During a routine survey on May 18, 2023, our monitoring divers found Dendronephthya sp. colonies and took some samples near Sdot Yam on the rocky reef. Finding this species may indicate ‘tropicalization’ within the Mediterranean Sea (we are currently classed as a temperate region). This will affect species currently inhabiting our region; some species will not be able to handle the heat and will need to move to deeper waters to survive. This species, a type of soft coral, has some traits that should help with its survivability and competition here in the Mediterranean. 

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