Widespread bleaching impacting of coral reefs Recorded in the Lakshadweep Sea owing to marine heatwaves.
Lakshadweep islands have showed that a considerable percentage of hard coral species had undergone severe bleaching.
This is primarily due to prolonged period of marine heat waves affecting the region since late October 2023.
The ongoing heat waves also threaten other critical marine habitats, including seagrass meadows.
Similar to corals, seagrass meadows are experiencing detrimental impacts due to the heatwaves, such as impaired photosynthesis, reduced growth, and hindered reproductive functions.