A team of marine scientists from the University of Sydney has published the first peer-reviewed study documenting the devastating coral bleaching events that occurred on the southern Great Barrier Reef in early 2024.
A team of marine scientists from the University of Sydney has published the first peer-reviewed study documenting the devastating coral bleaching events that occurred on the southern Great Barrier Reef in early 2024.
Led by Professor Maria Byrne from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the research highlights the alarming impact of unprecedented marine heatwaves on coral ecosystems, raising urgent concerns for marine biodiversity and the communities that depend on these vital ecosystems.
The study, published in Limnology and Oceanography Letters, provides critical insights into the extent of coral bleaching and mortality during the 2023-2024 global marine heatwave. The research team meticulously tracked the health of 462 coral colonies at the University of Sydney’s Great Barrier Reef research station at One Tree Island over a period of 161 days.
Read more at University of Sydney
Image: Bleached Acropora table coral on One Tree Island reef, southern Great Barrier Reef. April 2024. (Credit: University of Sydney)
