The cause of coral reefs dying

Forums: Cuba, Nitrogen, Coral, Coral Reefs, Coral Reef
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In the Jan 22 Science Friday podcast it was said that the coral reefs in Cuba are very healthy. The difference between Cuba and the other Caribbean islands is that Cuba practices sustainable agriculture, so they do not put nitrogen fertilizer in the ocean.
My question is, does this mean that everything we have heard about coral death being caused by warming ocean temperatures is false?

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@Dan Marshall,

Probably not. Different causes can produce similar results, like death.

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@Dan Marshall,

Here ya go:

Quote:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 2007 report: “There is high confidence, based on substantial new evidence, that observed changes in marine and freshwater biological systems are associated with rising water temperatures, as well as related changes in ice cover, salinity, oxygen levels and circulation” (Bernstein et al. 2007). These changes are a result of climate change and they are affecting marine organisms in a negative way. However, the report follows this statement with: “While there is increasing evidence of climate change impacts on coral reefs, separating the impacts of climate-related stresses from other stresses (e.g., over- fishing and pollution) is difficult” (Bernstein et al. 2007). This last sentence was added because even though changes to coral reef health appear to largely be a result of climate change, there are additional variables that may affect their health, and need to be studied further. This does not eliminate climate change as the main cause of the problems with coral reef health, it merely states that there are other factors, as well.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/expeditions/2013/06/05/the-effects-of-climate-change-on-coral-reef-health/

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@hawkeye10,

Lots of ways to die.

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@roger,

roger wrote:

Lots of ways to die.

I dont scuba, so I am at a loss for why I am supposed to care if the coral die. Do you know? Fish, lobster, oysters...those I care about. Very tasty.

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@hawkeye10,

From WWF.....

"Tropical coral reefs are very productive ecosystems. Not only do they support enormous biodiversity, they are also of immense value to humankind.
Latest estimates suggest coral reefs provide close to US$30 billion each year in goods and services, including:
Fisheries: Coral reefs are vital to the world’s fisheries. They form the nurseries for about a quarter of the ocean's fish, and thus provide revenue for local communities as well as national and international fishing fleets. An estimated one billion people have some dependence on coral reefs for food and income from fishing. If properly managed, reefs can yield around 15 tonnes of fish and other seafood per square kilometre each year.

More:
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_reefs/coral_importance/

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@Lordyaswas,

So what are you saying, if the little fishys did not have coral to play in they would refuse to exist?? Do you have any science on that? If this is not the assertion being made then all this yak about fish is a lie, not that I would expect the WWF to be truthful mind you.

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@hawkeye10,

My boy is currently doing his Doctorate in this very thing.

He uses words that are much too big for me to understand, but I certainly get the message that Coral is vital to ecosyatems within the oceans, and they are in great peril as we speak.

In his lifetime, coral could be wiped out, and all your little fishies would have a very hard time of it as a c8nsequence.

I tend towards believing him rather than most other people.

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@Lordyaswas,

I already told my kids that by the time they reach old age the only seafood will be farmed, saving the ocean fish is a lost cause so those efforts hold no interest to me. The only thing that could stop it is a global governmeent. I dont expect global government till the terrorists set off a series of nukes.

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@hawkeye10,

hawkeye10 wrote:

I already told my kids that by the time they reach old age the only seafood will be farmed, saving the ocean fish is a lost cause

That is truly sad. Maybe we should welcome the advent of intelligent silicon-based life, since carbon-based life seems to be dying out. Robots don't have the emotional attachment to other living things that we have. Maybe if the environment is going to be devoid of the other creatures we've always known and taken for granted, then it's for the best if robots, and not we, occupy that environment.

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The cause of coral reefs dying

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