Working to save the world’s coral reefs
AUG 11, 2011
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.025505
Science : To better manage the world’s coral reefs—many of which are suffering because of overfishing of algae-eating fish, pollution, and temperature spikes—ecologists have performed a global assessment of the most susceptible ones. They believe that by focusing on the reefs that have the best chance of surviving, and ignoring the ones that are likely to die anyway, reef managers can be more effective. Ways to help restore coral reefs include restricting fishing and reducing pollutants in the water that then runs off land near reefs. More than 100 million people depend on coral reefs for food and many more rely on reefs as buffers against high waves. Yesterday the team published its findings in PLoS ONE.
© 2011 American Institute of Physics
