Some of the coral polyps in this colony have bleached (white), while adjoining polyps have not or are recovering (brown)

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6 June 2016 – Great Barrier Reef, Australia - Some of the coral polyps in this colony have bleached (white), while adjoining polyps either have not bleached, or have recovered their brown colour, Turtle Bay, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Coral bleaching is a distress response to high water temperatures, and climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of coral bleaching events worldwide. April/May 2016 saw the worst such event in the Reef's history. In this remote and previously relatively pristine northern section of the Reef it has been estimated that around a third of the bleached corals have died or are dying.

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Size: 3750px × 2500px
Location: Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia
Photo credit: © Suzanne Long / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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