Researchers from Australia and New Zealand have uncovered an ancient coral reef near Lord Howe Island in the southern Pacific Ocean that they say thrived between 9,000 years ago and 7,000 years ago, reported science news website, Science Daily on Aug. 31.
Located 65 feet to 82 feet below the surface in the Tasman Sea, the reef is the southernmost reef in the Pacific.
Previously, the reef covered an area 20 times its current size, and researchers guess that the reef was submerged about 7,000 years ago, probably because of a sudden sea level rise, according to Science Daily.
Coral reefs are sensitive biomes that indicate changes in sea environment. The majority of modern coral reefs exist near the equator in warm, shallow water. Relicts from the newly discovered reef indicate that in the past, reefs also lived further south of the equator.
Located 65 feet to 82 feet below the surface in the Tasman Sea, the reef is the southernmost reef in the Pacific.
Previously, the reef covered an area 20 times its current size, and researchers guess that the reef was submerged about 7,000 years ago, probably because of a sudden sea level rise, according to Science Daily.
Coral reefs are sensitive biomes that indicate changes in sea environment. The majority of modern coral reefs exist near the equator in warm, shallow water. Relicts from the newly discovered reef indicate that in the past, reefs also lived further south of the equator.
