Coral reefs may be adjusting to climate change

A coral bleaching expert says there are signs that some coral reefs are adapting to climate change. Many coral clusters in Queensland's Great Barrier Reef have struggled to survive in the rising sea temperatures of the past decade.

Dr Ray Berkelmans says the algae that lives with some coral can be a form of protection.

"There is more than one type of algae and if they have one type, for example type 'c', they are normally thermal intolerant if you like but if they have type 'd' on board they can increase their thermal tolerance to maybe levels of one to up to two degrees Celsius," he said.

"I know that doesn't sound like a lot but in the ecology of coral two degrees is a tremendous ecological benefit to corals."

Source: www.abc.net.au/news