Content overview: “Olowalu Reef off Maui reveals two centuries of environmental change in 253-year coral core”. A new study led by the University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program, UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, and the U.S. Geological Survey has extracted a 253-year-old core from a massive coral colony at Olowalu Reef off West Maui. The core provides a rare, centuries-long record of environmental conditions, revealing how the reef has responded to both natural and human-driven changes since the late 1700s.
By analyzing coral growth bands and geochemical signatures, researchers can trace shifts in water quality, sedimentation, and land-use impacts over time. Olowalu is considered a critical reef for Maui's marine ecosystem, acting as a source of coral larvae for neighboring areas. The findings underscore the importance of restoring healthy land-sea connections, such as reducing sediment runoff from upland areas, to protect reef resilience. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.