Multiple climate impacts on seagrass dynamics: Amphibolis antarctica patches at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

A 9.5-hectare patch of the seagrass species Amphibolis antarctica at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, was completely lost due to a combination of tropical cyclone-induced burial and marine heatwave impacts. The study highlights the devastating effects of compounded climate events on seagrass communities, with no observed recruitment of new seedlings since the loss, suggesting potential hindrance by local ocean circulation patterns. This research underscores the vulnerability of coastal ecosystems to simultaneous extreme weather events.

van Keulen, M. (2018). Multiple climate impacts on seagrass dynamics: Amphibolis antarctica patches at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology, 25(2), 211–212. https://doi.org/10.1071/pc18050