Coral Reefs Reduced In Size Gradually Since 1995
Posted on: Friday, 20 March 2009, 07:05 CDT
The amount of fish living in Caribbean reefs has declined considerably since 1995, most likely caused from a substantial loss of coral, a study released on Thursday pointed out.
Researchers reviewed studies from 48 different polls of 318 reefs in the Caribbean dating from 1955 to 2007.
They noted that reef thickness increased from 1955 to 1985, when it began to decline. The sizeable losses started in 1995, when density decreased by 2.7 to six percent every year.
"We were most surprised to discover that this decrease is evident for both large-bodied species targeted by fisheries as well as small-bodied species that are not fished," stated Michelle Paddack, lead author. "This suggests that overfishing is probably not the only cause."
Paddack and her fellow researchers indicate an 80 percent loss in coral since the 1970's. Many think that an extreme alteration in coral reef habitats over the past 30 years is the cause of the loss.
There are many reasons for these changes, like an increase in coastal developmental pollution, ocean temperatures, diseases, and overfishing. These have started the decline of fish species vital to the reefs.
"All of these factors are stressing the reefs and making them less able to recover from disturbances such as hurricanes, which also seem to be occurring more frequently," Paddack stated.
The belated reaction to loss of coral means a "degradation debt."
Paddack wrote in the study, which comprised a big team of scientists, this should start a call for immediate action.
"If we want to have coral reefs in our future, we must ensure that we reduce damage to these ecosystems," she said.
"On a personal level, this may mean not buying wild-caught aquarium fish and corals, not eating reef fish species that are declining, taking care not to anchor on reefs, and reducing our carbon emissions to help control climate change.”
"But importantly, we need to let lawmakers and resource managers know that we care about these ecosystems and we need to push for changes in how they are managed," Paddack wrote.
The study is available in the journal Current Biology.
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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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