http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140228080716.htm
Website: Science Daily
Source: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)
The World Resources Institute recently released an assessment that stated that 75% of the world's coral reefs are endangered. After sampling 1553 fish communities through underwater surveys in 17 Pacific countries, researchers assessed the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity levels of a group of species. The results showed a sharp drop in functional and phylogenetic diversity levels. The researchers emphasised how important it was to conserve all the components of biodiversity.
NOS Themes:
- Science is based on evidence - Researchers took samples from thousands of areas.
- Role of Credibility - The IRD is a very credible source.
75%? Thats crazy! As an avide SCUBA diver I personally would be very disappointed to see coral reefs, and the beauty that they hold, disappear. Then, besides human entertainment, coral reefs are one of the largest underwater biomes known and are a back bone for not only aquatic food webs, but many birds and amphibians will then feed on reef species, suppling energy to land and animals of the air as well. The loss of even one local coral reef could put hundreds of other local species in extreme danger.
ReplyDeleteSources:
http://www.globalissues.org/article/173/coral-reefs
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/coral5.htm
That is very surprising to me. I never would have guessed that coral reefs are in such a crisis situation. It always seems like many parts of the different oceans contained an abundance of coral. Coral reefs have always been so diverse as well. I can't see coral reefs losing their diversity. I think one reason that coral reefs are struggling is because they can only thrive in shallow waters due to the amount of light that certain types of coral depend on for photosynthesis. Coral reefs have created so many different relationships with other species that I can't imagine the impact their absence would have on aquatic life.
ReplyDeleteSource:
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm
We have been warned for a long time about how we should be protecting the coral reefs. This study shows that we need to place the the reefs on the top of priority list. Otherwise we will risk to losing an even larger percentage of the fish.
ReplyDelete