Washington, Nov 30: A new study has found that corals might survive rising ocean temperatures in ‘tough love’ seas with wide-ranging temperatures.
Coral reefs are composed of tiny creatures that live in colonies in mostly tropical and subtropical waters. Corals are home to beneficial algae, which gives reefs their stunning colors. During prolonged, unusually high surface temperatures, many coral species bleach, discharging the algae and leaving the reefs white and sickly.
The eight-year study on the reefs of East Africa, led by Dr. Tim McClanahan, Senior Scientist working for Wildlife Conservation Society’s Coral Reef Programs, found that corals living in variable temperatures were better able to survive warmer seas due to climate change.