Coral reefs in Palau, Pacific Ocean, are showing increased thermal tolerance, potentially reducing future climate change-induced bleaching. However, the study emphasizes the urgent need for global carbon emissions reduction and adherence to the Paris Agreement to protect these vital ecosystems. C
Recent research led by Newcastle University indicates that coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean’s Palau region have likely adapted to warmer ocean temperatures, reducing potential future bleaching due to climate change.
Focused on the Pacific Island nation of Palau, a study led by Newcastle University has shown that historic increases in the thermal tolerance of coral reefs are possible. The results demonstrate how this capacity could reduce future bleaching impacts if global carbon emissions are cut down. Study lead author, Liam Lachs, is part of Newcastle University’s Coralassist lab. “Our study indicates the presence of an ecological resilience to climate change, yet also highlights the need to fulfill Paris Agreement commitments to effectively preserve coral reefs,” Lachs said. “We quantified a natural increase in coral thermal tolerance over decadal time scales which can be directly compared to the rate of ocean warming.
The rate at which the thermal tolerance of coral reefs can increase naturally and whether this can match the pace of ocean warming has remained largely unknown. To fill this knowledge gap and offer insights into the future resilience of coral communities, the team from Newcastle University investigated historic mass bleaching events, with a focus on the case study of Palau, a remote Pacific coral reef system.
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