In the northern and central parts of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the largest coral reef in the world, there is again more coral. This is according to a government report published on Thursday. It is the first time in 36 years that this trend has emerged since the measurements started. Still, scientists remain cautious.
According to the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, there has been a marked increase in coral cover in the northern and central parts of the coral reef.
In the northern part, the coral reef cover is now at 36 percent, compared to 27 percent in 2021. That is a stronger recovery than scientists had expected. “The results show that the reef is able to recover during periods without major disturbances,” said Paul Hardisty, director of the institute.
Still, the condition of the coral reef remains worrying. For decades, the Great Barrier Reef has suffered from reef bleaching due to global warming. The reproduction of the starfish is also a serious problem, because it kills the coral.
Southern part back again
Scientists suspect that cyclones, the bleaching of the reef and the emergence of starfish may soon end the current recovery process. For example, the southern part of the reef is again deteriorating, while there was still improvement a year ago.
“It shows how vulnerable the reef is to major disturbances, which are becoming more frequent and lasting,” said Hardisty. Zoe Richards, a researcher at Curtin University, warns against being too optimistic. The next heat stress could quickly destroy the coral again, she says.
Fouling can make reef extra vulnerable
Moreover, the growth of new coral on the Great Barrier Reef is not without its drawbacks. The increase is largely due to the fast-growing Acropora coral species. That reduces diversity on the reef. Moreover, this species is less resistant to, for example, storms and thus makes the reef more vulnerable.
So action still needs to be taken to help restore the Great Barrier Reef. “The fact remains that unless fossil fuel emissions are drastically reduced, the reef will continue to be at risk from rising temperatures and more massive bleaching,” activist Cherry Muddle told Australia’s ABC News.
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