CORAL REEFS’ HISTORICAL RESILIENCE IN GULF OF EILAT

GS3 ENVIRONMENT: 

Recent Findings:

• A 3,000-year gap in coral growth in the Gulf of Eilat from 4,400 to 1,000 years ago, possibly due to sea-level drop from global cooling.
• This break in growth is mirrored in coral reefs in Mexico, Brazil, and Australia, indicating a global environmental event.

Historical Growth Patterns:

• The late Holocene saw a significant pause in reef development, with recovery through deeper coral recolonization.

Causes of Hiatus:

• Attributed to tectonic activity and changes in sea level, exposing reefs and stopping their growth.

Research Techniques:

• Utilized extensive coral core sampling, with analyses showing changes in carbon isotopes, reflecting human impact on the carbon cycle.

Conservation Implications:

• Historical resilience of corals suggests recovery potential, but current threats like climate change and pollution are severe. Past resilience could guide future conservation.

Role of Coral Reefs:

• Crucial for marine biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and protection against coastal erosion and storms.

Gulf of Eilat Key Points:

• Located at the northern tip of the Red Sea, bordered by Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
• Hosts the world’s northernmost coral reef near Eilat, Israel.
• Deep, with a maximum depth of 1,850 meters, contrasting with the shallower Gulf of Suez.