THINGS TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT

by GENE MASCOLI

Gene's Columns Are Archived HERE

THINGS TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT

Coral Reefs, A Threatened Environment

As an avid snorkeler my travels have led me on many occasions to the beautiful coral reefs of Hawaii. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of putting on fins, a mask and a snorkel, there are few words to describe the alien world that exists a mere few feet below the surface of the warm, clear tropical waters. Coral reefs literally teem with life. Thousands of species of vertebrates and invertebrates make the living coral their home. And in Hawaii about 30% of the species are endemic. I lose myself in this world again and again, just observing, studying and taking great pleasure in the first glimpse of each fish that beforehand only existed for me on the pages of a book.

Corals are tiny plant-like animals that depend on clean, clear waters and sunlight to survive. Under these conditions, corals gradually build the coral skeleton that shapes the reef and transforms it into an elaborate structure that can live for thousands of years. The reef structure is home to thousands of fish, lobsters, sea turtles, and other species found no where else. U.S. coral reefs cover about 6,500 square miles, over 90 percent of them associated with U.S. islands in the western Pacific; the remainder located off Florida, Texas, and the U.S. islands in the Caribbean. 1

Each adventure snorkeling in the coral reefs makes a lasting impression. I remember watching a tiger moray eel, with its needle-sharp teeth, patiently gaping its mouth open and closed until an unsuspecting fish swam by and then, snap, the little fish was gone.

Surgeonfish, or tangs are one of the most numerous fishes around Maui and the big island of Hawaii. They carry a scalpel on either side of their tails so sharp it can cut open a careless finger. Dangerous, but oh so beautiful. I’ve been in schools of several thousand, an invigorating experience to say the least.

Floating back and forth with each wave I have also been taken with the yellow Trumpetfish. Very easy to see from the side, they are successful predators for head-on, they are nearly invisible. The float in schools almost at the water’s surface.

What makes this undersea world so unique is the coral itself. It provides the habitat and the environment that these vertebrates and invertebrates rely on to live. These animals inextricably co-exist with the living coral and the lime deposits the coral leaves behind. It is indeed a fragile ecosystem.

So it is with great concern that I report that the coral reefs are failing. Not just in Hawaii, but all around the world. As of the close of the year 2000, almost 27% of the world’s coral reefs have been effectively lost. The largest single cause appears to have been the massive climate-related coral bleaching which occurred in 1998, with about a 16% loss of the coral reefs in an amazingly brief nine month period. The bleaching is believed to have been caused by water temperature changes which were a result of the most severe El Nino and La Nina climate events of recent memory. So it’s not just humankind’s activities and neglect alone that is causing this disaster, but that doesn’t make it any less important to come to the aid of the coral reefs.

Recently U.S. Commerce Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, citing the alarming new findings about the world’s coral reefs, announced decisive new actions to counter the crisis, and urged the U.S. and its allies to continue to protect the world’s vital ocean resources. Mineta said, "We can no longer take our coral reefs for granted. We cannot continue to count on coral reefs to support billion dollar economies based on recreation and tourism while at the same time permitting unprecedented degradation of our reefs."

The findings are reported in Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000, a new report by Dr. Clive Wilkinson, Global Coordinator of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. The report indicates that, if current trends continue, 60 percent of the world’s coral reefs may be lost by 2030. This is unacceptable on all fronts.

What can we do?

First, take the time to learn about the coral reefs. Here are some places to start:

Coral Reef Ecosystems

Coral Reef Ecology

NOAA’s Coral Reef

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Unveils Groundbreaking Plan

NOAA’s Coral Kingdom — coral reef photos

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force

Second, support efforts to save the coral reefs through your elected representatives. Let them know it is important to you.

Third, stay informed. Want fast facts about coral reefs, visit ScienceMaster’s JumpStart page on Coral Reefs.

*Certain material and text contained in this article courtesy of the NOAA and USGS
** Images courtesy of NOAA Photo Library

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