Coral on the Great Barrier Reef is under threat from rising sea temperatures, increasingly frequent and severe tropical storms, adverse changes in water quality, periodic explosions in the Crown of Thorns Starfish population and illegal fishing. See GBRMPA >Threats to the Reef and coral bleaching.
Science informs efforts to save, restore, preserve and conserve the Reef. Most research projects at the Station contribute in this direction. Work on control of the Crown of Thorns Starfish is especially important.
Science provides important information on the causes and effects of climate change and how these major threats are affecting coral reefs. It is also advancing knowledge of coral resilience and recovery, how best to manage it, and how other species will be affected by further coral loss, deterioration in water quality, rising sea levels, more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, ocean acidification, nutrient and silt runoff from mainland agriculture and land development, overfishing and other critical factors.
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