Coral Bleaching Event Devastates Red Coral in Mediterranean Sea

A severe coral bleaching event caused by ocean warming has affected red coral populations in the Mediterranean Sea, according to an Italian news report published on April 24, 2024. The report highlights the devastating impact of this environmental crisis on the region's marine ecosystems.

Coral reefs across the globe are experiencing global bleaching for the fourth time, a result of warming ocean waters due to human-caused climate change. Bleaching occurs when stressed coral expel the algae that are their food source and give them their color. If the bleaching is severe and long-lasting, the coral can die.

Coral reef bleaching has been confirmed across at least 53 countries, territories or local economies from February 2023 to the present. The current bleaching event follows the declaration that 2023 was the hottest year on record. As the world's oceans continue to warm, coral bleaching is becoming more frequent and severe.

Why this matters: Coral reefs are important ecosystems that sustain underwater life, protect biodiversity, and support local economies through tourism. The loss of coral reefs due to bleaching events driven by climate change has far-reaching ecological and economic consequences for coastal communities and marine environments worldwide.

Corals are ancient and primitive life forms that build external skeletons from minerals in the ocean. They come in diverse colors and shapes, with scientists distinguishing between two main classes: 8-tentacled 'octocorals' and corals with multiple tentacles in multiples of 6 or 'hexacorals'. Coral reefs provide habitats for many other species and are among the world's richest environments in terms of biodiversity.

However, corals are now primarily threatened by pollution and climate change. The world is experiencing a massive coral bleaching event in 2024 for the second time in a decade, attributed to record ocean temperatures. The NOAA estimates that the planet has already lost between 30 to 50% of its coral reefs, and they could completely vanish by the end of the century if no action is taken.

Scientists have observed that bleaching is a reversible phenomenon, and affected corals can survive if water temperatures decrease and other stress factors are reduced. The recent bleaching event in the Mediterranean Sea serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for global action to address climate change and protect these vital marine ecosystems.

Key Takeaways

• Severe coral bleaching event in Mediterranean due to ocean warming
• Global coral bleaching for 4th time, driven by climate change
• Coral reefs support biodiversity and local economies, now threatened
• 30-50% of coral reefs lost, could vanish by 2100 without action
• Coral bleaching is reversible if water temps decrease and stress reduced