IRD partners conducted several studies in 2017, to improve knowledge of coral reefs and increase understanding of the impact of global changes on these environments.
IRD researchers and their partners studied coral populations in systems where the temperatures, CO2 and O2 levels are naturally close to (or even beyond) those expected by the end of the century. This study, conducted in Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia, aimed to improve understanding of the adaptation and acclimatisation mechanisms developed by corals subject to these extreme conditions.
Another approach involves studying the impact of anthropic inputs, particularly metal inputs in New Caledonia, which is the world’s 5th greatest nickel producer. The laboratory research showed that water enriched with nickel aggravated the harmful effects of warming of the waters, reducing coral growth by over a third.
IRD continued its works on the impact of the 2016 coral bleaching, with two new campaigns at sea: “POST-BLANCO”. Almost a year after this major episode, what is the state of health of the reefs? The first campaign took place from 24 February to 15 March, and the second from 18 April to 2 May 2017, on board the Alis: the Institute’s oceanographic ship.