Massive 400-year-old coral is widest ever found in Great Barrier Reef
Maybe it needs a "wide load" sign.
Amanda Kooser
Aug. 20, 2021
400-year-old 'Muga dhambi' is one of the largest and oldest corals in the Great Barrier Reef
It predates the colonization of Australia.
Australian scientists have discovered one of the largest and oldest coral colonies in the Great Barrier Reef, which is the largest coral reef system on Earth.
The massive coral belongs to the genus Porites and measures 34 feet (10.4 meters) wide and 17.4 feet (5.3 m) tall, making it the widest and sixth-tallest coral in the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkelers found the record-breaking coral off the coast of Goolboodi, part of the Palm Island Group in Queensland, Australia, and they named it "Muga dhambi" — meaning "big coral" in the language of the Manbarra people, who are the Indigenous people of Palm Islands.
The researchers found that the massive coral has been around for between 421 and 438 years, meaning that it predates the colonization of Australia. The colony has survived centuries of exposure to invasive species, coral bleaching events and low tides, as well as around 80 major cyclones, the researchers said.
"The structure is probably one of the oldest on the Great Barrier Reef," Nathan Cook, a marine scientist at Reef Ecologic, an NGO in Australia specializing in corals, told Live Science.
Corals are colonial animals that get a majority of their energy from a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae called Zooxanthellae. The colony is connected by a skeleton made out of calcium carbonate from the surrounding seawater, which slowly grows over time.
Muga dhambi's incredible girth is the result of its hard skeleton, which requires extra stability in the water, whereas more flexible soft corals require a less solid foundation
"These massive colonies grow in a hemispherical shape, likely prioritising width over height for stability," Cook said. "It is difficult for any hard coral species to grow really tall without breaking."
Other Porites corals in the Pacific grew even larger than Muga dhambi; in American Samoa, one coral colony was recorded at an astonishing 56.8 feet (17 m) wide and 39.4 feet (12 m) tall. That reef is outside of the Great Barrier Reef, but it does suggest the possibility of finding even larger Porites colonies in the Great Barrier Reef, Cook said.
"There are many unexplored corners of the Great Barrier Reef," Cook said. "It is possible there are larger coral colonies waiting to be documented by intrepid citizen scientists."
Ancient colonies like Muga dhambi provide scientists with a rare opportunity to learn more about the reef conditions as the corals grow.
"Large coral colonies are like historical repositories holding secrets within their calcium carbonate skeletons," Cook said. Similar to taking cores of Antarctic ice sheets to see how atmospheric conditions have changed over time, it is possible to take samples of coral skeletons to see how ocean conditions on the Great Barrier Reef have changed, he added.
Unfortunately, this is only likely to confirm what scientists already know — that ocean conditions are becoming much more inhospitable to corals.
"Corals are sensitive to environmental changes, particularly rising sea temperature," Cook said. "There has been a decline of 50% of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef over the past 30 years," he added, making them the "canaries in the coal mine" for climate change.
Researchers remain hopeful that even if a majority of coral cover is lost, resilient colonies like Muga dhambi could continue to survive in the future. The colony is in very good health with 70% consisting of live coral and the rest being covered with sponge and non-symbiotic algae.
"Due to the increasing severity and intensity of disturbances to ecosystems worldwide, corals like this are becoming increasingly rare," Cook said. "As optimists, we hope that Muga dhambi will survive for many more years, but it will require a big change in human impacts."
The study was published online Aug. 19 in the journal Scientific Reports.
Originally published on Live Science.
Astonishingly Large Coral Spotted in the Great Barrier Reef
The 400-year-old coral is more than 34 feet wide, but the living structure may be imperiled by human activities.
By George Dvorsky
Snorkelers swimming in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have stumbled upon a coral of epic proportions. Composed of living organisms, the gigantic mass is the widest coral ever found in the region and one of the oldest.
The coral, discovered this past March, measures 17.4 feet (5.3 meters) tall and 34.1 feet (10.4 meters) wide. That makes it the widest single coral structure and the sixth tallest in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, according to new research published in Scientific Reports. The coral is nearly 8 feet wider than the previous record holder in the Great Barrier Reef. Adjunct associate professor Adam Smith from James Cook University led the new research.
Recreational snorkelers found the coral while swimming off the coast of Goolboodi island, a member of Queensland’s Palm Island Group. The coral, a happy conglomeration of tiny marine animals and calcium carbonate, sits in a protected area that rarely gets any visitors. Traditional owners of this territory, the Manbarra people, were consulted by the researchers, and chose to name the coral Muga dhambi, which translates to “big coral.”
Smith and his colleagues scoured through the available literature and talked to other scientists to acquire a better understanding of the coral and how it compares to others. The natural structure belongs to the Porites genus—a group of coral known for its tremendous size. These corals can be found in Japan, Taiwan, and American Samoa, the latter region being home to an absolutely colossal Porites colony measuring 26.3 feet (8 meters) tall and 73.5 feet (22.4 meters) at its widest point.
The scientists said that the coral reef is about 421-438 years old, which means it is older than the European expedition and the foundation of Australia.
Written ByAjeet Kumar
Image Credit: AP
A team of scientists in Australia's Queensland discovered a 10.5 metres wide, 5.3 metres tall coral reef on 20 August, Friday. According to a report by the Guardian, the coral reef, which was found a day ago, is the widest to be found in the Great Barrier Reef. The scientists said that the giant reef is about 421-438 years old, which means it is older than the European expedition and the foundation of Australia. The indigenous occupants of Palm Island, Manbarra folks have named the recent discovery as ‘Muga Dhambi', which means ‘Big Coral' in their language.
Scientists surprised to know how giant reef managed to escape man-made disaster
According to scientists, the reef whose size is equivalent to a double-decker bus must have survived major events, like coral bleaching, invasive species exposure, low tides and at least 80 massive cyclones. They believe that the man-made disaster could have damaged the entire reef. The investigators are also surprised how the giant reef has survived at least 4-5 major disastrous events. "The reef, which is made of small marine animals and calcium carbonate, is in surprisingly good health, with 70 per cent of its coral life intact," noted the investigators.
Locals and fishermen had known about the reef but no one had looked closer:
The researchers said that the locals and the fishermen had known about the reef but no one had looked closer. James Cook University adjunct associate professor and managing director of Reef Ecologic, Adam Smith, said that the recent development is the most surprising discovery in his entire career. "It’s a bit like finding a giant redwood tree in the middle of botanic gardens," said Smith. He said that the discovery is less surprising than the fact no one has noticed or thought it newsworthy enough to share any photos or documents on the coral reef.
Australia recently avoided UNESCO downgrade of Great Barrier Reef
Recently, Australia garnered enough international support to defer an attempt by the United Nations’ cultural organisation to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage status because of damage caused by climate change. The UNESCO had recommended that its World Heritage Committee add the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem off the northeast Australian coast to the World Heritage in Danger list, mainly due to rising ocean temperatures. However, a strong diplomatic hold deferred the United Nations’ cultural organisation effort to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef.
Maybe it needs a "wide load" sign.
Amanda Kooser
Aug. 20, 2021
Scientists swim over the top of the Porites coral.Woody Spark
You've heard of chonky cats, but how about chonky coral? Researchers have measured a piece of coral that's the "chonkiest" yet discovered in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
The Porites (a genus of coral) specimen is located in the Palm Islands in Queensland, Australia. The Indigenous Manbarra people, traditional custodians of the area, named it Muga dhambi (big coral). "It is the widest and sixth tallest coral measured in the Great Barrier Reef," according to a statement Thursday by Springer Nature, publisher of a study on the coral in the journal Scientific Reports.
The study, led by marine scientist Adam Smith of James Cook University, describes the coral as "exceptionally large" and estimates the age at 421 to 438 years old. The coral measures 17.4 feet (5.3 meters) tall and 34 feet (10.4 meters) wide, eclipsing the next-widest coral measured in the Great Barrier Reef by 7.9 feet (2.4 meters).
Coral can create entire underwater metropolises. Last year, scientists with Schmidt Ocean announced the discovery of a coral reef taller than the Empire State Building. The Great Barrier Reef is a massive system of coral reefs that covers an area of about 133,000 square miles (344,000 square kilometers).
The Great Barrier Reef is under threat from rising ocean temperatures spurred by the human-caused climate crisis. Parts of the reef have died and researchers have been working on ways to save it from destruction and help the coral recover. Scientists are studying heat-resistant coral and looking at ways to curb explosions of predatory starfish.
RESCUING THE REEF
Mother Nature can save the Great Barrier Reef... if we help her
The Great Barrier Reef could be saved by these lab-grown coral babies
Muga dhambi is in very good health with 70% of it consisting of live coral. "The large Porites coral at Goolboodi (Orpheus) Island is unusually rare and resilient," the study said. "It has survived coral bleaching, invasive species, cyclones, severely low tides and human activities for almost 500 years."
You've heard of chonky cats, but how about chonky coral? Researchers have measured a piece of coral that's the "chonkiest" yet discovered in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
The Porites (a genus of coral) specimen is located in the Palm Islands in Queensland, Australia. The Indigenous Manbarra people, traditional custodians of the area, named it Muga dhambi (big coral). "It is the widest and sixth tallest coral measured in the Great Barrier Reef," according to a statement Thursday by Springer Nature, publisher of a study on the coral in the journal Scientific Reports.
The study, led by marine scientist Adam Smith of James Cook University, describes the coral as "exceptionally large" and estimates the age at 421 to 438 years old. The coral measures 17.4 feet (5.3 meters) tall and 34 feet (10.4 meters) wide, eclipsing the next-widest coral measured in the Great Barrier Reef by 7.9 feet (2.4 meters).
Coral can create entire underwater metropolises. Last year, scientists with Schmidt Ocean announced the discovery of a coral reef taller than the Empire State Building. The Great Barrier Reef is a massive system of coral reefs that covers an area of about 133,000 square miles (344,000 square kilometers).
The Great Barrier Reef is under threat from rising ocean temperatures spurred by the human-caused climate crisis. Parts of the reef have died and researchers have been working on ways to save it from destruction and help the coral recover. Scientists are studying heat-resistant coral and looking at ways to curb explosions of predatory starfish.
RESCUING THE REEF
Mother Nature can save the Great Barrier Reef... if we help her
The Great Barrier Reef could be saved by these lab-grown coral babies
Muga dhambi is in very good health with 70% of it consisting of live coral. "The large Porites coral at Goolboodi (Orpheus) Island is unusually rare and resilient," the study said. "It has survived coral bleaching, invasive species, cyclones, severely low tides and human activities for almost 500 years."
The researchers hope the big coral will be monitored and that it will "inspire future generations to care more for our reefs and culture."
400-year-old 'Muga dhambi' is one of the largest and oldest corals in the Great Barrier Reef
It predates the colonization of Australia.
Australian scientists have discovered one of the largest and oldest coral colonies in the Great Barrier Reef, which is the largest coral reef system on Earth.
The massive coral belongs to the genus Porites and measures 34 feet (10.4 meters) wide and 17.4 feet (5.3 m) tall, making it the widest and sixth-tallest coral in the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkelers found the record-breaking coral off the coast of Goolboodi, part of the Palm Island Group in Queensland, Australia, and they named it "Muga dhambi" — meaning "big coral" in the language of the Manbarra people, who are the Indigenous people of Palm Islands.
The researchers found that the massive coral has been around for between 421 and 438 years, meaning that it predates the colonization of Australia. The colony has survived centuries of exposure to invasive species, coral bleaching events and low tides, as well as around 80 major cyclones, the researchers said.
"The structure is probably one of the oldest on the Great Barrier Reef," Nathan Cook, a marine scientist at Reef Ecologic, an NGO in Australia specializing in corals, told Live Science.
Corals are colonial animals that get a majority of their energy from a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae called Zooxanthellae. The colony is connected by a skeleton made out of calcium carbonate from the surrounding seawater, which slowly grows over time.
Muga dhambi's incredible girth is the result of its hard skeleton, which requires extra stability in the water, whereas more flexible soft corals require a less solid foundation
"These massive colonies grow in a hemispherical shape, likely prioritising width over height for stability," Cook said. "It is difficult for any hard coral species to grow really tall without breaking."
Other Porites corals in the Pacific grew even larger than Muga dhambi; in American Samoa, one coral colony was recorded at an astonishing 56.8 feet (17 m) wide and 39.4 feet (12 m) tall. That reef is outside of the Great Barrier Reef, but it does suggest the possibility of finding even larger Porites colonies in the Great Barrier Reef, Cook said.
"There are many unexplored corners of the Great Barrier Reef," Cook said. "It is possible there are larger coral colonies waiting to be documented by intrepid citizen scientists."
Ancient colonies like Muga dhambi provide scientists with a rare opportunity to learn more about the reef conditions as the corals grow.
"Large coral colonies are like historical repositories holding secrets within their calcium carbonate skeletons," Cook said. Similar to taking cores of Antarctic ice sheets to see how atmospheric conditions have changed over time, it is possible to take samples of coral skeletons to see how ocean conditions on the Great Barrier Reef have changed, he added.
Unfortunately, this is only likely to confirm what scientists already know — that ocean conditions are becoming much more inhospitable to corals.
"Corals are sensitive to environmental changes, particularly rising sea temperature," Cook said. "There has been a decline of 50% of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef over the past 30 years," he added, making them the "canaries in the coal mine" for climate change.
Researchers remain hopeful that even if a majority of coral cover is lost, resilient colonies like Muga dhambi could continue to survive in the future. The colony is in very good health with 70% consisting of live coral and the rest being covered with sponge and non-symbiotic algae.
"Due to the increasing severity and intensity of disturbances to ecosystems worldwide, corals like this are becoming increasingly rare," Cook said. "As optimists, we hope that Muga dhambi will survive for many more years, but it will require a big change in human impacts."
The study was published online Aug. 19 in the journal Scientific Reports.
Originally published on Live Science.
Astonishingly Large Coral Spotted in the Great Barrier Reef
The 400-year-old coral is more than 34 feet wide, but the living structure may be imperiled by human activities.
By George Dvorsky
Snorkelers swimming in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have stumbled upon a coral of epic proportions. Composed of living organisms, the gigantic mass is the widest coral ever found in the region and one of the oldest.
The coral, discovered this past March, measures 17.4 feet (5.3 meters) tall and 34.1 feet (10.4 meters) wide. That makes it the widest single coral structure and the sixth tallest in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, according to new research published in Scientific Reports. The coral is nearly 8 feet wider than the previous record holder in the Great Barrier Reef. Adjunct associate professor Adam Smith from James Cook University led the new research.
Recreational snorkelers found the coral while swimming off the coast of Goolboodi island, a member of Queensland’s Palm Island Group. The coral, a happy conglomeration of tiny marine animals and calcium carbonate, sits in a protected area that rarely gets any visitors. Traditional owners of this territory, the Manbarra people, were consulted by the researchers, and chose to name the coral Muga dhambi, which translates to “big coral.”
Smith and his colleagues scoured through the available literature and talked to other scientists to acquire a better understanding of the coral and how it compares to others. The natural structure belongs to the Porites genus—a group of coral known for its tremendous size. These corals can be found in Japan, Taiwan, and American Samoa, the latter region being home to an absolutely colossal Porites colony measuring 26.3 feet (8 meters) tall and 73.5 feet (22.4 meters) at its widest point.
Often brown and cream in color, Porites coral is built from small, stone-like polyps, which “secrete layers of calcium carbonate beneath their bodies as they grow, forming the foundations upon which reefs are built,” as Smith, along with study co-authors Nathan Cook, a marine scientist from Cook University, and Vicki Saylor, a Manbarra Traditional Owner with indigenous knowledge, wrote in an article prepared for The Conversation.
Approximately 70% of the structure is live coral, with the remaining 30% consisting of green boring sponge, turf algae, and green algae, according to the study. Living coral “can die from exposure to sun at low tides or warm water, and dead coral “can be quickly colonised by opportunistic, fast growing organisms, as is the case with Muga dhambi,” the authors wrote in The Conversation.
At somewhere between 421 and 438 years old, Muga dhambi is old in addition to being big. The age estimate was derived by calculating coral growth rates and yearly sea surface temperatures. The oldest known coral in the Great Barrier Reef is 436 years old, so Muga dhambi is right there along with it in terms of age. As the authors point out, Muga dhambi is a survivor, having withstood upwards of 80 major cyclones over the years. This hardy coral has managed to stay safe from invasive species, coral bleaching episodes (the scientists found no evidence of bleaching), low tides, and—at least so far—human activities.
Muga dhambi appears to be healthy, but human-caused climate change, poor water quality, and other factors threaten this coral and the Great Barrier Reef in general. The scientists are asking traditional owners and others to monitor the coral in hopes that it will continue to thrive for many more generations.
More: Freakishly tall coral reef found off the coast of Australia.
Australian Scientists Discover Over 400-year-old Coral Reef In Queensland
At somewhere between 421 and 438 years old, Muga dhambi is old in addition to being big. The age estimate was derived by calculating coral growth rates and yearly sea surface temperatures. The oldest known coral in the Great Barrier Reef is 436 years old, so Muga dhambi is right there along with it in terms of age. As the authors point out, Muga dhambi is a survivor, having withstood upwards of 80 major cyclones over the years. This hardy coral has managed to stay safe from invasive species, coral bleaching episodes (the scientists found no evidence of bleaching), low tides, and—at least so far—human activities.
Muga dhambi appears to be healthy, but human-caused climate change, poor water quality, and other factors threaten this coral and the Great Barrier Reef in general. The scientists are asking traditional owners and others to monitor the coral in hopes that it will continue to thrive for many more generations.
More: Freakishly tall coral reef found off the coast of Australia.
Australian Scientists Discover Over 400-year-old Coral Reef In Queensland
The scientists said that the coral reef is about 421-438 years old, which means it is older than the European expedition and the foundation of Australia.
Written ByAjeet Kumar
Image Credit: AP
A team of scientists in Australia's Queensland discovered a 10.5 metres wide, 5.3 metres tall coral reef on 20 August, Friday. According to a report by the Guardian, the coral reef, which was found a day ago, is the widest to be found in the Great Barrier Reef. The scientists said that the giant reef is about 421-438 years old, which means it is older than the European expedition and the foundation of Australia. The indigenous occupants of Palm Island, Manbarra folks have named the recent discovery as ‘Muga Dhambi', which means ‘Big Coral' in their language.
Scientists surprised to know how giant reef managed to escape man-made disaster
According to scientists, the reef whose size is equivalent to a double-decker bus must have survived major events, like coral bleaching, invasive species exposure, low tides and at least 80 massive cyclones. They believe that the man-made disaster could have damaged the entire reef. The investigators are also surprised how the giant reef has survived at least 4-5 major disastrous events. "The reef, which is made of small marine animals and calcium carbonate, is in surprisingly good health, with 70 per cent of its coral life intact," noted the investigators.
Locals and fishermen had known about the reef but no one had looked closer:
Researchers
The researchers said that the locals and the fishermen had known about the reef but no one had looked closer. James Cook University adjunct associate professor and managing director of Reef Ecologic, Adam Smith, said that the recent development is the most surprising discovery in his entire career. "It’s a bit like finding a giant redwood tree in the middle of botanic gardens," said Smith. He said that the discovery is less surprising than the fact no one has noticed or thought it newsworthy enough to share any photos or documents on the coral reef.
Australia recently avoided UNESCO downgrade of Great Barrier Reef
Recently, Australia garnered enough international support to defer an attempt by the United Nations’ cultural organisation to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef’s World Heritage status because of damage caused by climate change. The UNESCO had recommended that its World Heritage Committee add the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem off the northeast Australian coast to the World Heritage in Danger list, mainly due to rising ocean temperatures. However, a strong diplomatic hold deferred the United Nations’ cultural organisation effort to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef.
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