REEF REPORT: SEPTEMBER EDITION

MUST-READ ARTICLES ON OCEAN NEWS

This month's curated articles emphasize the vital importance and resilience of coral reefs in the face of our warming ocean, showcasing hope and momentum to reverse the impact of climate change on these vital ecosystems.

As reefs face unprecedented heat, scientists experiment with new ways to protect them

At a critical time for coral reefs, facing record-breaking ocean temperatures, marine researchers are exploring various methods, from introducing nursery-grown urchins and lab-bred corals to natural reefs, to enhance their chances of survival. Encouragingly, some of these efforts are beginning to show promise. Find out more here.

Several Caribbean island initiatives are working to restore the region’s coral reefs?

Initiatives from the island of Aruba, Bonaire, Cura?ao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten all participated in a workshop to share knowledge about a wide array of restoration and conservation efforts to come as a united front to save our planet's coral reefs. Discover more here.

Why are sharks deserting their coral reef homes?

A new study reveals that corals are not the only marine life threatened by the warming ocean. Researchers have found that sharks are deserting their coral reef habitats as temperatures rise, which poses risks to the overall health of the ecosystem, as sharks play a vital role in maintaining balance. Read more here.

Ancient Coral Reefs Dodged Extinction – Can Modern Reefs Do the Same?

Scientists have found evidence that ancient corals, called stromatoporoids, withstood mass extinction and continued to thrive as major reef-builders. Just like the research looking into past signs of climate risk in history, we must continue to push science and innovation efforts towards learning more about our ocean. Read more here.

‘Surprise’ finding shows there’s still hope to preserve coral reefs

We know corals have substantial resiliency, potentially even more than we realized, according to this new research mounting evidence that some species have greater capacity to adapt to the changing climate than is often appreciated, offering hope for the future of these vital ecosystems. Read further here.

That's a wrap for this Reef Report edition. We'll be back next month with more inspiring and fresh articles on ocean conservation.