Israeli marine researchers have discovered in the eastern Mediterranean a species of coral normally found in the Red Sea, indicating the migration of an invasive species, the University of Haifa (UH) announced in a statement published on Monday and cited by Xinhua and Agerpres.

Coral “Dendronephthya”Photo: Andrii Nekrasov / Zuma Press / Profimedia Images

This type of soft coral, known as Dendronephthya, was found at a depth of 42 meters near the village of Sdot Yam in May, according to a study by researchers at the University of Haifa and recently published in the journal Biology.

The mentioned coral usually lives in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region and is often found in the Red Sea.

Although the exact migration route has yet to be established, the corals arrived in the Mediterranean Sea, most likely migrating from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal as part of a large and well-documented migration, the Lesseps migration, according to a new study.

The Mediterranean Sea will soon lose one of its protective barriers against invasive species

The colder waters of the Mediterranean used to be a barrier to tropical corals, but these natural barriers will soon disappear due to climate change, UH researchers say.

Increases in minimum winter temperatures in coastal waters and other temperature changes in the eastern Mediterranean region since the 1990s may create favorable conditions for the invasion of warm-water species, the study authors added.

The researchers warned that due to its fast attachment and ability to grow, experts expect this coral species to spread quickly and become more common in the Mediterranean.

They noted that when species from one region naturally invade and become established in another area, they can seriously impact local ecosystems.