Authors: Andrew Baird and Joshua Madin
Source: The Conversation
August 16, 2012

"The east coast of Australia is a global hotspot for the effects of climate change, especially in the marine realm, where average water temperatures have increased by almost half a degree over the last 50 years.

Half a degree of temperature might seem insignificant to some people, but not to the fish, coral, and other species of the southern Great Barrier Reef, many of whom already live on the edge of their comfort zone.

Over the last ten years, researchers have observed dramatic increases in the number of tropical reef fish species appearing in the more temperate waters of the New South Wales coastline. Some of these fish species can now survive through the winter in NSW waters and have established year-round local populations."

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