Coral Reefs' Decline Actually Began Centuries Ago, New Research Shows

[Township75]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Global warming and pollution are among the modern-day threats commonly blamed for decline of coral reefs, but new research shows the downfall of those resplendent and diverse signatures of tropical oceans actually may have begun centuries ago.

According to a paper set to appear Friday (8/15) in the journal Science, the downward spiral started when people first began killing off reef-frequenting large fish, turtles, seals and other top predators or herbivores – a process that started thousands of years ago in some parts of the world and just a century or so ago in others.

"What really struck us was the universality of the decline trajectories," said Karen Bjorndal, one of 12 authors on the paper and zoology professor and director of the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research at the University of Florida. "It didn't matter if we were looking at the Red Sea, Australia or the Caribbean. As soon as human exploitation began, whether in the 1600s in Bermuda or tens of thousands of years ago in the Red Sea, the same scenarios were put into play."

the entire story is here
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/08/030818071208.htm

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

1. But the Cause is the Same - Humans

The decline may have started centuries ago, but it has accelerated
as a result of GW.

[Superbelt]

2. Don't forget the impact Coral Calcium supplements are having now.

This is one of the most evil things I have seen in a long time.

Calcium supplements made from mining the coral reefs and selling it as better than other calcium supplements when there is no correlation to that whatsoever. And some of the companies are taking it from one of the sickest and fragilest reefs on earth. The reef off Okinawa. This reef already suffers from degradation and is being choked out by algae. Adding human miners to the mix just makes matters worse. And they try to tell people on their bottles that the Okinawa reef is healthy.

Do a quick search on Coral Calcium and you will find some seller sites and many negative sites that expound on the dangers of this stuff.

And please, tell everyone you know how bad of a product Coral Calcium is.

[Superbelt]

3. two helpful links.

Some facts on coral mining:
http://www.coralreefalliance.org/professorpolyp/2003/may.html

This one is why coral calcium is actually BAD for you:
http://www.doctormurray.com/articles/CoralCalcium.htm