Beautiful, rare ‘purple cauliflower’ coral off NSW coast may be extinct within 10 years

Mon, 7 Jun 2021 05:19:36 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/beautiful-rare-purple-cauliflower-coral-off-nsw-coast-may-be-extinct-within-10-years-160184>

"When we think of Australia’s threatened corals, the Great Barrier Reef
probably springs to mind. But elsewhere, coral species are also struggling –
including a rare type known as “cauliflower soft coral” which is, sadly, on the
brink of extinction.

This species, Dendronephthya australis, looks like a purple cauliflower due
to its pink-lilac stems and branches, crowned with white polyps.

The coral primarily occurs at only a few sites in Port Stephens, New South
Wales, and is a magnet for divers and underwater photographers. But sand
movements, boating and fishing have reduced the species’ population
dramatically.

Recent flooding in NSW compounded the problem – in fact, it may have reduced
the remaining coral population by 90%. Our recent research found cauliflower
soft coral may become extinct in the next decade unless we urgently protect and
restore it."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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