This time of year is a most inspiring – and worrying – time for reef observers. Inspiring as spring and summer months see a frenzy of new life and activity on reefs. Corals spawn, reef fishes reproduce and there’s lots going on under and above water to keep researchers busy. Worrying, as summer now brings heightened fear of warming ocean temperatures, and increased threat of cyclones. Just this week Cyclone Jasper was a major concern as it headed for landfall but luckily missed Lizard Island and caused no damage. Earlier this year the World Meteorological Organization confirmed July as the hottest month on record. We all have our fingers crossed that this won’t be replicated over our summer.
Corals spawned in the last week of November, an annual event which usually occurs in November or December. Scientists who witnessed it at Lizard Island said it was a spectacular, healthy release of eggs and sperm which is a positive sign for further coral regeneration.
The busy summer season is well underway at LIRS. Many doctoral and postdoctoral fellows, whose field work is funded by our Foundation, have been at the Station in recent months, with many other researchers onsite too. A unifying theme of their work is how coral reefs are functioning at a time of rapid environmental change and finding ways to mitigate damage to coral reefs and their inhabitants.
Click here to learn about what is happening ot the station and other December 2023 news.
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