According to biologist Ross Cunning of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and co-author of the study, the remaining populations of these species are now so reduced that they can no longer fulfill their ecological role.
An unprecedented sea wave in 2023 will drive two species of coral to functional extinction in the Florida Coral Reef, according to a study published this Thursday (23) in the journal Science. The research raises a new alert about the impacts of climate change on ocean ecosystems. The affected species — known as elkhorn coral and staghorn coral, for their branches similar to the antlers of these animals — were considered essential for the formation and maintenance of reefs in Florida and the Caribbean. They served as shelter for various marine species and acted as natural barriers against strong waves and coastal erosion.
According to biologist Ross Cunning of the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and co-author of the study, the remaining populations of these species are now so reduced that they can no longer fulfill their ecological role. “The number of specimens that remain is so low that they no longer support the ecosystem,” he said. Coral degradation is the result of a process that has intensified since the 1970s, aggravated by factors such as warming waters, overfishing and pollution. However, the 2023 marine heat wave — which raised water temperatures to record levels — was decisive for the collapse. Coral mortality reached 98% and 100% in regions such as the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas.
Corals are made up of small animals called polyps, which live in symbiosis with microscopic algae responsible for providing them with energy and color. When exposed to extreme heat, polyps shed this algae, which causes bleaching and, in many cases, death of reefs. Cunning highlighted that restoration and conservation actions are urgent to avoid total extinction. “Restoration is more urgent than ever to avoid complete extinction,” warned the researcher.
*With information from AFP
