rki.news | Source: Xinhua
Marine scientists have returned to the remote Recherche Archipelago off Western Australia’s southern coast to study reef ecosystems and assess their importance as a refuge for marine life.
The expedition, led by the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), will run from November 10 to 20. Researchers will survey fish, invertebrates and seaweeds, revisiting sites studied in 2023 and exploring additional reefs.
The archipelago was first surveyed in the 1990s but has received limited scientific attention since then. Surveys conducted in 2023 found healthy reefs supporting abundant marine life.
Expedition leader Scott Bennett said the latest research would provide important baseline information for the South Coast Marine Park system and help monitor changes in reef biodiversity and habitats.
Marine ecologist and scientific diver Antonia Cooper said the surveys would allow researchers to compare reef conditions over time and across different regions using consistent methods applied at other Australian reefs.
The findings are expected to improve understanding of the region’s marine ecosystems and support future conservation efforts.
Scientists Return to Western Australian Reefs to Monitor Marine Life
