Study: Caribbean coral ailments likely stress related

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Mapping coral diseases is helping researchers determine the cause. Photo courtesy NOAA.

Ocean warming suspected as key factor in outbreaks

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Mapping the spread of coral diseases in the Caribbean, a pair of Florida researchers has concluded that the outbreaks are stress related — most likely due to increasing ocean temperatures.

Mapping provides clues about the origin of diseases and how rapidly diseases can spread. Health officials have been using similar studies to trace human diseases at least since a deadly cholera outbreak in London in 1854, explained Mote Marine Lab researcher Erinn Muller. (more…)

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Climate change triggered ancient reef shutdown

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

El Niño cycles seen as key factors in coral reef ecology. Photo courtesy NOAA.

Extreme El Niño cycles seen as cause of coral decline

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A period of dramatic El Niño-La Niña cycles that started about 4,000 years ago resulted in the near-total collapse of some Pacific coral reef ecosystems, according to a new study that took a close look at long-dead reef skeletons along the Pacific Coast of Panama.

The cross-sections of reef covered the last 6,000 years and showed a “reef shutdown” that lasted about 2,500 years, according to the study, published last week in Science. Similar gaps in coral growth were found as far away as Australia and Japan. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, climate and weather, coral reefs, El Niño, Environment, La Niña | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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