Reef Check Australia’s Post

🌊 Dive into the vibrant world of coral reefs, often dubbed the "rainforests of the sea." These intricate ecosystems are astonishingly diverse, thriving through complex relationships between organisms.🌈 Coral polyps, the architects of these underwater cities, create stunning structures that support a plethora of life. They engage in a mutualistic bond with zooxanthellae, microscopic algae that provide essential nutrients through photosynthesis. Together, they maintain the delicate balance of this ecosystem. However, coral reefs face severe threats from rising temperatures, pollution, and overfishing. Coral bleaching disrupts their symbiotic relationships, putting their survival at risk. Yet, hope remains through marine conservation efforts and research into resilient coral communities. Join us in exploring the beauty and fragility of coral reefs, and discover how we can contribute to their protection! Read more about this intricate saga and our role in preserving these essential ecosystems: https://lnkd.in/eZVkjE-4 #CoralReefs #MarineConservation #Biodiversity #Sustainability #OceanHealth #ClimateChange #CoralBleaching

Penguins, those tuxedo-clad ambassadors of the Antarctic realms, capture our hearts with their waddling gaits and deep, soulful eyes. These flightless birds, adept swimmers navigating icy waters, are more than just icons of the Antarctic. They are vital to the marine food web, contributing to a robust ocean ecosystem. Their presence indicates the health of their habitat and, by extension, the health of our planet. #WorldPenguinDay is not just a celebration but a call to action, an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges penguins face: climate change, overfishing, and habitat destruction. These threats not only jeopardize penguins but also the larger environmental equilibrium. Supporting penguins is supporting the planet! Simple actions can make a significant difference: reducing our carbon footprint to combat climate change, advocating for sustainable fishing practices, and supporting conservation organizations working on the ground to protect penguin habitats. Here are 3 organizations employing diverse strategies, including community engagement, research, and innovative recovery methods, to safeguard penguin species globally. Global Penguin Society (GPS) - Focuses on habitat protection and sustainable community development. The Penguin Foundation - Supports little penguin conservation with initiatives like knitted jumpers for oil spill-affected birds. Oceanites - Uses data and science for Antarctic penguin conservation, informing international policy decisions.  Educating ourselves and others about the importance of these magnificent creatures and the challenges they face is a step toward their preservation. On World Penguin Day, let us renew our commitment to these charming ambassadors of the Antarctic, acknowledging their importance not just in their ecosystems, but as beacons of our environmental conscientiousness. By protecting them, we safeguard the intricate web of life that sustains our planet. #penguins #Antarctica #marineconservation #birdphotography

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Coral bleaching is often fatal By Tiffanie Turnbull BBC News, Sydney Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef is suffering different wide bleaching event, officials person confirmed. Often fatal, bleaching occurs erstwhile heat-stressed corals expel the algae that gives them beingness and colour. It is the 5th clip successful 8 years wide harm has been detected astatine the Unesco World Heritage site. Only 2 wide bleaching events had ever been recorded until 2016, and scientists accidental urgent clime enactment is needed if the reef is to survive. Stretching implicit 2,300km (1,400 miles) disconnected Australia's north-east coast, the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef and 1 of its astir biodiverse ecosystems. It has been World Heritage-listed for implicit 40 years owed to its "enormous technological and intrinsic importance", but Unesco says the icon is nether "serious threat". Sea temperatures successful the nationalist parkland had been heightened for immoderate clip implicit the summer, The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said a connection connected Friday. And a monolithic aerial survey of immoderate 300 reefs - from the extremity of Australia down to the metropolis of Bundaberg connected the eastbound seashore - has present confirmed astir are experiencing prevalent bleaching. The severity and extent of the bleaching tin lone beryllium determined by in-water surveys, which the Reef Authority is undertaking. The harm - portion wide - apt varies greatly crossed the reef, and immoderate corals whitethorn beryllium capable to retrieve if conditions cool, it added. "The Great Barrier Reef is bigger than Italy, and it is important to retrieve that impacts to the Reef are highly variable," Chief Scientist Roger Beeden said. "The Reef has demonstrated its capableness to retrieve from erstwhile coral bleaching events, terrible tropical cyclones, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks." Similar bleaching events person occurred astir the satellite this year, the Reef Authority said, demonstrating again wherefore urgent enactment is needed to prevention them. "Climate alteration is the top menace to the Great Barrier Reef, and coral reefs globally," Dr Beeden said. #innovation - #management - #technology - #creativity - #futurism - #startups

For Day 3 of #CoralReefAwarenessWeek, we turn our focus to Cashes Ledge, a hidden gem 90 miles off the coast of Maine. This underwater mountain range harbors the largest deep-sea, cold-water kelp forest on the Eastern seaboard, supporting rare species and commercially important fish like Haddock and Atlantic Cod. As the Gulf of Maine warms faster than 97% of other bodies of water, protecting Cashes Ledge is crucial for maintaining ecological stability amidst rising temperatures. Cashes Ledge is not only home to kelp forests but also supports diverse coral species. Cold-water corals like those found here are crucial for providing habitat and nursery grounds for various marine species. These corals thrive in the nutrient-rich waters around the Ledge, creating a vibrant underwater ecosystem that rivals tropical coral reefs in complexity and importance. Some of the species that call Cashes Ledge Home include cod (including an unusual “red” cod), big clusters of sea anemones, delicate feather stars called crinoids, and rare sponges and sea squirts typical of sub-arctic areas of Scandinavia. The unique combination of kelp forests and coral habitats makes Cashes Ledge an irreplaceable biodiversity hotspot. The corals, along with the kelp, contribute to the area's high productivity and serve as a refuge for marine life stressed by climate change. This ecological haven is a living laboratory for scientists studying the impacts of warming seas on cold-water ecosystems. You can contribute to further protecting Cashes Ledge and nominating it was a Marine Protected Area. If your interested, I urge you to sign the link below in support - it takes less than a minute. https://lnkd.in/gJryBxw9 Sources: Cashes Ledge, Coral Canyons, and the Future of National Marine Monuments: https://lnkd.in/gc6wQczs) Cashes Ledge: https://lnkd.in/gk3J29im Exploring a Unique Biodiversity Hotspot In the Gulf of Maine: https://lnkd.in/gb7UX4hW. Photo Credit: Waitt Foundation (https://lnkd.in/gspD9uqX)

Today’s theme for Day 4 of #30DayMapChallenge is Hexagons. The map below reveals the 7-day maximum coral bleaching area alerts, creatively represented using hexagonal cells from NOAA Coral Reef Watch data. Coral reefs, often called the "rainforests of the sea," are essential ecosystems teeming with life. Unfortunately, rising sea temperatures driven by climate change pose a significant threat. When corals experience thermal stress, they expel the symbiotic algae that provide them with color and nutrients, leading to coral bleaching. This not only strips corals of their vivid hues but also compromises their health and resilience, creating a ripple effect throughout the marine food web. The stakes are high! Coral bleaching endangers the structures that support countless marine species and jeopardizes the livelihoods of coastal communities reliant on fishing and tourism. Continuous monitoring using NOAA's data—available in daily, monthly, and annual formats—empowers scientists to stay ahead of these changes. It serves as a vital tool in the fight to protect these precious ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need to track coral health and adapt conservation strategies. Together, we can make a difference for our reefs and the communities that depend on them! #coralbleaching #coralreef #NOAA #conservation #30daysmapchallenge #GIS #gischat #geospatial #temperature #climatechange #ocean #marine #marineconservation #ecosystem #ecology #arcgispro #sustainability #map #remotesensing #Satellite Sustaina Greens LLP

The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its fifth bleaching event in just eight years, marking its seventh mass bleaching overall. This alarming trend poses a significant threat to our ocean and the communities that depend on the reefs. Over 500 million people around the world directly rely on coral reefs, yet these vital ecosystems are at risk of vanishing. As the SeaLegacy 1 anchored in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, our co-founders Paul Nicklen and Cristina "Mitty" Mittermeier, alongside leading scientists specializing in Australia's marine and coastal ecosystems, explored the urgent issue of coral bleaching. Amidst the devastation, we found an unexpected glimmer of hope—one that could potentially secure the reef's future for generations to come. “Hope isn’t lost. Being here has shown me there is resilience in the system,” Dr. Emma Camp, marine biologist and team leader of University of Technology Sydney’s Future Reefs Team (FRT). In our latest episode, "A Sea of Hope: Great Barrier Reef," discover the critical role coral reefs play in supporting humanity and ocean health, their impact on land ecosystems, and how you can become a part of their recovery. https://lnkd.in/dy2JbA9h #ASeaOfHope #coralbleaching #coralreefs

🌊 Both the Philippines and Australia are home to many of the world's largest coral reefs. However, these vital ecosystems are facing increasing threats from human activities and the effects of climate change. For more than a decade, #ACIAR has been supporting Australian and Filipino marine scientists and researchers from Southern Cross University, led by Dr Peter Harrison, and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute to develop and scale up a new approach to coral reef restoration that relies on coral sexual reproduction – growing millions of coral larvae in the laboratory and open water floating pens and tanks and delivering them onto the reefs. This partnership is now seeing coral reefs the size of pools restored and increased fish abundance in project sites in Pangasinan in northern Philippines. This research has attracted global interest and stimulated related research in other sites in the Philippines and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Learn more https://bit.ly/3xOyaAN #SDG13 #ClimateAction #ClimateChange #CoralReef #MarineConservation #SustainableDevelopment #Philippines #GreatBarrierReef

🪸 A coral superhighway in the Indian Ocean 🪸 Corals are at risk across the world. New research shows that ocean currents maintain connectivity between reefs, assisting larval supply - a key factor in reef recovery and resilience. Actions to improve reef health can be more effective through a better understanding of the connectivity between reefs, for example by prioritising conservation efforts around those that act as major larval sources. Read the full story ➡ https://bit.ly/48SUJkn #NatureRecovery #Conservation

🌊✨ Corals and their Importance - An Indomer Underwater Study! ✨🌊 We are thrilled to share that Indomer has recently conducted an extensive underwater study to assess the presence and health of coral reefs ,as part of our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies. Coral reefs are vital ecosystems that support an incredible diversity of marine life, protect coastlines from erosion, and contribute to the livelihoods of local communities. However, they are under significant threat from climate change, pollution, and human activities. Preserving these natural wonders is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the health of our oceans. At Indomer, we recognize the importance of having the right expertise to study and protect these invaluable resources. Our team of skilled marine biologists and environmental scientists use state-of-the-art technology and methodologies to gather data, assess coral health, and provide actionable insights for conservation efforts. We are committed to supporting sustainable practices and helping organizations understand the ecological impact of their activities. Let’s work together to safeguard our coral reefs for future generations! 🌍💚 #Indomer #CoralConservation #EIA #MarineBiology #Sustainability #LakshadweepIslands #ProtectOurOceans

DIVE INTO THE GREAT MIGRATION OF LIFE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE STATE OF THE OCEAN The UNESCO Ocean – 1 OCEAN team, led by photographer and explorer Alexis Rosenfeld, embarks on a months-long mission along the wild coast of South Africa. The goal: to tell the story of one of the greatest animal migrations, threatened by #climatechange and #underwatermining projects. https://lnkd.in/dHubjuZD