Coral Species Known For Resistance To Bleaching Is Doing Exactly That Off Atlantic Coast Of S. Florida

[hatrack]

A rare coral bleaching event is going on now offshore of Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach – and researchers at Nova Southeastern University are calling the findings troubling. Research shows octocorals, which include species typically known for resilience against bleaching, are bleaching.

These colonial animals help to support biodiversity by providing habitat for other marine life. Bleaching is a stress response where corals and other organisms become white because they lose their symbiotic algae.

“It’s hard. You know, it’s hard because I never thought I’d be witnessing this in my lifetime,” said Dr. Jose Lopez, a professor with NSU’s Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. He said the bleaching could be tied to rising ocean heat during the summer months. “Luckily for our area, we haven’t had many storms, but that also led to less circulation in the water. And that, that also could, together with the high temperatures, could have led to this bleaching.” Lopez said.

Hurricanes and tropical storms cool ocean waters, and researchers say this year’s quiet storm season may be what contributed to heat stress in the octocorals.

EDIT

https://www.wmnf.org/researchers-troubled-over-rare-coral-bleaching-event-in-south-florida/

[markodochartaigh]

1. "If

properly managed, coral reefs can yield an average of 15 tons of fish and other seafood per square kilometer (.4 square miles) per year. Coral reefs support 6 million fishers in nearly 100 countries. Reefs account for 10-12% of the fish caught in tropical countries, and 20-25% of the fish caught by developing nations."


https://coral.org/en/coral-reefs-101/why-care-about-reefs/food/