Climate Extremes Trigger Rare Coral Disease and Mass Mortality on the Great Barrier Reef

We watched these coral colonies succumb to black band disease. 6 months later, 75% were dead

This is especially worrying because these massive corals are normally quite resilient to heat stress. Even the strong are now struggling to survive.

Climate extremes trigger rare coral disease and mass mortality on the Great Barrier Reef

University of Sydney marine biologists have identified a devastating combination of coral bleaching and a rare necrotic wasting disease that wiped out large, long-lived corals on the Great Barrier Reef during the record 2024 marine heat wave.

Heatwave, disease 'catastrophic' combo for hardy corals

A sturdy type of coral that usually withstands bleaching has been hit hard by a combination of heat stress and a disease rarely seen in the Great Barrier Reef.

Climate extremes triggered rare coral disease and mass mortality on th