In graveyard of dead coral in Pacific, hope and life bloom

[Judi Lynn]

In graveyard of dead coral in Pacific, hope and life bloom

Friday, Nov 18, 2016 02:30 AM CST
Seth Borenstein, Associated Press





WASHINGTON (AP) — In a ghost town of dead coral off a remote Pacific island, scientists have found a bit more life.

In excursions a year ago and then last April, scientists examined the normally stunning coral reefs around the island of Kiritimati and pronounced it mostly a boneyard of dead coral. About 85 percent of the coral was dead, 10 percent was sick and bleached but still technically alive, and only 5 percent was doing OK.

The same scientists returned this month and found that 6 to 7 percent of the coral is alive and not bleached, said University of Victoria coral reef scientist Julia Baum, speaking by Skype from the island.

“We left with a sense of dread and came back with a renewed purpose because there are some corals that literally came back from the brink,” said Georgia Tech climate scientist Kim Cobb, who returned from the expedition earlier. “It’s the best we could have hoped for.”

More:
http://www.salon.com/2016/11/18/in-graveyard-of-dead-coral-in-pacific-hope-and-life-bloom/

[kysrsoze]

1. Wow, that is potentially great news. Mother Nature has a way of adapting.

We're going to need a lot of adaptation over the next few decades. These are risky times, considering how much we're poisoning this world.