Epic Ocean Voyages

Models provide first-ever simulated glimpse into dispersal and potential effects of climate change. August 22, 2013 MIAMI- August 20, 2013 - A new computer simulation conducted at the University of Bristol (UB) and University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has revealed the epic, ocean-spanning journeys travelled by millimetre-sized coral larvae through the world's seas. The study, published in Global Ecology and Biogeography , is the first to recreate the oceanic paths along which corals disperse globally, and will eventually aid predictions of how coral reef distributions may shift with climate change. 14 million modeled coral larval over a 1-year period. Note the empty no-mans-land that larvae have difficulty breaching - this is the East Pacific Dispersal Barrier. Credit: Sally Wood - Coral reefs are under increasing threat from the combined pressures of human activity, natural disturbances and climate change. It has been suggested that coral may respond to these changing conditions by shifting to more favourable refuges, but their ability to do this will depend on the ocean currents.