MASS CORAL BLEACHING AT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

In a new study published by the researchers in the journal of Limnology and Oceanography Letters, it was reported that the Great Barrier Reef experienced mass coral bleaching in early 2024. The study tracked and studied 462 coral colonies from heatwave to autumn and winter. According to the study this is the fifth mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef since 2016. The study found out that by Feb, 66% of the total tracked colonies were bleached and 47% were dead by May. By April, 80% of the total tracked colonies were bleached and 44% and 52% were dead in May and July respectively. For the Genus such as Acropora, Echinopora, Favites, Isopora, Montipora, Platyra, Pocillopora and Seriatopora, 100% of the colonies were bleached. Acropora had the highest mortality of 92% by 40 days and 95% by 161 days.  Colony of Goniopora Genus became infected by the black band disease after bleaching. Almost 90% of the Pavona, 31% of the Porites and 53% of the Goniastrea did not bleach. In July, 31% of the colonies were still bleached and 16% have recovered.

According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), mass bleaching events on the GBR have been documented in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2024 with full scale surveys.

For reference

Byrne, M., Waller, A., Clements, M., Kelly, A. S., Kingsford, M. J., Liu, B., … & Foo, S. A. (2024). Catastrophic bleaching in protected reefs of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Limnology and Oceanography Letters.