A comparison of the current warming climate and the last major episode of global warming has led to scientific concern about decreased coral diversity in areas near the equator.
Researchers studies the fossil coral record, and found evidence equatorial coral diversity declined sharply when sea surface temperatures warmed by 0.7 of a degree Celsius during the last interglacial period (about 125,000 years ago).
The researchers believe that corals will move towards the poles in search of cooler waters as the planet continues to warm beyond the 0.7 of a degree temperature rise that has been recorded since the start of the industrial age.
Read more at The University of Queensland