coral
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Thriving Deep-Sea Coral Reefs Discovered Near the Galápagos
Marine biologists discovered two pristine deep-sea coral reefs off the coast of the Galápagos islands last week, one of which is over eight football fields long. The reefs sit between 370 and 420 meters below the surface, and their discovery expands our understanding of deep, cold-water reefs in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, the first of…
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The Great Southern Reef Is in More Trouble Than the Great Barrier Reef
Marine heatwaves are damaging reef ecosystems around Australia, but while the tropical north has received the lion’s share of the attention to date, we equally need to worry about the temperate south. That’s partly because the Great Southern Reef is of immense biodiversity value. Species found here are found nowhere else in the world. Even…
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NZ Researchers Tickle Deep Ocean Organisms With Little Robots to Uncover the Secrets of the Sea
Despite New Zealanders’ close connection with the oceans, very few will have heard of “temperate mesophotic ecosystems” (TMEs). Even fewer will appreciate their importance for coastal fisheries, and possibly climate change mitigation. TMEs typically occur at depths of between 30 and 150 metres – the twilight zone of our oceans, where little sunlight remains. But…
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Surreal Coral Rose Garden Discovered Off Tahiti
A “work of art” has been discovered in the South Pacific. But rather a canvas, this one is under the sea. It’s a sprawling coral reef that looks like a beautiful, otherworldly rose garden. Bonus: The reef is surprisingly healthy.