BRISBANE, Australia, March 3 (UPI) -- Scientists say they're studying ancient fossil corals near Papua New Guinea to determine how coral reefs might withstand effects of climate change.
In what's called the world's first study of what happened to coral reefs when ocean levels sank to the lowest recorded level -- more than 390 feet below current sea levels -- researchers say they're found some indications that coral reefs might be able to survive the huge stresses imposed by human activity.
The research involved eight fossil reefs in Papua New Guinea's Huon Gulf region and scientists concluded a rich diversity of corals managed to survive, although they were different in composition to corals under more benign conditions.
"Of course, sea levels then were falling -- and today they are rising," said University of Queensland Professor John Pandolfi. "But if we want to know how corals cope with hostile conditions, then we have to study what happens under all circumstances. Although it is little asked, the question of where reef species go when faced with extreme environmental situations is highly relevant for understanding their prospects of survival in the future."
Although the fossil record shows reefs have been remarkably successful in surviving large environmental disturbances, Pandolfi said the combination of today's drastic environmental changes is unprecedented in the history of coral reefs.
The research is reported in the journal Ecology.
