jbet777/marine biology

Endangered listing sought for 83 corals
By Associated Press
Oct 25, 2009

From the page: "Environmental activists are petitioning the federal government to put 83 coral species on the endangered species list.

They say global warming and ocean acidification are threatening the corals with extinction.

The Center for Biological Diversity said last week that the coral species in question are found in Hawaii, Florida and U.S. territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration must respond to the group's petition within 90 days and decide within a year whether listings are warranted.

Warm ocean temperatures can cause corals to expel algae they rely on for growth, resulting in what's called bleaching.

Bleaching episodes can kill coral if they occur often and last for long periods.

The center said ocean acidification is also hurting the ability of corals to build their protective skeletons, the center said in a news release.

"Coral reefs are among the world's most endangered ecosystems and provide an early warning of impacts to come from our thirsts for fossil fuels, said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director of the center."

Freed dolphin splashes out in gratitude
4:00AM Sunday Aug 23, 2009
By Anna Rushworth

From the page: "Dolphins are famed for helping humans in trouble at sea and now fishermen off Northland have returned the favour by freeing a dolphin caught in a fishing long-line.

The dolphin, feeble and facing death, approached their charter vessel for help.

When the crew freed him, he farewelled his human helpers with a lap around their boat, before being joined by another 100 clacking, leaping dolphins."

Carribean Reefs Face Severe Summer Threat
By Andrew C. Revkin
July 22, 2009, 5:03 pm

From the page: "Coral reefs in a broad swath of the Caribbean face a substantial risk of severe bleaching and die-offs through October, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said on Wednesday in its latest Coral Reef Watch report. "

Life at the Edge: Great Barrier Reef Could Be World's 1st Gobal Ecosystem to Collapse
July 21, 2009

From the page: "The Great Barrier Reef will be so degraded by warming waters that it will be unrecognizable within 20 years, according Charlie Veron, former chief scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, at a conference in London: "There is no way out, no loopholes. The Great Barrier Reef will be over within 20 years or so. They would be the world's first global ecosystem to collapse. I have the backing of every coral reef scientist, every research organization. I've spoken to them all. This is critical. This is reality."

From the page: "Spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, this extraordinary area holds the richest concentration of iridescent corals, fish, crustaceans, mollusks and marine plants in the world."
[...]
"For more than 20 years, WWF has been working on the frontlines to address the challenges in the Coral Triangle -- from research and community-based resource management, collaboration with governments and regional fishery management bodies on policy reform, to promoting best management practices for the private sector, and conducting awareness raising activities.

In 2007, the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI)--a new multilateral partnership to help safeguard the marine and coastal resources of the Coral Triangle for future generations--was launched. In 2008, WWF launched the WWF Coral Triangle Program to support the Coral Triangle Initiative and ensure the health of the region's natural treasures and the millions of livelihoods that depend on it."