An over-simplistic interpretation

GARETH Jones’s letter about the Great Barrier Reef (August 11) suggests that “global-warming alarmists must again eat humble pie”. I believe that his conclusions are an over-simplistic interpretation and do not reflect the findings of the recent report by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS).

The AIMS report does indeed say that the northern and central Great

Barrier Reef have recorded their highest amount of coral cover for 36 years. However, the report also includes many caveats and does not automatically signify that the reef is in good health.

The average coral cover in the southern region (from Proserpine to Gladstone) did in fact decrease compared with 2021. The methodology used in the study provides minimal information on diversity. The recovery of the hard coral cover was largely driven by Acropora corals. These are fastgrowing corals which tend to dominate during the early phase of recovery after disturbances such as the recent series of mass bleaching events. However, they are particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbance which means that the observed recovery can be very rapidly reversed.

The bleaching event this year was the fourth in seven years and the first to occur during a La Niña, a weather phenomenon which typically brings cooler water temperatures. According to the AIMS CEO, Dr Paul Hardisty, bleaching events have not previously been recorded so closely together.

The diverse ecosystems of the

GBR have in parts been replaced by a handful of dominant coral species, making the entire reef more susceptible to environmental changes. The AIMS Report states: “The increasing frequency and extent of mass bleaching events in recent years poses a significant risk to the state of the reefs in the GB.

Any future disturbances can rapidly reverse the observed recovery.”

Dr Richard Pipe Saltash, Cornwall