Nutrient pollution can exacerbate coral disease outbreaks and threatens coral reef healthNovember 24, 2003Wildlife diseases are one of the primary threats to coral reefs and other endangered marine ecosystems. For example, fungal and bacterial infections of reef-building corals and other key species recently caused mass-mortalities throughout the Caribbean. Species that dominated Caribbean coral reefs only twenty years ago are now functionally extinct. Little is know about the factors that promote marine diseases, but it is suspected that human activities have altered the environment, subsequently promoting disease epidemics and coral die offs. In the December issue of Ecology Letters, Bruno, Petes, Harvell, and Hettinger report that nutrient pollution can increase the severity of coral diseases. The research team performed field experiments on Mexican reefs off the Yucatan Peninsula, currently threatened by coastal development. Their results indicate that even modest nutrient pollution can increase the mortality of three important Caribbean corals by facilitating disease spread. This research suggests that further steps should be taken to reduce nutrient pollution from sources including agricultural runoff, sewage pollution, and deforestation. Blackwell Publishing Ltd |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Coral Reef Current Events and Coral Reef News Articles Coral reefs inspire rare consensus -- just save them One of the first set of studies to examine what tourists and recreation enthusiasts actually think about coral reef ecosystems suggests they are a rare exception to controversies over human use versus environmental conservation - their stunning beauty is so extraordinary that almost everyone wants them protected in perpetuity. What are coral reef services worth? $130,000 to $1.2 million per hectare, per year: experts Experts concluding the global DIVERSITAS biodiversity conference today in Cape Town described preliminary research revealing jaw-dropping dollar values of the "ecosystem services" of biomes like forests and coral reefs - including food, pollution treatment and climate regulation. Coral bleaching increases chances of coral disease Mass coral bleaching has devastated coral colonies around the world for almost three decades. Now scientists have found that bleaching can make corals more susceptible to disease and, in turn, coral disease can exacerbate the negative effects of bleaching. Man-made crises 'outrunning our ability to deal with them,' scientists warn The world faces a compounding series of crises driven by human activity, which existing governments and institutions are increasingly powerless to cope with, a group of eminent environmental scientists and economists has warned. Time to tap climate-change-combating potential of the world's ecosystems Investing in restoration and maintenance of the Earth's multi-trillion dollar ecosystems - from forests and mangroves to wetlands and river basins - can have a key role in countering climate change and climate-proofing vulnerable economies. NOAA report finds flower garden banks sanctuary reefs among healthiest in Gulf Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is among the healthiest coral reef ecosystems in the tropical Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, according to a new NOAA report. Humans Mounting evidence that human activity is changing the world's oceans in profound and damaging ways is outlined in a new scientific discussion paper released today. Overfishing and evolution Using snorkelers and SCUBA divers is not the best way to monitor fish populations, if we want to know the evolutionary effects of overfishing. Corals face 'a stormy future' As global warming whips up more powerful and frequent hurricanes and storms, the world's coral reefs face increased disruption to their ability to breed and recover from damage. Help for climate-stressed corals Banning or restricting the use of certain types of fishing gear could help the world's coral reefs and their fish populations survive the onslaughts of climate change according to a study by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and other groups. More Coral Reef Current Events and Coral Reef News Articles |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||