Various coral species and the environments they dwell in have the capacity to protect themselves from the impact of surging temperatures on the planet. In a new study, the survival activities that these coral networks and their habitats have were captured for the first time through a novel remote sensing technique.
Oceanic Heatwaves and Coral Bleaching
The rising temperatures of the ocean are reaching records that are already abnormal even for the natural heat that Earth's water bodies provide. Because of the intense warming of the seas, the coral populations that sit at the surface continue to experience damage that leads to an absurd amount of bleaching cases.
Corals that undergo bleaching become more vulnerable to risk factors such as water pollutants. Today, many coral reefs are still struggling to keep their population remains in their natural homes even if the oceanic warming continues to persist.
Because of the natural survival methods that corals and their environment possess, experts theorized that we might uncover better ideas that could protect the species from being disrupted by the uncontrollable effects of high ocean temperatures.
The key to their survival, according to the scientists, could work as the next conservation initiative once we decoded it. To identify these complex coral activities, experts must first observe how they carry out the strategy.
In a new study, experts have found a way to map out the location of living coral groups across regions with major marine heatwaves. According to the findings, these fighting corals hide a system that allows them to thrive longer and more effectively than others despite their extreme exposure to damaging temperatures brought by climate change.
The study also found that water pollution and even human activities in coastal regions significantly influence the life of coral reefs, reports DailyMail.
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Mapping 2019 Mass Bleaching Event 'Winners and Losers' Give Insights to More Effective Conservation Approach
The coral-mapping study was carried out by scholars from Arizona State University and the institute's Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory and the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science.
The research involved the help of the Global Airborne Observatory (GAO) which is equipped with specialized spectrometers to look over the ecosystems of coral species in major heatwave destinations and map their habitats inland and underwater.
ASU Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science director and lead author of the paper Greg Asner explained that the coral survival research focused on populations dwelling in the Hawaiian Islands, and with the GAO observation, it was discovered that these corals demonstrated what seems to be resistance to the 2019 mass bleaching event.
Basically, these mappings revealed the 'winners and losers' of the phenomenon. When compared, the winning groups were confirmed as the populations that reside in areas with lesser coastal developments and cleaner waters, and surprisingly, thrive still despite the elevated temperatures of the water, Asner continued.
Before the 2019 heatwave, GAO already mapped the liver coral reefs in eight regions of the Hawaiian Islands. From the procured information, over 10 potential coral refugia, or the places where corals are safer from climate change, were discovered. From these habitats, about 40 percent fewer mortality rates were recorded compared to other places that face relative heat stress, reports ScienceDaily.
The study is part of a greater project called the Holomua 30x30, which aims to identify every remaining coral refugia available in Hawaiian waters.
The state anchors most of its livelihoods and heritage to the existence of these coral species, With the breakthrough findings from the study, the authors believe that future missions would achieve targeted and effective conservation efforts, and eventually, would increase the survival rates of the corals throughout our changing climate.
The study was published in the journal PNAS, titled "Mapped coral mortality and refugia in an archipelago-scale marine heat wave."
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