Climate Change

The study, led by Michael J. Williamson, analysed data from over 700,000 shark detections across the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean between 2013 and 2020. It reveals that grey reef sharks are showing signs of distress. As coral ecosystems are impacted more and more by pollution and climate change, these sharks are reducing their time on the reefs. Instead, they are expanding their ranges and spending more time away from their ranges.

The sightings, documented in a study by Amy Rose Coghlan and Naiti Morales, took place during a period of unusually warm sea surface temperatures, a condition that has been linked to the expansion of tiger shark habitats in other parts of the world.

In 2015, amidst a marine heatwave, Barott’s team tagged numerous coral colonies, initiating a study on coral adaptability. Their focus: the rice coral (Montipora capitata) and finger coral (Porites compressa), two dominant species in the region. Over the years, multiple heatwaves provided a unique opportunity to observe coral responses, revealing both resilience and vulnerability.

The fate of coral atolls amidst rising sea levels has been a subject of intense debate and concern. Recent studies and ecological restoration efforts suggest that these unique island formations might have the potential to grow at a rate that could outpace sea level rise, offering a glimmer of hope for their future.

In November 2019, researchers from University of Plymouth recorded unexpected evidence of coral bleaching more than 90 metres below the ocean surface. 

Describing their discovery as a "huge surprise," Dr Phil Hosegood, Associate Professor in Physical Oceanography at the University of Plymouth and lead on the project, said: "Deeper corals had always been thought of as being resilient to ocean warming, because the waters they inhabit are cooler than at the surface and were believed to remain relatively stable."

The ability of coral reefs to adapt to changing ocean temperatures is a pressing question in marine biology.  

Coral reefs are currently experiencing significant declines. These declines are primarily due to marine heatwaves, which lead to widespread coral bleaching and mortality. Understanding how coral communities can adapt to increasingly severe and frequent marine heatwaves is crucial for their survival in the face of climate change.

Scientists believe that the ice shelves under the sea ice hold the keys to further our understanding of climate change. Unfortunately, diving to such areas to explore them is impossible.

How, then, can we access these areas?

Scientist Xi Yu from West Virginia University may have found the answer. She suggests deploying a fleet of marine robots, controlled by a smart mothership, to reach these inaccessible depths and transmit back invaluable insights.

Florida's coral reefs, a vital marine ecosystem, have been under severe threat due to extreme ocean temperatures this summer. The coral reefs, besides being biodiversity hotspots, also serve as a protective barrier against coastal erosion and are a significant source of revenue through tourism.



Efforts to protect and restore these reefs have been ongoing for decades. Coral restoration, which involves planting coral fragments, has been a primary method employed by scientists.