Damaged coral reefs can recover in marine reserves, study finds
By Scott Learn, The Oregonian
January 11, 2010, 10:28AM
Dead coral in the Bahamas. Coral
reefs inside protected marine reserves in the Bahamas showed signs of
recovering from damage by bleaching and a hurricane while reefs outside
reserves -- and affected by fishing -- did not recover at all, a study
concludes.
The findings from the University of Exeter study, published today in the journal PLOS One, indicate that marine reserves and fishing restrictions could help coral reefs recover if global warming projections pan out, the researchers said.
Higher water temperatures from global warming could lead to "mass bleaching," with ocean acidification because of increased carbon dioxide also contributing to the problem. Scientists and environmentalists have warned that global warming may eliminate thriving coral reefs.
Coral reefs occupy less than one quarter of one percent of the Earth's marine environment yet are home to more than a quarter of all known fish species.
For the University of Exeter study, researchers surveyed 10 sites inside and outside marine reserves of the Bahamas spanning 2 1/2 years. The reefs have been severely damaged by bleaching and then by hurricane Frances in summer 2004.
At the beginning of the study, the reefs had an average of 7 percent coral cover. By the end of the project, coral cover in marine protected areas had increased by an average of 19 percent, while reefs in non-reserve sites showed no recovery.
The reserve allowed the number of parrotfishes to increase, and because parrotfish eat seaweed, the corals could grow freely without being swamped by weeds, Professor Peter Mumby of the University of Exeter said.
The research was funded by the National Environment Research Council and the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation.
-- Scott Learn
The findings from the University of Exeter study, published today in the journal PLOS One, indicate that marine reserves and fishing restrictions could help coral reefs recover if global warming projections pan out, the researchers said.
Higher water temperatures from global warming could lead to "mass bleaching," with ocean acidification because of increased carbon dioxide also contributing to the problem. Scientists and environmentalists have warned that global warming may eliminate thriving coral reefs.
Coral reefs occupy less than one quarter of one percent of the Earth's marine environment yet are home to more than a quarter of all known fish species.
For the University of Exeter study, researchers surveyed 10 sites inside and outside marine reserves of the Bahamas spanning 2 1/2 years. The reefs have been severely damaged by bleaching and then by hurricane Frances in summer 2004.
At the beginning of the study, the reefs had an average of 7 percent coral cover. By the end of the project, coral cover in marine protected areas had increased by an average of 19 percent, while reefs in non-reserve sites showed no recovery.
The reserve allowed the number of parrotfishes to increase, and because parrotfish eat seaweed, the corals could grow freely without being swamped by weeds, Professor Peter Mumby of the University of Exeter said.
The research was funded by the National Environment Research Council and the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation.
-- Scott Learn
