Extreme Heat Puts Coral Reefs at Risk, Forecasts Say

[Faygo Kid]

Source: New York Times

This year’s extreme heat is putting the world’s coral reefs under such severe stress that scientists fear widespread die-offs, endangering not only the richest ecosystems in the ocean but also fisheries that feed millions of people.

From Thailand to Texas, corals are reacting to the heat stress by bleaching, or shedding their color and going into survival mode. Many have already died, and more are expected to do so in coming months. Computer forecasts of water temperature suggest that corals in the Caribbean may undergo drastic bleaching in the next few weeks.

What is unfolding this year is only the second known global bleaching of coral reefs. Scientists are holding out hope that this year will not be as bad, over all, as 1998, the hottest year in the historical record, when an estimated 16 percent of the world’s shallow-water reefs died. But in some places, including Thailand, the situation is looking worse than in 1998.

Scientists say the trouble with the reefs is linked to climate change. For years they have warned that corals, highly sensitive to excess heat, would serve as an early indicator of the ecological distress on the planet caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases. . .

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/earth/21coral.html?_r=1&hp

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In case anyone forgets, despite that great scientist Rush Limbaugh's skepticism notwithstanding, our planet is in grave danger.

[defendandprotect]

1. Thanks for the info -- capitalism is about exploitation of nature and until we STOP

capitalism we have no hope of rescuing nature --

Capitalism is a suicidal concept -- and they're taking us all with them!

[Faygo Kid]

2. Extreme Heat Puts Coral Reefs at Risk, Forecasts Say

Source: New York Times

This year’s extreme heat is putting the world’s coral reefs under such severe stress that scientists fear widespread die-offs, endangering not only the richest ecosystems in the ocean but also fisheries that feed millions of people.

From Thailand to Texas, corals are reacting to the heat stress by bleaching, or shedding their color and going into survival mode. Many have already died, and more are expected to do so in coming months. Computer forecasts of water temperature suggest that corals in the Caribbean may undergo drastic bleaching in the next few weeks.

What is unfolding this year is only the second known global bleaching of coral reefs. Scientists are holding out hope that this year will not be as bad, over all, as 1998, the hottest year in the historical record, when an estimated 16 percent of the world’s shallow-water reefs died. But in some places, including Thailand, the situation is looking worse than in 1998.

Scientists say the trouble with the reefs is linked to climate change. For years they have warned that corals, highly sensitive to excess heat, would serve as an early indicator of the ecological distress on the planet caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases. . .

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/earth/21coral.html?hp

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Despite the skepticism of that esteemed scientist, Rush Limbaugh, our planet is in grave danger.

[X_Digger]

3. The only thing that keeps this from being truly a disaster is that..

.. bleaching doesn't have to be permanent.

Zooxanthellae are the symbiotic organisms that live inside coral and give them much of their color. Zooxanthellae are protected by the coral polyps and in return produce food for the coral. The good news is that bleached corals can re-absorb zooxanthellae, if the stressor is of a short enough duration. While bleached, coral don't have the zooxanthellae as a food source and must catch what food they can through the water.

Each of these little flower-like structures is an individual animal, a single coral polyp:


At the center of each polyp is a mouth. Polyps can actually catch and eat small creatures, fish and other coral larvae, and small invertebrates.

[Patchuli]

4. #5 This needs to be K&R and READ!

I really cannot believe anyone can be so stupid as to not see this or maybe, evil as they don't care. In which case, how to get the climate-change deniers off the megaphones?

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I was just rec #3...

How sad is that?! :shrug: x(

[Nihil]

6. Now up to #4 again ...

... and, in answer to your question, "Very" ...

:-(

[Rhiannon12866]

16. Okay! It's up to #7!

And every :kick: helps! :fistbump:

[Patchuli]

18. Unrec'ers don't love ducks, and dolphins, and

people and fishes and they need to go play on the freeway...they are the trash that throw their trash out on on a pristine country road. I see it everyday.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. Maybe they don't understand the function

And think that they're casting a vote against the deterioration of the coral reefs. At first, I found it confusing, too... I can honestly think of no other reason. :(

[Nihil]

21. I think you are being too kind ...

Unrecs on a subject like this is simply down to disruption
of a subject that they do not want to gain visibility.

I don't even think that they are all trying to deny that global climate
change is happening or that they detest anything to do with nature;
many will be just those who prefer their "LBN" to be comprised of
"celebrity" events, political scandals and dead sports "stars".

:grr:

[Rhiannon12866]

24. I think you're right.

Though it doesn't make sense to me on a place like DU. The posts like you mention are those I tend to skip over, and when I recently expressed disinterest in a "celebrity event," I got two disapproving replies. *sigh* I blame the MSM. They tend to slip these celebrity-went-to-jail-got-divorced reports into their news coverage, and they lead with the latest political scandal, so people have come to think of this as news... :(

[Usrename]

7. Bullshit! I think this is total and complete bullshit!

This is one of the KNOWN effects of Corexit.

It's why Corexit is banned in other countries.

The Gulf Stream is warm fucking water, and has been forever.

These fucking fucks!

[NickB79]

8. This is a worldwide phenomenon

Mass coral bleachings have been occurring more frequently all around the planet, not just the Gulf. See: http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/aceh-coral-bleaching.aspx for one example.

"The Gulf Stream is warm fucking water, and has been forever."

No, the Gulf stream is now HOT fucking water, having been warm water previously. This is one of, if not THE, warmest year's in recorded history of the planet. In case you haven't noticed, we have a one-two punch of global warming and ocean acidification taking off as we speak.

Corexit may help make a bad situation worse, but the lion's share of the blame falls on global warming.

[onenote]

9. instead of telling you that you don't know what you're talking about, here is a link

http://www.globalcoral.org/2010%20GLOBAL%20CORAL%20BLEACHING%20ALERT.htm

Yes, the Gulf Stream is warm. But that doesn't mean that it has the infinite ability to get warmer. The organisms that live in the ocean, even in the warmer parts of the ocean, are adaptable only to a point. If that point is crossed, as appears to be happening, the ecosystem can crash.

[PVnRT]

22. Uhhhhhh.........what?

The coral reefs have been withering and bleaching for a decade or more, and in case you didn't know, there are large coral reefs far away from the Gulf of Mexico that are in trouble as well. Maybe the big, scary Corexit fairy is sprinkling it on them without anyone noticing.

[DCBob]

10. I saw this first hand in the Philippines just a few weeks ago..

They also have a serious problem with the "Crown of Thorns" starfish which devastates coral and is more active when waters are warmer.

[X_Digger]

11. re Crown of Thorns..

.. more CoT larvae are making it to adulthood because there is more plankton for them to feed on because of nitrate run-off.

[DCBob]

12. The locals were claiming it was due to warmer temps accelerating their activity..

Also, there isnt much pollution where I was. It's a very remote area called El Nido, Palawan and its mostly protected from development. But I have read about the connection to pollution but it doesnt seem to be the case in all areas.

[X_Digger]

13. True, true.. multiple factors at play.

Warmer temps also contribute to more plankton growth- both because warmer water is more soluble to co2, and because warm water upwellings provide food for all kinds of microorganisms.

[DCBob]

14. Yeah, that makes sense.. the situation is not good there and its an awful shame..

Its such a manificent beautiful place. But they arent giving up. They have teams of divers that go out every night and "harvest" the COT. They think they are making a difference. I hope so.

[X_Digger]

15. So does Australia..

.. I can't think of anything closer to my dream job- diving on the GBReef, harvesting starfish.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Faygo Kid.

[truthisfreedom]

19. Oh, don't worry, when the ice on Greenland slides into the ocean it will cool those reefs right off.

Help is on the way!

Now where is that sarcasm emoticon?

[Bragi]

23. Of course coral reefs are at risk

And, of course, there is zero chance that anything will be done about it.

Why? because we are a flawed species working hard for our own extinction.

The good news is that the planet will survive us.

Have a terrific day :)