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Gorgonian corals thriving in warming planet

Gorgonian corals, described by some scientists as the animal forests of the ocean, seem to be proliferating in the Caribbean, preliminary research suggests.

A study of shallow reefs in St John, within the US Virgin Islands, has demonstrated that gorgonian corals have increased in abundance since 1997.

While gorgonian corals seem to be thriving, the effects of climate change have caused a decline in the world’s stony corals.

Corals are aquatic animals that assemble themselves into colonies formed from tiny polyps.

Understanding coral reefs is important as they are one of the planet’s most biologically diverse ecosystems.

Read more at Californian State University, Northridge & University of Buffalo

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