Can Culebra’s Coral Survive the Climate Crisis?
Culebra Island, located near Puerto Rico, boasts diverse marine ecosystems with extensive coral reefs protected by various reserves. Despite their ecological importance, these reefs face…
Coral Reefs News
Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. Often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea,” they are among the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth, providing habitat, shelter, and resources for an extensive variety of marine organisms. Coral reefs are critical to marine life and play key roles in the fishing and tourism industries, which support the economy of many nations around the world. They also offer coastline protection by reducing the power of waves hitting the shore and help mitigate carbon dioxide levels in the ocean. Despite their importance, coral reefs are extremely sensitive to water conditions and are facing unprecedented threats from climate change, oceanic acidification, overfishing, pollution, and destructive fishing practices, leading to rapid declines in reef health globally.
Bioluminescence and Biodiversity: Insights From La Parguera’s Marine Ecosystem
La Parguera in n Puerto Rico, corals, seagrass, and mangroves paint a colorful Caribbean scene by day, while the waters of a rare bioluminescent bay…
Scientists Unveil the Secret Sex Life of Coral
A new study utilizing aquarium data has uncovered the key factors that orchestrate mysterious synchronized coral spawning. Corals play an essential role in ocean ecosystems,…
Tidal Extremes: Ecological Insights From Australia’s Dynamic Montgomery Reef
Large tidal swings expose a plateau-shaped reef around Australia’s Yawajaba island at low tide. The Kimberley coast of Western Australia has one of the largest…
Diving Deep Into the Great Barrier Reef’s Hidden Climate Defense
Researchers reveal that the Great Barrier Reef’s deeper areas are shielded from heatwaves, yet this protection is at risk if global warming persists, stressing the…
Motion Camouflage: The Remarkable Hunting Tactics of Trumpetfish
An experiment on coral reefs provides the first evidence that predators use other animals for motion camouflage to approach their prey without detection. A new…
Bleached Out: Heat Stress Cooks Great Barrier Reef
Weeks of warmer-than-average ocean temperatures caused extensive bleaching in the world’s largest coral reef system. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has been hit by widespread coral…
Hidden Coral Superhighway Discovered in the Indian Ocean
Recent research has discovered that Seychelles’ remote coral reefs are interconnected through a “coral superhighway,” facilitated by ocean currents, emphasizing the role of larval dispersal…
Coral Bleaching: Catalyst for Microbial Mayhem Below the Surface
New findings show that coral bleaching prompts the release of compounds that encourage harmful bacterial growth, suggesting these changes could serve as early indicators of…
Discovering Coral’s Microbial Defenders Against Climate Change
New research highlights the role of microorganisms in protecting corals from heat stress. Researchers discovered for the first time a single-celled microbe that can help…
Nature’s Hidden Treasures: New Algae Species Rewrite Scientists’ Understanding of Reef Systems
A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the heart of the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef and unique reefs systems of the Coral Sea and Lord…
Climate Change’s Hidden Toll: Coral Bleaching at Record Depths in the Indian Ocean
Deep coral bleaching, previously unseen, has been discovered in the Indian Ocean, linked to rising sea temperatures. This challenges prior beliefs about deep coral resilience…
Coral’s Worst Nightmare: Reef-Devouring Predator Survives Bleaching and Feasts on the Survivors
The crown-of-thorns starfish is nature’s ultimate coral predator that has a circle of life perfectly adapted to warming waters. Research conducted by marine biologists from…
Coral Crisis: Massive Accumulation of Heat Stress in Summer 2023
The seas around Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas saw large accumulations of heat stress beginning in summer 2023, with implications for the health of coral…
Scientists Discover Hidden Threat to the Great Barrier Reef
Study finds nearly twice the amount of nitrogen is entering the Reef from groundwater compared to river waters. Scientists using natural tracers off Queensland’s coast…
Time Is Running Out: Coastal Wetlands Can’t Keep Up With Climate Change, Warns New Study
The survival of marshes and other vulnerable coastal regions hinges on the ability to restrict global warming to under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit),…
Darwin’s Paradox of Coral Reefs Solved – Scientists Unravel Age-Old Mystery
A new study led by the University of Southampton in the UK has uncovered why coral reefs flourish in waters that appear to be deficient…
Beating the Heat: Pacific Coral Reef Shows Unprecedented Increase in Climate Resistance
Coral reefs in Palau, Pacific Ocean, are showing increased thermal tolerance, potentially reducing future climate change-induced bleaching. However, the study emphasizes the urgent need for…