When a massive coral colony was recently discovered in the Solomon Islands, it was believed to be the largest in the world. Then last week, scientists found an even bigger one in the waters off the Indonesian island of Bali.<\/p>\n
Coral restoration nonprofit Ocean Gardener announced that Indonesian marine biologists had measured a Galaxea astreata coral colony in Nusa Penida, a popular diving site, at 58 meters wide by 71 long (190 by 233 feet). It\u2019s also 10 m (33 ft) deep and covers an area of more than 4,000 m2 (43,000 ft2).<\/p>\n
In comparison, the Pavona clavus coral colony in the Solomon Islands measured 34 by 32 m (112 by 105 ft).<\/p>\n
Vincent Chalias, founder of Bali-based Ocean Gardener, told Mongabay in an email, \u201cLarge colonies of that species [G. astreata] are quite common, but this one, definitely and by far [is] the biggest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ocean Gardener research and science coordinator Manikmayang was quoted in the announcement saying that, \u201cThis discovery has the potential to set a new world record. However, further testing is needed to confirm its status among the world\u2019s giant coral colonies.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coral is located in the Lombok Strait where the Pacific Ocean flows into the Indian Ocean, \u201ca central location where corals can grow to gigantic sizes and produce billions of larvae that seed reefs all over the Indian Ocean,\u201d Ocean Gardener said in its post.<\/p>\n
Chalias said that although the team knew about the large G. astreata coral colony, it only received training to measure giant corals recently with the \u201cMap the Giants\u201d initiative of Italy\u2019s University of Milano-Bicocca MaRHE Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was known as \u2018coral fields\u2019 are now becoming [recognized as] single organism, coral colonies,\u201d Chalias said. \u201cWe are planning on doing some genetics [testing] on it, to prove the one organism theory, but we could also do some aging [tests] on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said strong currents in the area proved a challenge during their dives, but were also why the coral colony is \u201cwell fed.\u201d G. astreata coral is \u201cvery well adapted to extract food from the water column,\u201d he said. \u201cThe colony shape creates turbulences in the flow, that slows down food, allowing polyps to easily catch preys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite its size, the coral is vulnerable to climate change impacts and is in its second year of massive coral bleaching.<\/p>\n
Eric Brown, a U.S. National Park Service marine ecologist who was part of the P. clavus coral expedition, told Mongabay in an email that \u201cthe reproductive potential of large coral colonies is huge,\u201d allowing them to be more resilient and bounce back \u201cfrom major disturbance events.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, the large colony may have a size advantage that enables it to resist disturbance events because some parts of the colony are likely to survive,\u201d Brown wrote.<\/p>\n