Dozens of new corals discovered on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Summary

Researchers from KAUST, JCU, and UTS discovered dozens of new coral species on the Great Barrier Reef during a 21-day expedition. The team found that the biodiversity of some coral groups is up to three times higher than previously thought. One hard coral species, Acropora hyacinthus, may actually be five different species. Why it matters: This discovery enhances the understanding of coral diversity and distribution, which is crucial for the conservation and management of Australia's World Heritage site.