Cold Coral, Hot Topic: BC’s Unlikely Underwater Treasure
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Cold Coral, Hot Topic: BC’s Unlikely Underwater Treasure
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About this listen
In this episode, we uncovered the mystery of the Lophelia pertusa coral reef, a remarkable ecosystem thriving off British Columbia’s Pacific coast in conditions where scientists wouldn’t normally expect to find coral reefs.
Usually located in deeper, warmer waters further south, this cold-water reef has carved out a unique existence around 200 to 300 meters deep near the continental shelf. Discovered using remotely operated vehicles equipped with cameras and sensors, the reef has surprised researchers with its ability to sustain diverse marine life, creating a vibrant underwater community akin to tropical reefs in its ecological importance.
More than just an anomaly, the reef may hold clues about larger changes in our oceans. Cold-water corals like Lophelia are sensitive to environmental shifts, and its presence here could signal warming ocean temperatures or other changes linked to climate change. This makes protecting the reef essential - not only to safeguard the marine species that depend on it but also to deepen our understanding of shifting ocean conditions.
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