Australian researchers have identified coral bleaching in the far northern sections of the Great Barrier Reef. After conducting surveys at several islands in the Turtle Group National Park, scientists found widespread bleaching, particularly in shallow waters. Bleaching occurs when corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues due to stress from elevated ocean temperatures, causing them to turn white. While bleached corals have a chance to recover if water temperatures drop promptly, prolonged heat stress can lead to mortality. This latest event adds to a series of mass bleaching incidents over the past years, which experts link to climate change.
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