The Great Barrier Reef off Australia is currently experiencing its fifth major coral bleaching event in the past eight years, and it’s not alone. Other destruction caused by climate change has affected this vital ecosystem, including two cyclones, several floods, and coral-eating starfish known as crown of thorns. The cumulative destruction experienced this summer has been more severe than in previous years, according to local authorities.
The Great Barrier Reef, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is considered the world’s largest living structure and is home to a vast array of marine life. Recent aerial surveys have shown that 73 percent of the reefs in the marine nature park area and six percent in the Torres Strait area have experienced coral bleaching. Parts of the reef have been exposed to record high heat stress, leading to coral mortality.
The leading researcher of the authority responsible for the nature park, Roger Beeden, emphasizes that climate change poses the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs globally. Bleaching occurs when corals expel the algae living inside them, leading to the loss of color and nutrients. While some corals can recover if conditions cool down, the extent of the bleaching on the reef is concerning.
Researchers have observed coral mortality caused by bleaching across all areas of the reef, indicating one of the most extensive bleaching events in nearly 40 years of monitoring. While the reef has shown resilience in
