Marine scientists have found that parts of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have recorded their highest levels of coral cover since monitoring began nearly four decades ago, although they warn the reef’s recovery could be swiftly undone by global warming.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science, a government agency, began monitoring Earth’s largest reef system 36 years ago. Its latest report indicates that the northern and central parts of the reef are on the mend after an “extensive bout” of disturbances over the past decade.
The results of the institute’s annual survey show that the reef is still vibrant and still resilient, and it can bounce back from disturbances if it gets the chance.
Marine scientists have found that parts of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have recorded their highest levels of coral cover since monitoring began nearly four decades ago, although they warn the reef’s recovery could be swiftly undone by global warming.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science, a government agency, began monitoring Earth’s largest reef system 36 years ago. Its latest report indicates that the northern and central parts of the reef are on the mend after an “extensive bout” of disturbances over the past decade.
The results of the institute’s annual survey show that the reef is still vibrant and still resilient, and it can bounce back from disturbances if it gets the chance.
Among the 87 reefs surveyed for the latest report, average hard coral cover in the north increased to 36%, up from 27% in 2021, and to 33% in the central Great Barrier Reef from 26% last year. Average coral cover in the southern region decreased from 38% in 2021 to 34% this year.
Much of the recent reef recovery was driven by the fast-growing Acropora species – whose delicate branching and table corals have adorned countless postcards for tourists.
Marine scientists worry that these corals are some of the most vulnerable to the impacts of global warming, including marine heat waves, coral bleaching and damaging waves, such as those generated during tropical cyclones.
“They’re susceptible to thermal stress and mass coral bleaching. They’re a preferred prey of crown-of-thorns starfish. And, they are easily toppled over and broken up by large storms,” said Emslie, the research scientist. He noted that Tropical Cyclone Yasi – the worst storm to hit the area in recent years – destroyed vast swaths of coral in a matter of hours in 2011.
Some models on the effects of global warming predict there will be more severe cyclones as the planet heats up, along with more frequent and severe marine heat waves.
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