William Atkins
Wednesday, 09 July 2008 02:15
Science -
Climate
Page 1 of 2
According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 50% of all coral reefs in U.S. waters are either in “poor” or “fair” condition. NOAA places the blame on their terrible condition on human beings, with one federal official calling humans the “most invasive species of all.”
The NOAA report, which was released on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at the Eleventh International Coral Reef Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is entitled “
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States.”
According to first paragraph of the NOAA article “
NOAA Report States Half of U.S. Coral Reefs In "Poor" or "Fair" Condition,” published on July 7, 2008,
“Nearly half of U.S. coral reef ecosystems are considered to be in "poor" or "fair" condition according to a new NOAA analysis of the health of coral reefs under U.S. jurisdiction.”
Over 270 scientists and managers studied fifteen federally administered shallow-water reef preserves in the Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean. The scientists graded the coral reef ecosystems on a five-tier scale: excellent, good, fair, poor, unknown.
Coral reefs are aragonite (made of carbonate-mineral) structures—living creatures made from the hardened shells of tiny polyps. They are found in shallow, tropical marine waters that contain only a small amount of nutrients within the waters.
Coral reefs cover only about 1% of the world's surface but play an large and important role in the health of oceans and marine life. For instance, they are used as nurseries for young fish, centers for a wide diversity of species, the support structures for many islands.
Although coral reefs are found both in temperate and tropical waters, they are formed only in a zone from the equator and extending 30 degrees north latitude to 30 degrees south latitude. Reef-forming corals do not grow at depths of over 100 feet (30 meters) and generally are not present at water temperatures below 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).
More important information about the health of coral reefs near the United States, as reported by the U.S. federal agency NOAA, are found on page two.
