If you were planning on visiting the Great Barrier Reef, you might want to get on that soon.
A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday found that the colorful species of coral that comprise the reef have had a harder time reproducing, thanks to warming ocean waters. After a major "coral bleaching" event in 2017, National Geographic explained, the reproductive ability of the Great Barrier Reef's coral was down by as much as 89 percent. And now, the study's results predict that it could take as long as 10 years for the reef to recover — if not even longer, if more bleaching events occur.
Not only is the coral population receding drastically, but the balance of different coral species is also changing, The Guardian reported. Acropora, the dominant species in the Great Barrier Reef, declined by 93 percent in the last two years. The changing ecosystem means it's likely that the reef will never be the same. "If you change the mix of babies, you change the mix that they grow up to be," explained Terry Hughes, the study's lead author.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We've always anticipated that climate change would shift the mix of coral," Hughes said, but it's happening at a far faster rate than expected. Read more about the new study at National Geographic.
-
Renewables top coal as Trump seeks reversalSpeed Read For the first time, renewable energy sources generated more power than coal, said a new report
-
China vows first emissions cut, sidelining USSpeed Read The US, the world’s No. 2 emitter, did not attend the New York summit
-
At least 800 dead in Afghanistan earthquakespeed read A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan
-
Massive earthquake sends tsunami across PacificSpeed Read Hundreds of thousands of people in Japan and Hawaii were told to evacuate to higher ground
-
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue chief resignsSpeed Read Ken Pagurek has left the organization, citing 'chaos'
-
Wildfires destroy historic Grand Canyon lodgeSpeed Read Dozens of structures on the North Rim have succumbed to the Dragon Bravo Fire
-
Search for survivors continues after Texas floodsSpeed Read A total of 82 people are confirmed dead, including 28 children
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star programspeed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
