The latest count represented about half of the coral species in the region and suggested an important function of deeper habitats which could be crucial in preserving biodiversity and helping to regenerate damaged shallow reef areas, research team le
Sydney: Nearly 200 coral species in the deeper regions of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef have been found instead of about 30 species previously recorded, pointing to the significant role of the major marine organisms' habitat, according to the latest research.
The latest count represented about half of the coral species in the region and suggested an important function of deeper habitats which could be crucial in preserving biodiversity and helping to regenerate damaged shallow reef areas, research team leader Paul Muir from the Museum of Tropical Queensland said in a statement on Wednesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The study, which deployed remotely-operated vehicles and specialized diving techniques to find the coral species, sheds light on deeper reef areas providing some protection from coral bleaching and severe storm events that increasingly threaten marine environments worldwide, reports Xinhua news agency.
Coral bleaching occurs when the reef colonies lose their vivid colour in waters that are too warm for the microscopic algae living in them, with sustained bleaching leading to coral death.
The findings suggest an important role for deeper habitats, particularly depths of 30 meters to 45 metres, according to the researchers. Their study was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B scientific journal.
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
