Coral reefs in the Red Sea are growing less and less

Marine research - Coral reefs in the Red Sea are growing less and less

Coral reefs in the Red Sea are growing slower, according to a study. In a reef area off the coast of Sudan, growth has decreased by approximately 80 percent over the past four decades, said marine biologist Sarah Abdelhamid of the University of Rostock, lead author of the study.

Since 1980, researchers from the German Marine Museum have been monitoring the development of four large test areas in the Sanganeb Marine National Park off Sudan's coast. These coral reefs were previously some of the least disturbed in the Red Sea, as stated in the study. The areas were last mapped digitally in 2019.

"The net reef growth from 1980 to 1991 averaged between 2.27 and 2.72 centimeters per year, while it was only 0.28 to 0.42 centimeters per year from 1991 to 2019," Abdelhamid said. "This decline is quite surprising."

Researchers note that there have been consistent ecological conditions in the area for over 40 years, such as in terms of currents and chemical processes. However, shifts in species composition suggest a change in coral communities, which can be attributed to coral bleaching during warm water events.

The offspring of delicate branching corals (Acropora) are being outcompeted by more robust branching corals (Pocillopora), according to the German Marine Museum and University. "Due to climate change, warm water events that lead to coral bleaching are becoming more frequent," explained Götz-Bodo Reinicke from the German Marine Museum, leader of the study. "Coral reef communities have less time to recover." Resilient species are then able to establish themselves more successfully.

1. The Mediterranean Sea is home to numerous coral reefs, including those in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's coastal towns like Stralsund, where the German Oceanographic Museum is located.
2. Marine research in Germany has a rich history, with institutions like the German Oceanographic Museum playing a significant role in studying corals and their habitats.
3. The Red Sea, particularly in Sudan, is home to some of the world's most diverse and vibrant coral reefs, attracting scientists and divers alike for research and exploration.
4. In Germany, studies on corals and their reefs are not limited to the German Oceanographic Museum; universities like the University of Rostock also contribute significantly to marine science.
5. Sarah Abdelhamid, a marine biologist from the University of Rostock, conducted research on coral reefs in the Red Sea and found that growth has decreased drastically over the past four decades.
6. The Red Sea's coral reefs are facing challenges, including coral bleaching, which is causing shifts in species composition and making it harder for more delicate corals, like those in the Acropora genus, to survive and reproduce.
7. Climate change and the increase in warm water events are leading to more frequent coral bleaching events, making it challenging for coral reef communities to recover, and allowing more resilient species to establish themselves.

Read also:

• Tough return to normality in snow and ice
• Steinmeier joined a moment of silence - a legal battle over an AfD protest.
• German national soccer team on their way to participate in the European Championship qualifying matches.
• The flooding has lessened, but the aftermath of mud remains.