Australia reports surprising coral return on endangered Great Barrier Reef (pictured): Thanks to a fast-growing hard coral species, northern and central parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site have recovered from damage faster than expected, according to a government publication on Thursday Report . However, experts warn against over-optimism.
According to a report from the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, coral growth on parts of the reef had not been observed last year since the monitoring program began 36 years ago. The institute attributed the growth mainly to the hard coral species Acropora, which grows extremely fast under good conditions.
However, the further south the team from the marine science institute went, the less encouraging the picture was: there were already significantly fewer new corals in the center and in the south the vegetation actually decreased.
No turning back yet
The results of their observations have shown “that the reef can recover over time without major disturbances,” said the head of the marine science institute, Paul Hardisty. However, he does not want to speak of a trend reversal. Hurricanes, new coral bleaching and the increased occurrence of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (pictured below) could quickly negate the successes.
In particular, the condition in the southern part of the more than 1,300-mile reef, which appeared to be recovering just a year ago, shows “how vulnerable the corals are to acute and severe disturbances,” Hardisty said. However, these are “increasingly common and taking longer”.
Home to 1500 species of fish and 4000 species of mollusks
Corals are living creatures whose calcareous skeletons also provide habitats for many other animals and plants. The Great Barrier Reef is home to approximately 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 species of mollusks. It consists of some 2500 different reefs and more than 900 islands. For decades, the world’s largest coral reef has suffered from repeated “bleaching” caused by ocean warming.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
