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Six-month ‘in danger’ warning for Great Barrier Reef repeated at UN meeting

Surveyed reefs in the Capricorn Bunkers have lost 41 per cent of their hard coral cover according to the latest Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) underwater research.

By Stuart Kininmonth, Heron Island Research Station. Following the disastrous bleaching event at the start of the year, the coral reefs in the southern Great Barrier Reef are now in a state of recovery. Some reefs have died and are being colonized by algae, which will disintegrate, forming substrate for new corals. Others have shown signs of stress but have found a way to recover and are returning to normal.

By Stuart Kininmonth, Heron Island Research Station. Back in March close to 100% of corals surveyed showed signs of thermal stress. This included colour changes especially if the zooxanthellae were excluded from the coral due to heat stress. From this statethe corals are essentially starving as they have little means to generate sugar and are essentially living
off reserves.

By Stuart Kininmonth, Manager, Heron Island Research Station, The University of Queensland The Capricorn bunker group of reefs is home to the famous Heron Island and Lady Elliot Island. Located at the southern edge of the Great Barrier Reef, these reefs are limited in...