All articles tagged with #coral extinction
Two key coral species in Florida, elkhorn and staghorn, have been declared 'functionally extinct' due to a severe 2023 marine heat wave caused by climate change, leading to near-total mortality and significant ecological impacts on reef ecosystems and coastal protection.
A record-breaking heat wave in Florida in 2023 has nearly wiped out two key coral species, elkhorn and staghorn, rendering them functionally extinct and causing significant ecological and economic damage, including increased coastal vulnerability and loss of biodiversity, highlighting the urgent need for advanced conservation efforts amid ongoing climate change.