

In February last year, CNN reported bleaching on five different reefs spanning the northern and southern parts of the ecologically important but fragile area.

Conclusion and outlook

Severe mass division bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef was previously observed in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022. The 2022 bleaching was the first to occur during a La Niña event, the equivalent of El Niño, which typically has cooling effects and raises serious concerns about the reef's future.

The study's authors see their research as a "wake-up call for policymakers and conservationists" because the implications extend beyond ecology and conservation to affect communities that depend on the reef for fishing, tourism and coastal protection.

“The resilience of coral reefs is being tested like never before, and we must prioritize strategies that strengthen their ability to cope with climate change,” said study co-author Ana Vila Concejo from the university’s School of Geosciences. “Our results highlight the need for immediate and effective management interventions to protect these ecosystems.”