Science - Study Projects No Coral Growth In Great Barrier Reef By 2050, Replacement By Algae

[hatrack]

Scientists fear the already declining growth rate of the Great Barrier Reef's corals will stop completely by 2050, killing off the reef and making way for algae. A new report shows the most robust corals on the reef have slowed in growth by more than 14 per cent since the "tipping point" in 1990.

The paper, published in the international journal Science and written by scientists Dr Glenn De'ath, Dr Janice Lough and Dr Katharina Fabricius, shows evidence of a decline in the calcification rates in the Great Barrier Reef corals.

EDIT


Dr De'ath said according to the trends, coral would stop growing altogether by 2050 and be replaced by algae, to the detriment of biodiversity in the area. "The data suggest that this severe and sudden decline in calcification is unprecedented in at least 400 years," he said.

The situation would create a devastating chain reaction for species in the area, Dr De'ath said. "Algae will take over the area, small fish will lose their habitat, then the larger fish that eat the small fish will starve," he said.

EDIT

http://news.smh.com.au/national/barrier-reef-coral-growth-will-stop-20090102-78yo.html

[bananas]

1. "Dr De'ath" ?

A colleague of Dr Do'om?

[lutherj]

2. I had the same response. Doctors De'ath, Lough, and Fabricius?

I'm wondering if this article is hoax.

[seasat]

3. Checked Science's online site and the study and names are real.

I was curious too since it sounds like a lawyers named Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe joke. They have a paper in the current science journal. Talk about your name fitting your research, though.