Marea Barieră de Corali este expusă riscului de colaps al ecosistemului din cauza fenomenului El Nino

Scientists warn that the Great Barrier Reef is at risk of severe bleaching and ecosystem collapse due to the El Niño climate phenomenon. This 2,300-kilometer stretch of coral has faced repeated bleaching events linked to rising sea temperatures and acidification from greenhouse gas emissions. Morgan Pratchett from James Cook University highlighted the likelihood of a massive bleaching event, which could lead to localized species extinctions and widespread ecosystem collapse. The survival of corals relies on a symbiotic relationship with algae, which provide essential nutrients. If sea temperatures rise excessively, this relationship deteriorates, leaving corals vulnerable. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg from the University of Queensland emphasized that government inaction threatens coral reefs globally, likening the situation to the sinking of the Titanic.