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Nearly 200 Great Barrier Reef coral species also live in deep sea
December 13, 2018

Nearly 200 species of Great Barrier Reef corals have found a second home in the deep ocean. That’s six times as many species as previously thought to be living in the dark, cold waters off northeastern Australia.

A coral biologist Paul Muir said the deep reef is a lot more diverse and interesting than we thought and it’s a bit of a good news story, and there aren’t many of those around at the moment.

As climate change makes some ocean waters warmer, corals are experiencing more frequent severe bleaching events than they did just a few decades ago.

Scientists are trying to learn which species might be able to survive, and where, as ocean conditions change.