Wildlife

Stony Corals Seem to Be Preparing for a Mass Extinction

Stony corals provide habitat for an one-fourth of the ocean’s species. They serve as the centerpiece of a rich and diverse ecosystem, which is why their recent behaviour has scientists concerned. New research shows that stony corals around the world are hunkering down into survival mode as they prepare for a mass extinction event, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports.

They noticed a suite of behaviors that correspond to a survival response commensurate with how they behaved during the last mass extinction 66 million years ago. The scientists looked at the traits of corals that survived the last major extinction event. They found that the colourful, wavy corals that attract scuba divers did not last. The ones that did survive are the ones that form small colonies and seek out deep water, which are the same ones showing signs of thriving today.

The researchers witnessed how corals are now exhibiting the same traits as they did at the last major extinction event. Corals seem to be preparing to jump across an extinction boundary, while humans are putting their foot further on the pedal.

Coral reefs around the world are struggling. Recently, a mysterious virus has wiped out large swaths of Caribbean corals, a marine heatwave is threatening the health of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the climate crisis threatens to wipe out most corals by 2100, and corals in the Red Sea are struggling to spawn.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2Iox29Q