4 April Ecosystem Health Exped

Download the full report here: BIOT Indigo V Report Apr 2018

Executive Summary

The marine microbiome underpins the very foundation of ocean health. Despite this critically important role, we know very little about the microbiome except that it is very sensitive to climate change, particularly ocean acidification and rising temperatures.

In 2018, Indigo V returned to further track the recovery of the reef, to field trial the latest version of our auto-sampling equipment, and collect water samples to look for virus diversity. There were some signs of recovery of the reef itself, but the water column was still very murky, which blocks vital sunlight from the corals.