Finally some good news in the News Media

[Spanky]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp.../coral_reefs_1

Maybe the media has realized that they can still make money on something besides doom and gloom.

[reiple]

It is good news. Add to that several revived reefs in the Pacifc, things are looking bright. But....

What? No mention of damaged reef due to bomb testing in the Bikini Atoll?

hmmmmm.....

Not to margenalize effects of bad fishing methods (cyanide, dynamite), pollution by beaches and people, spores from farm lands and etc....What happened to the islands and the surrounding reefs in the pacific tested for nuclear bombs? Are they ok now?

[Junkzoo]

And probably no thanks to that fish counting Conch-transplant Jerel!

[thefatman]

that is good news

i got a chuckle out of this:

The healthy reefs likely benefited from favorable water quality, and isolation from land and people.


Areas of damaged reefs were scattered across the Caribbean — near populated areas and in remote areas, according to the study.

it took a 3 year study to figure that out ?

[Spanky]

But Jay, first we have to generate income.

[Alice]

How much of the recovery of the reefs is due to the rise in urchin population? Are they found in the deeper water areas this article discusses?

As far as the Bikini Atoll area in the Pacific, I don't know about the reefs but the islands at least are still too hot for their people to return, last I heard anyway.

[FishDaddy]

That's great, Jerel. Any signs of recovering reefs is good news.
Dick

[Spanky]

Alice, not all the urchin populations were decimated and some that were made a almost immediate recovery. So yes, a very little is due to the urchins - in some places. Most is due to El Nino events, climate, Saharan dust, etc. Urchins have more to do with settlement.
20-65 ft is really not that deep. Keep in mind 20-65ft encompasses a big range. When you consider that almost all our "reefs" are in the 15-40ft range here, that's a lot of reefs.

Predictably the reefs that are in the most trouble are the ones associated with DSB's.

[Reefdude5]

Jay, that's really funny! Jerel, what about the Crown of thorns starfish?

[dgasmd]

Predictably the reefs that are in the most trouble are the ones associated with DSB's.

Now, that was funny chit

[reiple]

Alice:thats terrible. Then it is safe to say the reefs there are still dead.

Seems snug and easy to joke about it but for countries where reefs are a lifeblood it is serious business.

People in coastal villages here are being taught that it is their responsibility to protect and nurture reefs as these have a relationship with their livelihood (fishing). Now many coastal villages protect and take care of mangroves, seagrass beds, reefs and beaches. In return the sea gave back produce. Over a decade ago some fishing villages notice the dwindling catch. Around 5-10 years ago instead of ignoring mangroves, reefs, sea grass beds and beaches they started nurturing these. The fish DID return.

Scientist were rebuilding reefs with old vehicles, boats and even big rubber tires. Yes they were successful even in re-populating clams in areas where these have vanished.

Marine biologist here deal with reef saving and building. Hobbyist on the otherhand deal with artifical reef aquariums.

(and the Caribbean reefs are now dying from bacterial spores carried by the wind from african farmlands. this was identified this year by the national geo.)

It is dreadful to think that someday those troubled artifical reefs using DSB or otherwise might be the only thing remaining in the western hemisphere.

[Spanky]

No it was identified over ten years ago by NOAA not National Geo. Our reefs have been in a state of recovery for the past decade.

[Reefdude5]

So are they in decline or recovery? I thought it was recovery?

[reiple]

I stand corrected. I based the Caribbean report from a cable feature in National Geographic last July. I am mistaken.

The last report I got from efforts in forida reefs were failures by marine biologists to spur reef growth using rubber tires. The tires floated all over and the reef never picked up.

Some of the best (and precious) reefing sites, Hawaii and Australia made great progress. Even the coral bleaching in the GBR halted. Great news for everyone.

[Spanky]

There's a few minor points that people need to understand about "coral reefs".

Temp - when hard corals developed, the mean temps were lower. Now they are trying to operate at their max temps and are always on the verge of stressed.

Diversity - Reef building corals used to dominate - boulder, encrusting, etc types. As temps have increased the weeds types - acros, porites, etc - have taken over and overgrown the slower building types.