British WWII munitions ship that was sunk by a German bomber has formed an artificial coral REEF
It was sunk off the coast of Egypt by a German bomber in 1941, but now the SS Thistlegorm has found a new life – as an artificial coral reef.
Between 2007 and 2014, divers recorded the number of coral and fish species they could see living in the World War II shipwreck.
Researchers from the University of Bologna analyzed the results and found that 71 different varieties were observed during this period.
These include Red Sea Clownfish, Soft Tree Coral, Giant Moray, and Squirrelfish.
Their presence varied as expected with the time of year, meaning “artificial coral reefs can support an established community structure similar to that of their natural counterparts,” the authors said.
The SS Thistlegorm was carrying Bedford trucks, Universal Carrier armored vehicles, Norton 16H and BSA motorcycles, Bren guns and cases of ammunition when it sank. Pictured: A BSA M-20 motorcycle took off from the SS Thistlegorm shipwreck
Between 2007 and 2014, divers recorded the number of coral and fish species they could see living in the World War II shipwreck (pictured)
The SS Thistlegorm was a British armed merchant ship built in 1940 by Joseph Thompson and Son in Sunderland.
It carried Bedford trucks, Universal Carrier armored vehicles, Norton 16H and BSA motorcycles, Bren guns and cases of ammunition to support Britain’s fight against General Rommel’s forces in Africa.
In 1941 it crossed the Red Sea towards Alexandria in Egypt, but was located by Luftwaffe bombers when it reached Ras Muhammad on 6 October.
They hit the rear of the ship, where ammunition was stored, causing it to explode and sink 100 feet (32 m) underwater.
Now the rusting 420-foot-long (128 m) ship and the relics it carried are a well-known dive site.
This is because a wide variety of marine life species now call it home, making it a colorful spectacle for divers.
“Sunken warships have been shown to serve as exceptionally good artificial substrates for coral reefs, as their size and complexity provide a multitude of possibilities for microhabitats,” the authors of the new study wrote.
When found in deeper, cooler waters, they can provide a home for species trying to escape the rapidly warming shallower waters, but still need sunlight.
Over time, these wrecks become artificial reefs – structures that are normally created on purpose for various purposes.
These could be to reduce pressure on natural reefs from diving activities, help conserve biodiversity, or ‘resettle’ coral to a more habitable location amid changing oceans.
In 1941, the SS Thistlegorm set out across the Red Sea towards Alexandria in Egypt, but was located by Luftwaffe bombers when it reached Ras Muhammad on 6 October.
Now the rusting 420-foot-long (128 m) ship and the relics it carried are a well-known dive site. This is because a wide variety of marine life species now call it home, making it a colorful spectacle for divers
The SS Thistlegorm (pictured) was a British armed merchant ship built in 1940 by Joseph Thompson and Son in Sunderland
“Sunken warships have been shown to serve as exceptionally good artificial substrates for coral reefs because their size and complexity provide a multitude of opportunities for microhabitats,” the authors of the new study wrote.
Studies have been done over time on the effects of artificial reefs, but the Italy-based researchers say they are mostly short-term projects, lasting less than three years.
For those of them, published today in PLOS ONEintended to assess the development of the SS Thistlegorm Reef over a longer period of eight years.
During this time, divers wishing to explore the wreck were asked to complete questionnaires about their dive.
After they resurfaced, they reported the number of 72 easily identifiable fish and coral species they saw, and whether they were “rare,” “frequent,” or “very frequent.”
They also provided details on a number of parameters that could affect their results, such as the date and time of their dive, maximum and minimum depth, and water temperature.
Between 2007 and 2014, 390 surveys were conducted and every target species was spotted except the manta ray.
Previous studies of natural reefs have shown that those farther from tourist hotspots show higher biodiversity.
This result on the SS Thistlegorm shows that the same result can be seen on artificial reefs.
Indeed, similar craft have also been found to protect communities of marine life living in the sands below from fishing activities.
Between 2007 and 2014, 390 surveys were conducted on the SS Thistleform, and every target species was spotted except the manta ray
The presence and relative abundance of each species spotted on the wreck by divers also matched natural seasonal and temperature variations
Bombers hit the rear of the ship, where ammunition was stored, causing it to explode and sink 100 feet (32 m) underwater. Pictured: location of the shipwreck
The presence and relative abundance of each species spotted on the wreck by divers also matched natural seasonal and temperature variations.
They also varied significantly from year to year, but did not follow a clear trend.
The authors wrote: ‘Species richness, diversity and evenness of reef fish vary considerably between summer and winter in the Red Sea, and these seasonal variations can be reflected on wrecks and artificial reefs close to natural coral reefs.
‘The community structure at SS Thistlegorm showed relative stability over time, making this artificial reef a potential and promising refuge for Red Sea communities.’
In the future, the study authors want to compare the effect of location and water temperature on the biodiversity of artificial reefs with that on natural reefs.
This could reveal information about the impact of ocean warming and human activity on reef decline.