The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has activated the highest level of its coral bleaching response plan, reporting evidence of widespread though highly variable coral bleaching, particularly in northern reefs.
GBRMPA Chairman and CEO Dr Russell Reichelt cited higher sea surface temperatures and El Nino weather conditions as the cause of the bleaching, with the reefs around and north of Lizard Island, particularly the inshore reefs near the tip of Cape York, faring the worst. The southern parts of the Reef appear least affected.
Read the latest update from GBRMPA.
Involvement and response
The Foundation is supporting the work of GBRMPA in their crisis management response to this global bleaching event through:
- eReefs with the ReefTemp model, part of the Water Quality Dashboard being used as key tool in GBRMPA’s toolkit for monitoring the current crisis. ReefTemp is being used regularly to track ‘degree heating days’ and sea surface abnormalities to inform and direct monitoring efforts.
- Monitoring with the Foundation directly funding field activities to determine the extent of the current event and monitor the Reef’s ability to recover
- Modelling with models being used to inform and guide management as well as predict recovery.
A number of our funded projects are also tackling the long term impacts of this, and future events, including:
- ‘Stress test’ for corals - An innovative approach looking to create an early warning system for coral reefs under stress before any physical signs are visible. Metabolomics is being used to develop tests diagnosing coral stress and the likelihood of recovery and survival.
- Searching for super corals - Identification of genetic markers for corals more tolerant to heat stress which could be used to map heat tolerant colonies and populations even possibly in selective breeding programs for reef restoration.
- Sunscreen for the Reef - Scientists are testing biodegradable surface films blocking up to 30% of light entering the water they’re applied to. In theory, this represents an innovative solution to combat coral bleaching at a local scale and is going into testing in the SeaSIM facility to determine its applicability in open water reefs.
- Reef in 3D – Investigating the impact of bleaching on the 3-dimensional structure of the reef and how this links to changes in other reef communities such as fish
- Automated detection - testing of automated monitoring to detect bleaching by developing algorithms showing computer image recognition software which can be up to two times more accurate than humans in detect bleaching.