Diving by Numbers: 10 Amazing Facts About Counting Corals
There’s something about our gaudy marine invertebrates that keeps the big blue buzzing with exciting revelations. Suss them out in greater depth as Underwater360 brings you 10 amazing facts about corals.
There’s something about our gaudy marine invertebrates that keeps the big blue buzzing with exciting revelations. Suss them out in greater depth as Underwater360 brings you 10 amazing facts about corals.
1.
The Fungi sp. have single polyps that can grow to 25cm in diameter
2.
Palau is home to 525km² of coral reefs
3.
Coral larvae have to travel over 20 kilometres each year to keep pace with a 3°C temperature rise
4.
The Great Barrier Reef was first formed 15,000 years ago
5.
85% of Southeast Asian coral reefs are already under threat
6.
Bird’s Head Peninsula (Indonesia) hosts 72% of all coral species in the world
7.
Deep-sea corals can survive at depths of up to 6,000 metres
8.
Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atoll, boasts a total land area of 140km²
9.
At least 400 Biorock reef structures have been built in more than 20 countries
10.
The total economic value of Indonesia’s reefs is estimated at US$1.1 billion annually
For the rest of this article and other stories, check out our latest Asian Diver Issue 2/2014 Vol.131) here or download a digital copy here.