2024-02-16 00:00:19
Washington, February 15, 2024 (AFP) – Corals along the coast of Florida in the United States have paid a heavy price in the face of the exceptional marine heat wave that hit the region this summer, according to preliminary data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Researchers carried out observations at 64 locations across five reefs as part of a coral restoration project in the marine sanctuary around the Keys.
This observation campaign ended on Wednesday, according to a NOAA press release.
Preliminary data shows that only 22% of the approximately 1,500 recorded staghorn corals (Acropora cervicornis) are still alive.
And of the five areas examined, only three had living elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata).
These two species are threatened, and are among the most important in forming reef structures.
These results “give insight into the future of corals in a warming world,” said Sarah Fangman, manager of the marine sanctuary, quoted in a press release.
The water in the Keys reached temperatures in 2023 never before recorded in the past. In places, the water exceeded 38°C.
The marine heat wave was also the longest recorded in three decades, according to NOAA.
The situation was so dramatic that coral nurseries located at sea had to be transferred to tanks of colder water on land in order to protect them.
The observation campaign was carried out in partnership with the Coral Restoration Foundation and the Mote Marine Laboratory.
Weather conditions at sea prevented researchers from examining other types of coral, which potentially had better resistance.
Despite everything, “these results are very important for understanding the consequences on corals across the Keys of this unprecedented heat wave,” added Sarah Fangman.
The Florida Barrier Reef is one of the longest in the world.
It is home to great marine biodiversity, but is also very important for the region’s economy, which is largely based on tourism.
Coral health has been in decline since the 1970s due to damage from hurricanes, heat-related bleaching, and the increasing impact of human activities.
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