Corals in the Pacific Ocean have been counted for the first time
Scientists have conducted the first complete coral count in the Pacific Ocean. This study is important for assessing the risks of their extinction, reports Nature Ecology & Evolution.
“We estimate there are about half a trillion corals in the Pacific Ocean. About the same as trees in the Amazon or birds around the world, ”said lead author of the study, Dr. Andy Dietzel of the ARC Coral Reef Research Center of Excellence at James Cook University.
Until now, scientists did not know how many separate coral colonies exist in the oceans. But it is known that the number of corals is decreasing due to global warming. Reefs do not tolerate heat waves well and begin to discolor, ache and often die.
Scientists noted that you need to know the number of the species in order to assess the risk of its extinction. New data have shown that the total number of the eight most abundant corals exceeds the total human population on Earth (7.8 billion).
The findings suggest that the global extinction risk for most coral species is lower than anticipated (although local populations may be destroyed). So, 12 of the 80 species that are estimated as endangered have more than a billion colonies.
The study measured population sizes of over 300 individual coral species on reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean, from Indonesia to French Polynesia. Scientists have counted an average of 30 corals per square meter of reef habitat.
The authors also noted that the restoration of coral reefs takes a lot of effort and time. For example, about 250 million adult corals would have to be grown to increase the coral cover of the Great Barrier Reef by just one percent.
A number of measures can now be taken to mitigate threats to reef species, scientists say. By taking action without waiting for global extinction to begin, a complete recovery of the lost reefs can be achieved.
Earlier it was reported that 12 species of living creatures were discovered in the Atlantic Ocean. They live at great depths.
