A 2019 marine heat wave in Hawaii triggered a mass bleaching event, but scientists identify coral havens that had fewer casualties.
“We’re trying to understand where those [refugia] are and why they’re there,” says Greg Asner, a coauthor of the study and director of the Arizona State University Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science in Hilo, Hawaii. “From a conservation point of view, these are tiny points of light, like little arks of biodiversity that are already in the ocean that need protection.”
The researchers used a technique called imaging spectroscopy to analyze the molecular composition of the corals, which allowed them to distinguish living corals from deceased ones. The proteins, chlorophyll, and carbon compounds measured in living corals and their algal denizens are distinctive, Asner says. Once the coral dies, it becomes covered by macroalgae, which have a molecular composition more akin to terrestrial plants.
However, the researchers also found that reefs with more abundant coral cover before the heat wave withstood the event better than reefs with sparser coral cover. These zones might be acting as long-term refugia during heat waves, the team wrote. There were several dozen havens that ranged in size from a few acres to several hundred acres, Asner says.
Additionally, some refugia were located near natural underwater springs fed by cool, fresh groundwater. “In areas where that [freshwater] leaked out, corals did better during the heat wave because it’s like a little thermal blanket,” Asner says. However, he adds, more research is needed on how important these “little protectors” are, and how well they will stand up to increasingly intense marine heat waves in the future.
“We also showed that heat exposure…explains why some places lose more corals than others,” Hughes said in an email. “More corals die where the water is hottest the longest, in each bleaching event.”
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
This 2019 Action Sequel Is The Top Movie On Netflix Right NowA new Polish erotic thriller and a Marilyn Monroe documentary are also trending on the streaming service.
Baca lebih lajut »
Canton teen sentenced to life in prison after 2019 shooting that left 1 dead, 3 injuredLavontae Poole will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years of a life sentence.
Baca lebih lajut »
Hawaii Senate committees favor task force to regulate crypto, blockchainUpon careful review of the bill, the Senate Committees found the scope for new regulations to bolster the growth and popularity of digital currency.
Baca lebih lajut »
Hawaii Legislature Passes Bill Raising Minimum Wage to $18Hawaii lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday that would hike the state’s minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2028, potentially the highest in the nation.
Baca lebih lajut »
Hawaii Volcano Lava Flow Steady After Starts And StopsKilauea Volcano is now erupting a steady stream of lava after a period of intermittent pulsing.
Baca lebih lajut »
Hawaii Legislature passes bill raising minimum wage to $18Hawaii lawmakers have passed legislation that would hike the state’s minimum wage to $18 an hour by 2028, potentially the highest in the nation
Baca lebih lajut »