Marine heat waves cause intense coral bleaching in Lakshadweep: Researchers

Marine heat waves are triggering widespread bleaching of coral reefs in the Lakshadweep Sea, wherein corals lose their vibrant colours due to stress-a concerning phenomenon, according to a new study.. Survey results from various Lakshadweep Islands revealed that a considerable percentage of the hard coral species have undergone severe bleaching, researchers of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here said...

The bleaching was primarily due to a prolonged period of marine heat waves affecting the region since late October 2023, they said.. Marine heat waves are rare extreme weather events that involve prolonged periods of abnormally high ocean temperatures, the CMFRI said in a statement here...

Such heat stress levels signify a severe threat to coral health, leading to extensive bleaching where corals lose the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), compromising their survival by depriving them of essential nutrients, said Dr K R Sreenath, Senior Scientist of CMFRI...

If the DHW continues to rise, it could precipitate an unprecedented biodiversity crisis due to multispecies mortality, he said.. Dr Shelton Padua, senior scientist at CMFRI, identified the primary causes of these marine heat waves as excessive heat atmospheric transfer coupled with shifts in ocean currents, leading to unusually high water temperatures...

Since October 27, 2023, the Lakshadweep Sea, spanning from 80.0 to 12.0 N latitude and 71.0 to 75.0 E longitude, has been experiencing these conditions, with temperatures consistently registering rises greater than one degree Celsius above the norm, it said.. Noting that the health of marine ecosystems is integral to the livelihoods of coastal communities, influencing tourism and fisheries sectors, Sreenath said that the ongoing marine heat waves are likely to cause significant economic losses by disrupting their vital ecosystem services...

You might be interested in