https://www.livescience.com/animals/worlds-biggest-coral-so-big-it-can-be-seen-from-space-discovered-by-chance-off-solomon-islandsScientists have uncovered the world’s largest known coral reef, spanning more than 2,000 kilometers in the Pacific Ocean near Tahiti. Led by a team from the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER), University of California, Berkeley, and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), this unprecedented discovery challenges previous assumptions about coral growth. The reef, which thrives in deeper, colder waters than most coral reefs, is home to a remarkable diversity of marine species, making it a vital new area for marine research and conservation.
The discovery is significant not only for its size but also for its ecological importance. The reef thrives in conditions previously considered challenging for coral survival, including lower light levels and colder waters, which could offer clues to how corals might adapt to changing oceanic conditions in the face of climate change. While the reef’s location offers it some protection from human activities, experts are urging immediate action to safeguard this unique ecosystem. With coral reefs worldwide under increasing threat from rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification, this finds underscores the urgent need for global conservation efforts to preserve these critical marine habitats. More