The biggest coral in the world is discovered off the Solomon Islands and is centuries old and the size of two football fields.
Scientists have discovered a large coral off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, believed to be several centuries old. The coral is nearly three times larger than the previous recordholder and is a standalone structure, unlike a reef, which is built on a symbiotic relationship between corals and sea anemones.
The discovery is believed to be visible from space.
A mammoth coral, Pavona clavus, was discovered in the southwest Pacific Ocean by a research vessel in October. The brown mound, 34m wide and 32m long, is a communal organism consisting of nearly one billion polyps, which function together like a single organism.
Researchers suspect the mound is at least 300 years old due to its large size and slow growth rate. National Geographic explorer Enric Sala, founder of the Pristine Seas project, described the discovery as a significant scientific discovery, similar to finding the world's tallest tree.
The coral has survived decades of changing environments and appears to be thriving despite global ocean warming.
Scientists are concerned about the fate of mega corals due to climate change's increasing acidity in oceans.
Corals use calcium carbonate to create their skeleton, and as global temperatures rise over 1.5C, coral bleaching events become more frequent and severe, potentially wiping out most coral reefs worldwide.
The increasing acidity and rising global temperature are making it harder for corals to remain healthy.
Researchers are optimistic that the mega coral, which stores information on how to survive in various climatic conditions, will remain healthy despite changes in the ocean.
The genetic code of these simple polyps is an enormous encyclopedia, allowing them to survive multiple conditions. Witnessing this large healthy coral oasis in deeper waters is a beacon of hope for coral scientists.
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