Corals Found At Great Depths On The Great Barrier Reef!

Dr. Pim Bongaerts, leader of the expedition from the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland, said: "It's intriguing. When we began our survey, we were amazed to see significant coral at depths of around 60 m. However, it is truly mind-blowing to see reef coral at more than twice that depth." Reef corals face grave threats from climate change due to rising sea temperatures, pollution, ocean acidification, and unsustainable fishing practices. Extremely calm seas allowed the study team to deploy the remote-operated vehicle on the very front of the Ribbon Reefs, an area that is usually fully exposed to big ocean swells and is quite dangerous for boats to anchor. The team now hopes to analyse and understand conditions that allow reef corals to survive at such depths.

Source: Sanctuary Asia.