Researchers detect invasion of Red Sea corals to Mediterranean

Israeli marine researchers have identified a type of coral called Dendronephthya, commonly found in the Red Sea, in the east Mediterranean. This discovery suggests the migration of this alien species. The coral was found at a depth of 42 meters near the village of Sdot Yam in May. It is believed to have arrived from the Red Sea, possibly through the Suez Canal, as part of the Lessepsian Migration. Climate change is eroding natural barriers, allowing tropical corals to breach cooler Mediterranean waters. Rising temperatures since the 1990s create favorable conditions for warm-water species, posing a threat to the local ecosystem. The rapid attachment and growth of this coral type indicate it may spread quickly across the Mediterranean Sea.

Source – CGTN