The Great Barrier Reef does not bounce as we thought, say QLD scientists

New research by scientists at the University of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Ocean Sciences (AIMS) indicates that the Great Reed Barrier is deteriorating by recovering from bleaching, poor water quality and ecological disturbances. The study published in ScienceAdvances claims that the reef is losing its ability to recover from bleaching events and infections, precipitating its destruction.

Queensland researchers analyzed data from 1992 to 2010 the rate of recovery across the Great Barrier Reef was multiplied by six during this period

"Corals of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have decreased over the last 30 years.While the reef state depends on the balance between disturbance and recovery, most studies have focused on the effects of disturbance on the decline of reefs, " have written the researchers. "We show that coral recovery rates have decreased on average by 84% between 1992 and 2010."

Dr. Juan Ortiz, senior author of the School of Biological Sciences of the # AIMS and UQ, warned that the frequency of acute disturbances is expected to increase, making protection and conservation efforts extremely important. "The decline is due to a combination of the effect inherited from acute disturbances, which includes cyclones during this period," he told AAP

. 19659003] "The future of the Great Barrier Reef is threatened without further local management to reduce chronic disruptions and support recovery, and a strong global action to limit the effect of climate change, Professor Peter Mumby From the Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, said that there were serious reasons to worry, but it was important to point out that not all reefs were lacking.

for management to help remedy the situation, "he said. "Our results indicate that coral recovery is sensitive to water quality and is suppressed for several years after strong cyclones." 19659003] "Some reefs could improve their recovery capacity if the quality of the water entering the reef is actively enhanced.The latest discoveries depart from a separate study earlier this year that found that the reef could be more resilient than we thought, surviving five so-called "death events" over the past 30,000 years.

This study, conducted by scientists Researchers from the University of Sydney used fossilized corals at the edge of the continental shelf to examine the history of the reef and the environmental pressures it has faced, such as changes in sea level and temperature.

The reef Is moved along the bottom of the sea to cope with changes in its environment, moving towards the sea or inland, depending on whether the ocean level was rising or falling, According to the researchers.

While the adaptability of the reef surprised the researchers, they warned that it was probably never faced with an attack as serious as today. with the rapid speed of ecological change.

– With AAP