Coral Bleaching and Starfish Shape Reef Dynamics at Lizard Island

Coral Bleaching and Starfish Shape Reef Dynamics at Lizard Island

Coral reefs, often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea,” are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. However, recent studies, including one conducted by Garing et al. in 2025, highlight the pressing threats these vital habitats face. The researchers focused on Lizard Island, located in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef, where the impacts of coral bleaching and the predation pressures from crown-of-thorns st…