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2016 06 Coral Zombies Doom Reefs World
2016 06 Coral Zombies Doom Reefs World
2016 06 Coral Zombies Doom Reefs World
June 21 2016
Scientists, like UCF Biologist John Fauth, have known for a while that coral
reefs around the world are dying, and in a worst-case scenario they were
counting on large, healthy-looking corals to repopulate. But a new study
presented at the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium in Honolulu today
shows that these seemingly healthy colonies are 'Coral Zombies' with no
reproductive ability, which makes them useless in a recovery effort. Credit:
UCF: Nick Russett
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- Scientists have known for a while that coral reefs around the world are
dying, and in a worst-case scenario they were counting on large, healthy-
looking corals to repopulate.
In some places - including two sites in the Florida Keys - the coral had
no eggs or sperm. The study suggests that with no ability to propogate,
elkhorn corals in those spots will eventually die out - like zombies, they
essentially are walking dead. Two samples from a more remote area in
St. Croix found the coral had 100 percent reproduction ability.
"Basically the places with the heaviest tourism had the most severe
damage," Fauth said. He dove and took samples from all of the Puerto
Rican sites in the study, along with marine biologists Michael Nemeth
and Katie Flynn.
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UV-filtering compound in sunscreen, is in high concentrations in the
waters around the more popular coral reefs in Hawaii and the Caribbean.
The chemical not only kills coral, it causes DNA damage in adult corral
and deforms the larval stage, making it unlikely they can develop
properly. The highest concentrations of oxybenzone were found in reefs
most popular with tourists. Fauth was a co-investigator of that 2015
study, which was published in the journal Archives of Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology.
Together, the two new studies show that coral reefs are in more danger
than already thought. Several species of coral are listed as threatened
under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
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"We have to act now," Fauth said. "It is simple things like not using
chemicals that harm our coral. Wear rash guards or go without sunscreen
during dives. And it is making a serious commitment to conservation and
management of our reefs. Coral reefs are the world's most productive
marine ecosystems and support commercial and recreational fisheries
and tourism. We want to do everything we can to ensure that the
underwater beauty we see today is around for generations to come."
Citation: 'Coral zombies' may spell doom for coral reefs around world (2016, June 21) retrieved
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