Citizen Scientists Find Massive Reef Colony

A vast coral colony, potentially one of the largest ever documented on the Great Barrier Reef, has been discovered by citizen scientists. Measuring around 111 meters in length and covering an estimated 3,973 square meters, the Pavona clavus coral was found off the coast of Cairns.

Jan Pope, a diver with 35 years of experience, initially spotted the unusual formation as part of the Great Reef Census. Her daughter, Sophie Kalkowski-Pope, a marine operations coordinator for Citizens of the Reef, later surveyed the site. The organization estimates it has surveyed a quarter of the reef since 2020.

Experts suggest that very large coral colonies are becoming increasingly rare due to escalating bleaching events. Dr. Tom Bridge from the Queensland Museum noted that while this species can form huge colonies, its survival in increasingly harsh conditions is challenged. Genetic testing is required to confirm if it is a single colony or multiple coalesced ones.

The immense size of the coral was mapped using photogrammetry, a technique involving stitching together photographs from the water's surface to create a 3D model. This discovery underscores the critical role of citizen science projects in identifying significant ecological sites within the Great Barrier Reef.