SYDNEY, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Giant plankton known as pyrosomes, may play a crucial role in helping coral reefs withstand the impacts of climate change, a new Australian study has revealed.
The new research led by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has documented corals feeding on these rarely seen gelatinous creatures off the coast of Timor-Leste, a behavior rarely seen in the wild, suggesting that increased food availability could boost coral resilience in warming seas, according to a QUT release on Monday.
Sometimes called "sea pickles," pyrosomes usually inhabit deep waters, but seasonal upwelling from the Indonesian Throughflow recently brought large numbers to Timor-Leste's coast, delivering cooler, nutrient-rich water that supports coral reefs, the release said.
This current not only helps regulate water temperatures, potentially reducing coral bleaching, but also increases the availability of planktonic food like pyrosomes, it said.
QUT marine scientist Catherine Kim, who led the study, said these findings point to a natural process that could help coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef, better withstand the effects of climate change.
The study, published in Ecology, suggest corals are more adaptable than once believed, able to feed on larger plankton like pyrosomes, which may speed recovery from bleaching and enhance growth and photosynthesis.
Timor-Leste's reefs, in the biodiverse Coral Triangle, have mostly avoided mass bleaching, likely due to cooler waters and increased plankton from the Indonesian Throughflow, the study said.
"Timor-Leste's reefs could offer a blueprint for coral resilience in a warming world," Kim said, adding the discovery highlights the importance of understanding how ocean currents and food webs interact to create natural refuges for coral reefs. Enditem
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