A coral cluster more than 2,000 years old grows next to the volcano

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on March 17 that the coral population Porites rusa species of stony coral (hard coral), growing from an underground volcano near Maug Island, Mariana Islands, is the world’s largest coral cluster of this species.

“The coral cluster is so large that it’s difficult for us to measure due to diving safety limits,” said Dr. Thomas Oliver, a scientist with NOAA’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP).

Locals knew of the giant coral cluster’s existence before, but NOAA only conducted its first preliminary measurements during NCRMP surveys last year. Measurements show that the complex has an area of ​​about 1,347 m2, the top is 31 m wide (more than twice the length of a school bus) and the bottom is 62 m wide (more than four times the length of a school bus). This makes it a coral cluster Porites rus largest ever recorded, about 3.4 times larger than the cluster in American Samoa, measured in 2020.

Size is not the only impressive thing about coral clusters Porites rus on Maug Island. “It is difficult to determine the true age of this coral species because they do not create growth rings like other species. We estimate Porites rus grow about one centimeter each year. “So a population of that size must be very old,” said Dr. Hannah Barkley, NCRMP scientist. According to estimates, the population on Maug Island is more than 2,050 years old.

Habitat of coral clusters Porites rusan underground volcano, is also very unique. This place has many CO2 vents, which can create a more acidic marine environment for nearby living organisms. This could help scientists measure the impact of ocean acidification.

“It’s amazing to see two extremes – giant, resilient coral colonies thriving and dead zones near CO2 vents – coexist in one area. Maug is truly special,” said Barkley.

However, the coral population on Maug Island is not the largest in the world. This title belongs to the coral community Peacock nail off the coast of Australia, estimated to be 111 m long and spanning 3,973 m2.