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CORAL REEF NEWS: Sharks Are Abandoning Stressed Coral Reefs In Warming Oceans Grey reef sharks are having to abandon the coral reefs they call home in the face of warming oceans, new research finds. Scientists, using a combination of satellite remote sensing and a network of acoustic receivers on the seabed, have discovered sharks are deserting coral reefs at times of environmental stress, such as high temperatures that can lead to coral bleaching events. The effects on these sharks, normally strongly attached to particular areas of shallow reef habitats, include lower residency, more widespread and frequent movements to different areas and longer periods of absence entirely. See full story here: https://lnkd.in/eNGsxtjj #coralreefs #sharks #climatechange #globalwarming #coralreefhealth #habitathealth #biodiversity #marinescience #marineecology #marinebiology

New Post: Solomon Islands Coral Colony scientists have discovered the largest known coral colony on Earth, situated in the Solomon Islands within the southwest Pacific Ocean. This incredible finding was made in October 2024 during an expedition by the National Geographic Pristine Seas team. The massive coral structure is so large that it can even be seen from space, surpassing the size of a blue whale and potentially dating back hundreds of years. Until now, this immense coral formation had remained undiscovered, offering a remarkable example of the durability and resilience of marine ecosystems. As climate change poses a severe threat to coral reefs globally, this… https://lnkd.in/dp4DpVyB

The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its fifth bleaching event in just eight years, marking its seventh mass bleaching overall. This alarming trend poses a significant threat to our ocean and the communities that depend on the reefs. Over 500 million people around the world directly rely on coral reefs, yet these vital ecosystems are at risk of vanishing. As the SeaLegacy 1 anchored in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, our co-founders Paul Nicklen and Cristina "Mitty" Mittermeier, alongside leading scientists specializing in Australia's marine and coastal ecosystems, explored the urgent issue of coral bleaching. Amidst the devastation, we found an unexpected glimmer of hope—one that could potentially secure the reef's future for generations to come. “Hope isn’t lost. Being here has shown me there is resilience in the system,” Dr. Emma Camp, marine biologist and team leader of University of Technology Sydney’s Future Reefs Team (FRT). In our latest episode, "A Sea of Hope: Great Barrier Reef," discover the critical role coral reefs play in supporting humanity and ocean health, their impact on land ecosystems, and how you can become a part of their recovery. https://lnkd.in/dy2JbA9h #ASeaOfHope #coralbleaching #coralreefs

The adventure continues. Day two entailed a visit to Ny ?lesund?? here are a few things we learned?? PS, kudos to anyone who can identify the other ship in the first clip! 1. **Northernmost civilian settlement:** Ny ?lesund holds the title of being the world’s northernmost civilian settlement, located at 78°55′N latitude in Svalbard, Norway. 2. **Historic polar exploration hub:** It served as a base for numerous historic Arctic expeditions, including those led by Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile, making it a significant center for polar exploration. 3. **International research hub:** Today, Ny ?lesund is primarily known as an international research hub, hosting scientific projects from countries around the world, focusing on climate change, atmospheric research, and environmental studies. 4. **Unique wildlife:** Despite its remote location, Ny ?lesund is home to a surprising array of Arctic wildlife, including, Arctic foxes, reindeer, and various bird species, offering researchers a unique opportunity for wildlife observation and study. While polar bears are less frequent, they can venture into the area so the locals keep all doors unlocked in the event they need to seek shelter. 5. **Protected environment:** As part of the Svalbard Treaty, Ny ?lesund and its surrounding area are designated as a nature reserve, ensuring the protection of its fragile Arctic ecosystem for future generations. #hurtigruten #Ny?lesund #svalbardexpress #cruise #norway #svalbard #arctic #arcticadventures

?? Both the Philippines and Australia are home to many of the world's largest coral reefs. However, these vital ecosystems are facing increasing threats from human activities and the effects of climate change. For more than a decade, #ACIAR has been supporting Australian and Filipino marine scientists and researchers from Southern Cross University, led by Dr Peter Harrison, and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute to develop and scale up a new approach to coral reef restoration that relies on coral sexual reproduction – growing millions of coral larvae in the laboratory and open water floating pens and tanks and delivering them onto the reefs. This partnership is now seeing coral reefs the size of pools restored and increased fish abundance in project sites in Pangasinan in northern Philippines. This research has attracted global interest and stimulated related research in other sites in the Philippines and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Learn more https://bit.ly/3xOyaAN #SDG13 #ClimateAction #ClimateChange #CoralReef #MarineConservation #SustainableDevelopment #Philippines #GreatBarrierReef

The world’s largest known coral, visible from space, has been discovered in the waters of the Solomon Islands. With a circumference of 183 metres, the gigantic multicoloured organism is an intricate network of individual coral polyps that have grown for between 300 and 500 years. The sprawling coral was?discovered?in the region of the western Pacific known as the “coral triangle” by scientists belonging to the National Geographic Pristine Seas?team during an?expedition?to the Solomon Islands. Mostly brown, with highlights of vivid yellows, blues and reds, the?Pavona clavus?coral is a haven for a panoply of marine species including fish, crabs and shrimps. “Just when we think there is nothing left to discover on planet Earth, we find a massive coral made of nearly 1bn little polyps, pulsing with life and colour,” said marine ecologist?Enric Sala, explorer in residence for National Geographic and founder of Pristine Seas. “This is a significant scientific discovery, like finding the world’s tallest tree. But there is cause for alarm. Despite its remote location, this coral is not safe from global warming and other human threats.” Unlike a coral reef, which is a network of many coral colonies, this is a standalone coral that has grown uninterrupted from polyps derived from larvae that settled on the seabed and multiplied into millions of other genetically identical polyps over the centuries. +++ Just when you thought... I love how our amazing Earth reveals her wonders, "just when you thought". Working with the First Nations, the Elders, those who have long-lived for thousands of years, in deep relationship with Mother Earth, we learn of her secrets and her mysteries. Tread lightly. Walk with respect. Live in harmony. What a beautiful sight to discover, at the Full Moon in Taurus. +++ https://lnkd.in/eJF8duNf

CORAL REEF NEWS: Some Reefs Could Bleach Year-Round by 2080 In 2023, a marine heat wave gripped the oceans, and coral reefs around the world bleached, turning ghostly white. NOAA estimates that since 1 January 2023,?more than 72% of reef area?worldwide could have been affected. When stressed, corals bleach—they expel the symbiotic algae that lend them their vibrant colors and their main source of food. Reefs can sometimes recover from bleaching. But sufficiently long, extreme, or frequent heat waves can kill. In the Florida Keys, where NOAA is investing nearly $100 million in coral restoration, record-breaking temperatures?killed more than one third of planted staghorn corals and up to 95% of planted elkhorn corals. Bleaching typically begins in late summer, when water temperatures peak. But as oceans warm, many reefs could begin to bleach in spring by 2080, according to a new study. Along the equator, some reefs may be at high risk of bleaching year-round. Read full story here: https://lnkd.in/eDQi3QDF #coralreefnews #coralnews #coralbleaching #climatechange #globalwarming #coralscience #habitatloss #marinescience #marineecology #marinebiology

CORAL RESTORATION OPINION: Coral Restoration's Wake Up Call - Rebuilding degraded coral reefs started as a noble endeavor, but now some coral scientists are confronting a dark reality. Until last summer, Pickles Reef was seen as a bright spot in the field of coral restoration. The Coral Restoration Foundation, one of the largest reef restoration organizations in the world, had spent the better part of two decades working to breathe new life into this degraded site, outplanting tens of thousands of small colonies of coral, mostly?fast-growing elkhorn and staghorn. Pickles looked relatively healthy, with coral outplants reaching maturity and even beginning to spawn. There was hope. Then came July and August of 2023, when a?relentless, record-shattering marine heat wave?triggered widespread coral bleaching and put reefs throughout the Keys in a death grip. Bleaching is a phenomenon in which heat-stressed corals expel the symbiotic algae that they rely on for most of their food and turn ghost-white, often leading to widespread coral mortality. The heat in the Florida Keys was so extreme that in many cases, corals didn’t have time to bleach. Instead, they simply roasted to death. Read full story here: https://lnkd.in/eH6Qe9Hi #coralreefs #coralrestoration #coralhealth #coralbleaching #coralnews #climatechange #coralreefecology #marineecology #marinebiology

A team of scientists aboard a research vessel in the southwest Pacific Ocean has made an extraordinary discovery: the world’s largest coral. Measuring an astounding 34 meters in width, 32 meters in length, and 5.5 meters in height, this giant coral has a circumference of 183 meters. Unlike traditional coral reefs, which are made up of multiple coral colonies, this is a single, uninterrupted coral structure that has grown for over 300 years.

Researchers aboard a National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition have discovered the world’s largest coral, located in the remote Solomon Islands. This massive coral, a Pavona clavus species, spans a staggering 111.5 feet wide, 105 feet long and stands 18 feet high, with a circumference of 600 feet — making it larger than the blue whale! The coral, which is made up of nearly one billion tiny polyps, has been growing uninterrupted for over 300 years. Despite its massive size, it was completely unknown to local communities until now. It serves as an essential habitat, offering shelter and breeding grounds for various marine species, including fish, shrimp and crabs—vital for both marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of local communities. This extraordinary find is a beacon of hope in the fight to protect coral reefs, which are increasingly bleaching and dying off due to the climate crisis, mainly rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification. The discovery underscores the need for urgent conservation efforts, especially as only 8.4% of the ocean is currently protected. Scientists are calling for stronger protection of these vital ecosystems, which play a crucial role in absorbing carbon and supporting marine biodiversity. The Solomon Islands, with its rich marine life and second-highest coral diversity on Earth, now holds the title of the home to this natural wonder. It highlights the incredible biodiversity of the Coral Triangle and reinforces the importance of ocean conservation for the future of life on our planet. You can read more here: https://lnkd.in/gQdpehFm This photo of coral reefs was taken in 2017 in Polynesia by our founder, Tara Hammond.