Reef ecosystems are complex, three-dimensional marine habitats, typically structured by biogenic reef-builders such as scleractinian corals, coralline algae, or oysters, that support highly diverse, spatially structured communities of microorganisms, algae, invertebrates, and vertebrates. They are characterized by strong environmental gradients (light, nutrients, hydrodynamics), tight biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and intricate trophic networks linking primary producers, detritivores, and higher consumers. Research on reef ecosystems focuses on processes such as calcification, bioerosion, symbiosis (e.g., coral–Symbiodiniaceae associations), connectivity among reef patches, and responses to stressors including warming, acidification, eutrophication, and overfishing, with implications for ecosystem resilience and regime shifts.
A new scientific paper reveals that many predictions about the future of coral reefs under climate change may be missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.
Ecology
Aug 11, 2025
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16
The Great Barrier Reef has experienced its greatest annual loss of live coral across most of its expanse in four decades of record-keeping, Australian authorities say.
Ecology
Aug 9, 2025
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130
The population of one species of coral in the main island of the Alcatrazes Archipelago Wildlife Refuge (REVIS), located off the southern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, retains about 20 tons of carbon per year. ...
Environment
Aug 5, 2025
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20
The Great Barrier Reef has experienced the largest annual decline in coral cover in two of the three regions since AIMS began monitoring 39 years ago. This was predominantly driven by climate change-induced heat stress leading ...
Ecology
Aug 5, 2025
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34
The world's oceans are being rapidly transformed as climate change intensifies. Corals are bleaching, sea levels are rising, and seawater is becoming more acidic—making life difficult for shellfish and reef-building corals. ...
Environment
Aug 1, 2025
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24
A research group in Italy has developed two new coral protection technologies for healing and restoring coral reefs: a biopaste and a natural patch, both successfully tested on real corals. The two solutions resulted from ...
Ecology
Jul 30, 2025
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20
Coral restoration efforts could be dramatically improved with technologies that support the survival and growth of baby corals, suggests a new study.
Ecology
Jul 29, 2025
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29
Coral reefs are vital ecosystems that sustain millions of people, yet they face a growing crisis. Rising ocean temperatures are causing coral bleaching, a process where heat disrupts the relationship between corals and the ...
Environment
Jul 29, 2025
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23
An international team of coral scientists is calling for urgent regulatory reform to support assisted gene flow (AGF)—a powerful tool to boost coral resilience—before climate change causes further reef decline and irreversible ...
Ecology
Jul 24, 2025
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30
High-frequency sounds produced by snapping shrimp, particularly at night, can serve as an effective indicator of coral reef resilience, according to research published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
Plants & Animals
Jul 24, 2025
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