Coral Reefs
Coral reefs across the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago off Western Australia emerged almost unscathed from a prolonged marine heatwave in early 2025 that devastated reefs elsewhere. Researchers led by Kate Quigley from the University of Western Australia found no significant bleaching or mortality during surveys in July 2025. The discovery highlights potential secrets to heat tolerance that could aid global coral protection.
Reported by AI
A team of international researchers has accused the US government of hastening the collapse of coral reefs around Guam through military expansions and proposed rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act. In a letter published in Science this month, they highlight how national security priorities are overriding conservation efforts. Without changes, these reefs face functional extinction similar to those in Florida.