Hey there! 🌊 Did you know that coral reefs are like the rainforests of the ocean? They are home to tons of amazing sea creatures and help keep our oceans healthy!
Recently, China released its first-ever report on two special coral reefs in the South China Sea: Tiexian Jiao and Niu’e Jiao. Let’s dive in and see what they found! 🐟🐠
What’s Going On with Tiexian Jiao? 🤔
The report showed that the coral reef at Tiexian Jiao is in trouble. Between 2016 and 2024, the area covered by corals there shrank by about 68.9%! That’s a big drop! 😱
Scientists found that there are fewer kinds of corals, and the ones that are left don’t cover much of the reef. This means less homes for fish and other sea animals.
Why Is This Happening? 🧐
One big problem is a creature called the crown-of-thorns starfish 🌟. These starfish eat corals, and when there are too many of them, they can really hurt the reef.
Other things like strong tropical storms and too much human activity are also causing trouble for the coral reefs. Unauthorized fishing and construction have been spotted in the area, which isn’t helping the corals at all.
Niu’e Jiao: A Healthier Reef 😊
On a happier note, the coral reef at Niu’e Jiao is doing much better! It has an average coral coverage of 37.7%, which is pretty good. The habitat there is healthy, and lots of sea creatures are making it their home.
Birds like the greater crested tern, which is a protected species in China, have been spotted around both reefs. It’s great to see wildlife thriving! 🐦
Why Should We Care? 💚
Coral reefs are super important! They protect coastlines from storms, provide homes for fish, and are just plain awesome. But with things like climate change causing sea temperatures to rise, corals are at risk of bleaching, which can make them die.
What’s Next? 🌟
China plans to keep studying and protecting these coral reefs. By reducing harmful human activities and helping the reefs recover, we can hope for a brighter future for these underwater worlds.
Maybe one day, you might become a marine biologist and help save the corals too! 🌊🐠
Remember, even small actions like reducing pollution can make a big difference for our oceans. Let’s all do our part to protect these amazing places! 💙
Reference(s):
China issues first report on ecosystems of Tiexian Jiao, Niu'e Jiao
cgtn.com
