[ad_1]
Over the past three decades, the Great Barrier Reef has been affected by a series of intense cyclones, bleaching episodes, thorny starfish invasions and floods that have caused well-documented damage .
A prolonged period of benign conditions would allow the natural processes of reef restoration to flourish, and many of the hardest-hit areas will return to a healthier, more colorful, and more biodiverse state.
] Coral Acropora was particularly slow to recover following a disturbance
Coral Acropora Branching was particularly slow to recover from disturbances
A new study of coral recovery rates based on 18 years of data and published in Science Advances today, found the ability to many corals to rebound after disturbance
Although recovery rates varied between different reef plots and coral types, researchers found that the overall coral recovery rate in the Great Barrier Reef had decreased by 84%. % on average between 1992 and 2010.
According to the main author, Juan-Carlos Ortiz, of the University of Queensland, and the Institute has American Science of the Sea (AIMS), the recovery of corals has been hampered by poor water quality and high temperatures. Water quality has played an important role in this reduction in recovery rate, "said Dr. Ortiz.
The study examined data from over 90 medium and high-seas reefs , comparing the recovery rate from disturbances
"We noticed for the first time a very strong decline in the reef's ability to recover from disturbances in those 18 years," he said.
The research team clbadified corals into six groups based on their growth pattern, and although all groups recorded an overall decline in recovery, two groups – the Montipora and the connected Acropora – both became "negative."
This means that they continued to decline even after the disruption ended
Events are expected as the impacts of climate change accelerate, the recovery time n idle is an aggravating factor
Some types of corals had near-zero recovery, while others had high recovery rates
(Provided: Peter Mumby)
The quality of water is a chronic stressor.
A large flood plume sinks in GBR lagoon ” clbad=”lazyload” data-expand=”0″/>
Water quality was a chronic stressor hindering recovery rates
"Even the best-protected marine parks, Shark sanctuaries and marine sanctuaries are not immune to climate change.We saw it when the reef started to whiten in 2016. "I was at Lizard Island, and it was not the same. is one of the most pristine parts of the Great Barrier Reef, protected from so many activities, and still, climate change
The Key to Improving the Great Barrier Reef Watershed is to prevent large-scale deforestation.
Deforestation destabilizes soil and increases sediment and nutrient loading But latest Queensland Audit Office Great Watershed report on watersheds shows more than 1.2 million hectares have been cleared in Queensland between 2012 and 2016, and almost 40% of this area has been cleared.
Increasing nutrients and sediment for algae growth
(Provided: Peter Mumby)
Sudden disturbances such as cyclones prevent the regeneration of corals (Provided: Peter Mumby)
Sudden disturbances such as cyclones prevent the recovery of corals for years. 19659051] ABC science promo
Want more science through the ABC?
Source link
Tags Barrier considerably great News recovery Reef Science slows years
