A recent study highlights how heat stress is deeply intertwined with coral disease, with Goniopora corals exemplifying this connection by developing black band disease. This has resulted in alarming mortality rates, raising urgent concerns among researchers and conservationists. Dr. Ana Vila Concejo emphasizes the need for immediate management strategies to protect these ecosystems. In a pristine area that has avoided mass bleaching, the high rates of mortality and disease underscore the severity of the situation. Policymakers and conservationists must prioritize effective strategies to safeguard coral reefs as they face unprecedented challenges from climate change.
Source: https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/coral-bleaching-on-great-barrier-reef-reaches-catastrophic-levels