Photosynthesis Happening in Near Darkness

In the ongoing endeavor to map our sea floors and understand climate change, another amazing discovery has been made. The Caitlin Seaview Survey team out of Queensland University in Australia is headed by Dr. Pm Bongaert and says their recent discovery is “mind blowing.” Found on the outer portion of the Great Barrier Reef called Ribbon Reefs, Leptoseris sp. was discovered at depths far greater than was thought possible for a light dependent coral. Photo courtesy of Geoff Schultz The team was able to deploy their remote-operated vehicle in calm seas and found the coral at a depth of 410 feet (125 meters.) At that depth there is little to no light for corals that harbor light dependent symbiotic algae called Zooxanthellea. These discoveries “show just how little we really know about the reef and how much more is yet to be discovered” said Dr. Bongaert. Read more here!