Ocean warming drives growth in coral reefs further south off western coastline

Coral reefs off part of Western Australia’s coastline have flourished over the past 110 years, despite the rise of carbon dioxide levels in the world’s oceans, new research has found.

But the growth has largely taken place in the coolest, most southerly waters, where global warming has made the ocean more habitable for the tiny marine animals. The finding suggests that rising water temperatures aid growth in the underwater colonies initially – before other factors, such as acidification and coral bleaching, take effect.

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