Florida's coral reefs, especially in the Keys, have suffered significant damage due to record-warm ocean temperatures last summer. The latest survey reveals a 78% mortality rate among once-dominant stag-horn corals, dealing a blow to restoration efforts. Hot seawater killed most of the cultivated coral, with only 5% of replanted elkhorn coral surviving the heat. Scientists are dismayed by the widespread coral death, calling it 'horrible to witness.' The devastation to the reefs and restoration attempts is alarming seasoned coral scientists, painting a bleak picture for the future of Florida's renowned corals.
Combine this marine heat storm news with the Florida Keys reef catastrophe… Here via @MarkEakin @AP https://t.co/MCVLi37Iyg https://t.co/RDcT9hxVG1
😳 INCREDIBLE VIDEO of a waterspout doing damage in the Keys yesterday. The NWS office in Key West is going out to survey the damage today #FLwx https://t.co/B6LzNBCXHa
A blistering marine heat wave last summer along Florida’s reef pushed water temperatures to previously unseen levels. The unprecedented event forced NOAA to add three new alert levels to account for higher mortality rates and bleaching levels. https://t.co/xcW81rWkDH
Record hot seawater killed more than three-quarters of human-cultivated coral that scientists had placed in the Florida Keys in recent years in an effort to prop up a threatened species that’s highly vulnerable to climate change, researchers discovered. https://t.co/8ykKuTuDk6
Big blow to Florida reef recovery: First survey after record heat finds coral graveyards https://t.co/jeoRriB2Tu
Florida reef losses - including restoration efforts - are stunning seasoned coral scientists. https://t.co/DIoUsxjRr5
Big blow to #Florida reef recovery: First survey after record heat finds coral graveyards https://t.co/8LYDEVC1rh via @harrisalexc
Hot seawater killed most of cultivated coral in Florida Keys in setback for restoration effort https://t.co/e10M2zSkQm
Florida Keys coral reefs have been devastated again by anthropogenic heating - 78% mortality last summer of once-dominant stag-horn corals, destroying restoration attempts. https://t.co/58BtwFXIjq
'Horrible to witness' scientist says of widespread coral death. Hot seawater killed most of cultivated coral in Florida Keys in setback for restoration effort. Only 5% of replanted elkhorn coral survived record heat. https://t.co/JS4XqeKtRP
Florida’s vulnerable coral reef system ravaged by last summer’s record-warm ocean temperatures https://t.co/qcR0y1IMHZ https://t.co/YjEsKjjH0s
The first survey of Florida’s reefs after an ‘apocalyptic’ marine heat wave offers a bleak picture of the future of the state’s renowned corals — and the restoration efforts to save them. @harrisalexc https://t.co/zWb3Et6pAz