A huge coral sanctuary has been discovered in the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Tanzania, resistant to climate change.
Between Kenya and Tanzania, in the Indian Ocean, a coral sanctuary where species thrive despite global warming. A real one jewel of biodiversity.
According to the researchers this is due to its location, situated as it is in a cool spot of the ocean that protects it from climate change. And which also protects the surrounding marine species, which are particularly numerous in this area. In fact, the coast has the highest density of dolphins in East Africa and there are even coelacanths, once thought to be extinct. But also numerous rare species of shark, rays, dolphins.
The freshness of the area would depend on the fact that the area, which stretches from Shimoni, Kenya, to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is fed by fresh currents coming from deep channels that would have formed thousands of years ago, during the deglaciation, from Kilimanjaro and the Usambara mountains. Thanks to the fresh water, heat waves do not penetrate and, therefore, do not damage the corals, keeping the marine ecosystem in balance.
As we read on WCS, Tim McClanahan, scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society and author of the study published in Advances in Marine Biology, said he is very excited about the discovery because, in dark times like these, it is certainly good news.
"Coral sanctuaries are regions where coral reefs have the best chance of surviving climate change," he explained, and "scientists are scouring the world's oceans to find and protect them."
The only negative note is represented by intensive fishing which unfortunately is increasing in this area. And without proper regulation it could destroy the delicate balance of this rare paradise.
SOURCE: Advances in Marine Biology/WCS
You might also like:
The Great Barrier Reef risks losing World Heritage status forever (and climate change is to blame)
Australian tour operators, on standby for coronavirus, are using their time to plant new corals in the Great Barrier
