AP: Scientist Says Large Coral Disappearing

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CARIBBEAN_CORAL_THREAT

Nov 1, 8:27 PM EST

Scientist Says Large Coral Disappearing

By MAT PROBASCO
Associated Press Writer

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) -- Large species of coral that form underwater reefs and create rich habitat for marine life are disappearing from around the U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean, a leading researcher said Tuesday.

The larger species are being replaced by smaller varieties, which don't grow high enough to protect the fish, lobster and other sea life that rely on the underwater reefs, said Peter Edmunds, a biology professor at California State University, Northridge.

Abnormally warm weather, coupled with pollution and overfishing, have contributed to a rapid decline in large coral, Edmunds said during a talk at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Species such as the boulder star coral, which stretch several yards across, take hundreds of years to grow. Edmunds predicted the boulder star coral could be gone from much of the U.S. Virgin Islands in less than 50 years. In Jamaica, the species has almost been replaced by mustard hill coral, a smaller species unable to make large reefs, he said.

"The big guys are becoming rarer. The small guys are becoming more common," said Edmunds, who recently began projects near Tahiti and Taiwan, where he plans to compare Pacific data with that gathered in the U.S. Caribbean territory.

...
:scared:

[mcscajun]

1. It's all breaking down...widespread, pervasive habitat breakdown

on land and water. Beyond endangered species, entire food chains are now imperiled. And that's just for starters. Toss in ozone holes, crop failures and the loss of predators, and it becomes an uglier and uglier picture for the long term.

:scared:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. Entropy.

Dig it!

[BeHereNow]

8. Not to worry though, The Bushies and the Moonie will be safe...

Down there in Paraguay.
They know and they have prepared for the upcoming
melt down of civilization as we know it.
They will be able to grow food and have access to
fresh water and to hell with the rest of us left
to scrabble through the aftermath of their evil.
BHN

[MisterP]

2. fixed link

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/01/ap/tech/mainD8L3V9181.shtml
alas, John Brunner died in '95, so he can't rewrite "The Sheep Look Up"

[Teaser]

3. good.

it's just colored rocks anyway.

[Systematic Chaos]

4. YOU WHITE ROCK SUPREMACIST!!

:evilgrin:

[Teaser]

7. We keep to our own kind of rocks here

nt

[Gloria]

5. No fish, no scuba diving industry---who cares, right????

:mad:

[redqueen]

9. *sigh*

Not a surprise to anyone who's been reading about the problems facing coral.

Still... tragic.