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Subscribe to RSSCoral reefs aren't just pretty, they're also vital to marine species and island communities. But they're also facing threats from warming seas. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.
More than half of 82 species of coral being evaluated for inclusion under the Endangered Species Act "more likely than not" would go extinct by 2100 if climate policies and technologies remain the same, federal scientists concluded.
The experts cited "anthropogenic," or manmade, releases of carbon dioxide as a key driver of warming seas and oceans absorbing more CO2, in turn making waters more acidic.
"The combined direct and indirect effects of rising temperature, including increased incidence of disease and ocean acidification, both resulting primarily from anthropogenic increases in atmospheric CO2, are likely to represent the greatest risks of extinction to all or most of the candidate coral species over the next century," the experts concluded in a report released Friday by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The report was part of a process to determine which species, if any, merit protection. The Center for Biological Diversity in 2009 had petitioned for the review of 82 species it considered in jeopardy.
Of the 82 species, all of which are in U.S. waters, 46 are "more likely than not" to face extinction by 2100, while 10 are "likely," the report stated.
The authors did note that the limited science of corals meant that "the overall uncertainty was high."
The fisheries service will next seek public comment as it considers the petition for listing.
The Center for Biological Diversity, which in 2006 petitioned and got protection for staghorn and elkhorn corals, said conditions have only worsened for corals.
"Coral reefs are home to 25 percent of marine life and play a vital function in ocean ecosystems," the center said in a statement. "Since the 1990s, coral growth has grown sluggish in some areas due to ocean acidification, and mass bleaching events are increasingly frequent."
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The sad thing it sounds like chicken little to me...if it's going to happen, it's going to happen....
BlkHrt
That sounds like head in the sand to me.
Coral damage linked to Deepwater Horizon spill - CNN.com
Report: Oil spill culprit for heavy toll on coral
Mystery of diseased coral solved: Human feces to blame
Coral Reef Protection: What Are Coral Reefs? | Habitat ...
NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program
CORAL REEF DESTRUCTION AND CONSERVATION - Coral Reefs - Ocean ...
Mangrove And Coral Destruction | Coastal Care
Destruction of Philippines Coral Reefs-Only 5% Remain - Coral ...
Just a note coral are natural weather buffers. So when not functioning properly more inland damage and costs. hold carbon . and provide water filters, and fish habitat.
Tao
Well done. Unfortunately I fear that there is to much thinking and research involved for the deniers to handle.
Wally
You are correct. Bad farming practices were the cause of the dust bowl. Never the less, man did change the environmental conditions. Now consider how many more people we have today and how much more industrialized the world is and how many more chemicals we have to effect the environment. Just saying, man did effect the environment once with nothing more than a plow and ignorance.
Other Headlines: 56 new species of coral have been discovered thriving in an area where coral has not been know to live.
Cute! We need a little levity to lighten the mood.
And maybe one of those could be the new miracle medication ingredient. We still have a lot to discover.
There is no such thing as "Global Warming", Sarah Palin, George W. Bush II, and the GOP tells me so. If they say that, it must be true, just as their claims that more tax cuts for the job creators will create more jobs, more deregulation will create a more favorable business environment, massive spending cuts now will balance the budget, and spur our economy on, as cuts in entitlements, medicaid, medicare, safty nets for those unemployed as a result of the economic meltdown, will all have to be cut to help balance the budget, and obviously, the middle class and others will have to pay a little more to help out, and do their share. Oh, by the way, the budget won't be balanced until sometime after 2030.
Are you on board with all of the above? I can hardly wait to see how this works out in November.
ATC
You missed weapons of mass distuction.
99% of all marine species that ever existed are now extinct. Started about 540 million years ago. So everything you see now are off shoots of the remaining 1%. What's left will do a great job of filling in the gaps over time.
So do you plan on living to be 5,000,000 years old to see this?
And, did ANY of those 99% die off due to the neglect, greed and ignorance of ONE species!!??? Didn't think so.
The climate could change every day and the deniers would still deny, oh wait, it does change every day.
You are correct Bill, and it also changes over time. What you haven't proved yet is a scientific truth to a life ending runaway global warming which is what you seem to be implying. And you still have not provided verifiable scientific proof that higher CO2 levels automatically create atmospheric warming. Where are the studies, papers, links. All we have now are the caustic comments of warming worriers.
Correlation does not imply causality
Weather is what is going on outside your window right now. Climate is what goes on in an environment over a period of 30 or more years, so climate does not change daily.
Look at the planet Venus, Wally. That's what happens when CO2 and the greenhouse effect goes mad. It's due to planet wide vulcanism, but the point is CO2 does in FACT cause warming. This isn't going to happen to Earth, not to that extreme anyway, but with the BILLIONS of tonnes of CO2 we're pumping into the environment it isn't helping our situation.
i can't believe they pay people to write this crap.
Are you speaking of the article itself or the study that was conducted??
I accept the science of humans changing the atmospheric chemical composition through globalized industrialization. Much to my frustration and concern for future generations, the political reality is that there are so many ignorant Americans (some by choice, some by circumstance) it will take many years of violent spring weather, unusually hot summers, drought, and increasingly acidic oceans before today's ignorant are dead and more informed voters decide to take action. The problem is that so much more pollution will have been added to the atmosphere by then that the train of climate change will have already left the station. What I don't understand is that we buy insurance for our lives, homes, autos, and other valuables but we don't place a value on our planet by paying for insurance just in case the science is correct.
For those of us who don’t like to be ignorant about the science of altering the atmosphere's chemistry, I suggest the following books with a brief quote from each:
I make these suggestions to help frame the science behind the issues associated with human-caused changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere. Many people seem ignorant of the science behind climate analysis and content to put their heads deeply into the sand. The defining characteristic of humanity, complex intelligence, is enhanced by a broad liberal education. Thomas Jefferson had this to say about higher education including science: “the university [of Virginia] would be ‘now qualified to raise its youth to an order of science unequalled in any other state; and this superiority will be greater from the free range of mind encouraged there, and the restraint imposed at other seminaries by the shackles of a domineering hierarchy and a bigoted adhesion to ancient habits.’” [from Thomas Jefferson, Willard Sterne Randall, 1993, page 588]
So you have identified a supposed problem Mike. Where realistic remedies do you propose...other than writing misleading crap on message boards.
Mike-
What human caused elements caused "the droughts of the Medieval Warm Period" or"five centuries of sudden aridity wrought havoc on human societies already living close to the environmental edge"? (quotes from your above quotes)
Wally, I've read you asking many if they have an answer to the climate event we are currently witnessing. So, I'll ask you the same, since you haven't stated much other than rhetoric for the most part. How do we currect the actions we have done over the last 200 years??
It is hard for people in modern times to understand that we are all very much connected to the planet. Our health and energy are sure to suffer as we damage the environment. The damage we do now will one day affect the lives of our descendants. I know that it is impossible for most people to consider another persons well being , especially a person who has not even been born. Thankfully there is a movement growing and gaining momentum to counteract all of the evil things being done in the name of greed. I doubt it will avert the impending resource wars which have already begun but at least mankind has mounted a resistance. Spend time focusing on the positive and making changes in your personal life and things will get better.
The world and climates cycle are going through a slow change as it has done for millions of years.Living in fear and demanding from our government require changes that will only harm our way of life is not the answer.You can call everyone who disagrees with you point of view,names,the way liberal alway do, but doesn't change the fact that the earth is a very large ecosystem that will repair itself and/or make changes whether or we do anything or not.To live your lifr in fear irrational and dangerous!You, as liberals always demand that government handle all your problem rather you taking care of yuor own welfare and I do mean welfare!I've read most of the comments and one thing is for certain,you,the so called believers in earth warming,have all read form the same page,the one that was given to you this morning or late last night.Another attempt by big unions and the uber left leaning dimocrap party to divide along a line that assures the reelction of Berrie in November! tomorrow,it will be something else and day after another divisive story by PMSNBC who acts as funnel for the dimocraps! Believe as you wish but don't call me stupid when I have a larger phalanx of scientist who say my point of view is the correct point of view.
BURY BERRIE-2012 and keep whatever freedom you still have!
Uuumm, Maso, how is clean living, taking care of our environment and searching for a replacement for our dependence on oil going to "harm our way of life" exactly?? By making people responsible for their actions? Forcing people not to be wasteful? Putting a limit on the number of kids a couple can have? Big deal! We are talking about OUR future, NOT the future of a few but humanity as a whole! If it takes these things or a few others so what?? And, don't give me that 'it's our freedom at jeopardy or god given right' or some other line of BS. We're NOT talking about or even suggesting anything resembling a communist or full blown socialist society. We're talking about being responsible stewards of the one and only planet we have!! Period.
I, for one, am not waiting on the government to solve the problems we are facing. We can ALL do our part to help out! For example; recycle, keep your vehicle in top running shape as possible, turn off all lights or equipment not being used, don't run the AC/heater unless needed, etc, etc. These are but just a few examples and NOT hard things but rather common sense that if more people would do it would help all of us!
BTW, what in the world do unions have to do with climate change??? And, who exactly is this "large phalanx" of "scientists" that agree with YOUR point of view. I was under the impression scientists dealt with facts and data and NOT "points of view" or popular opinion??
It seems like every week there is bad news about the environment and climate change. I am seventy rwo and a certified diver for over 50 years I have hunted in twenty states and Canada. I raised trout and small mouth bass in state certified ponds. I live out of the US most of the year fishing and of course diving. So here is what I think of the so called experts who claim that there is no problem and it is all made up. You are not only @!$%#s but dangerous @!$%#s. If you do not have any experience out in the real environment, shut the hell up and go get some. Get up off your asses and look for yourself because it is your environment not just theirs.
Give 'em hell, So. John!!! I agree all the way with you!!! LOL!
Things die off,it's the way it is.Global warming does not happen,the earth changes all the time...guess what Libs..not a thing you can do about it.I'll take a good life anyday of the week.Well,you do not care about the woorrlldd?We have our act in order,get rid of Commies and Libs and all will be eventually right in the world.Enjoy your fuming and nashing of teeth...:o)
Ditto Head,We all know the climate is cyclical but your comrade in ignorance will not admit man is accelerating global warming. For some reason, I can't understand how the Party of No,The Hooter's Fox Network and their lemmings,you included, don't understand that simple,empirical fact..
Because it is not a simple, scientific, empirical fact. Many random observations over time seem to imply causation, but true scientific methods have not been employed.
Wally, with all due respect, you are not qualified to say whether or not "true scientific methods" have been employed.
Of the people who ARE qualified to make that determination, virtually all of them agree that the scientific evidence for AGW is overwhelming. 98% of the experts who have actually studied climate science for decades agree. EVERY national academy of sciences in the world agrees. In fact, every scientific organization in the world except one agrees, and the lone holdout, the American Society of Petroleum Engineers, is simply agnostic and says we need more data to be sure.
And, to add to what, JimCA, has already mentioned, those determinations do NOT come from only one scientific field of study but MANY!! They come from climatology, geology, paleontology, biology, anthropology, and several others!! So, Wally, unless YOU have facts and figures to back up your 'statement' I'd suggest you do some research of your own.
Hey Kornfed, need a little truth for just a minute... you seem to be fairly smart... are you being flip just to be flip, or do you seriously NOT believe there's something to the CO2 thing?
The reason I ask is that this is getting too serious to be flip and anyone still in denial is either incredibly stupid or is bought and paid for... which is it? Curious minds would like to know.
Actually, that question applies to several of you posting here... any answers?
I am neither stupid nor bought and paid for, I simply have not seen enough real evidence that the sky is falling, and the globe is warming much. I certainly do not think that random WEATHER events are indicators of any changes going on, or that storms are any more frequent than in years past. Why can you provide facts and evidence of calling people name. And if all you say is true, what are the remedies.
Perhaps a google for "acidic oceans" would give people a clue. Open eyes are necessary to see and nearly all scientists agree. I see no reason to believe that 3-5% instead of the 95-97%.
Wally, exactly what and how much evidence would it take for you to believe what is happening to our world?? I've seen you ask several others what would be their "remedies" but have yet to read what YOU have as a "remedy". Or, do you think their is no cause for any sort of solution and we should just continue as business as usual??
Environmental wackos=PETA wackos=uber liberal wackos=communist wackos=lost of freedoms and out current way of life!BURY BERRIE-2012!!!
Hey, calm down, mas, nobody is going to make you start wearing shoes or underwear.
You must have an ulcer the size of a football by now. It'll probably burst when Obama wins re-election. ;-)
Liverpool...Ditto Head,We all know the climate is cyclical but your comrade in ignorance will not admit man is accelerating global warming. For some reason, I can't understand how the Party of No,The Hooter's Fox Network and their lemmings,you included, don't understand that simple,empirical fact..
China just had a stand off with the Philippines over the Spartly shoal area . It was all about illegal harvesting of coral and endangered species . China's boat went back to China with their holds full of coral . When is the world going to wake up and see what China is about .
What do suggest we do,bomb them like we did in Libya!You think that would work.How about not buying their products,you think that would work.They would just sell them elsewhere.What else could we do!? Nothing! They have the second largest economy in the world,soon to be the largest, thanks mainly to those of you on the left.It takes 25 years to get a permit from the federal government to built a nuclear power plant which is the cleanest possible energy source!In China, it may take a years.Currently,China has 60+ nuclear power plants under constuction .We have one.We can't even built a solar plant in this country without environmentalist complaining aout something.They just contructed the second largest solar field in the world,east of San Diego.After 20 years of study and relocation and caring for 6 different species of animals and birds,you envirnmentalist have stopped the transmission of the power generated claiming the power transmission stations are dangerous to humans.The largest solar plant in the world, in Washington, just had stut down because they found one of the relocated rats that live near that project dead! Yes,an animal died and now there has to be a study to see if the solar plant was responsible for the death of this animal.Guess who sued for that,your right,you envirmentalist.Hell there hasn't been a NEW refinery built in Mexifornia in over 50 years. We are down to three in the entire state.Mexifornia has an abundance of oil just off shore.You think we would drill for it! No the limosuine liberals in Malibu and Santa Barbara(Ophra) has stopped all drilling in the Pacific Ocean.I guess it ok to see oil derricks off the coasts of LA,Mississippi and other Southern states but not in their viewing area.The problem is not power and how to get it,it problems with you idiots to get it!Whenever some of you grow up and learn to read thing might change but I seriously doubt it! You only know what your left wing teachers and professors taught you and that isn't going to change!
my undersrtanding is that China and India polute so much more than the U.S. that if we stopped all polution it wouldn't make 1% difference in what is going on in the world now. I may be conservative of that but I doubt much difference. We can't control what the rest of the world does and we certainly cannot afford or have the abiltity to clean up the entire world.
The liberals think we can control the world and everything and everyone on it, if we just spend enough money.
It would make a far larger impact than 1%.
And it would give us the moral advantage to press others to act. Right now, they point their fingers at us and say they won't act until we do.
Wow! Another science article that gives conservatives the opportunity to display their profound ignorance by posting assinine comments. As usual, they do not disappoint.
Excellent critique of the ignorance of the anti global Ditto Heads.....Remember the winter of 2010/2011 when the Heads said the extremely cold winter proves climate change is bull..This winter 7000 cities reported record heat.....But those in the know, differentiate the difference between climate change and weather.
Zorro,which blade are the manly or gay blade!I'd bet you like the blade up your butt!
mas098, please go away. You are obviously stupid, ignorant, and perverted. (Not to mention unable to compose a post that isn't riddled with grammatical and spelling errors.)
It is obvious that yopu nhave nothing to add to this discusion.
Hey mas, if you want gay sex with strange men you pick up online, try Craigslist. I hear they cater to perverts like you.
Nice post,big boy! Now check the wiring and tin foil in your cap,take your meds and a nappy!I'll watch out for the Armadrillians while you sleep!
Maso, me no meen to but u not smart enuff to argoo wit a box uv rox!!
The arguement is more about globalist versus non globalist.The Globalist have a belief of a eutopian world where one government controls everything and provide for the welfare of the group as a whole.The non globalist believe, we as individualist, should control our own destiny not some over bloated beauracracy where nothing gets done for all the people.The globalist are really nothing but socialist and communist.The difference is one is pregnant with the other.Socialism has been tried by any number of societies and countries over time.The failures of socialism can be seen in the destroyed economies of Egypt,Argentina,Greece,the Uk,Ireland,Spain,Portugal,Italy,Russia,East Germany,the Chech republics and any number of other countries too long to mentionThey have failed.Socialism doesn't work! It a bottom feeding form of rule that takes everything the working class makes and reditributes it to the worthless,less industrialist poplulace!What happens in the end is a very small percentage of people are left to pay for everyone else and they rebel .Not violent but like in Greece,they find ways to quit paying for everyone who doesn't.The end result is a bankrupt economy and system of governing.You can't make somebody work tto pay for those who like to stay home and wait to get their monthly government stipend! Our country is no different.Today,it's the environment but never does PMSNBC funnel a story about the economy,the current and biggest problem in the US today.They wont ask what policies of the current administration has lead to these economic problems in America.No,they just keep funneling worthless stories about the environment,Gays/lesbians,black and white disagreement just to keep the dimocrap base happy and facing away from the real issues of today!
Boy, are YOU gonna be pissed when Obama wins re-election! ;-)
Great post mas098. 15 lines of mindless drivel. Saving coral from extinction is a plot to divert people from the "globalists" who want to impose socialism. Yeah, right. Go take your meds.
Read my latest,it about you environmentalist.Why not answer me rather than attacking me personally!You can't because everything I put forth is true!We could have all the electrical power we would need in America thus reducing out independence on petrolium products if we could only use nuclear power! It's going to happen because of fools like you!If we talked about the economy,you would be lost! You sit at your mommys house spewing out your long ago disclaimed theories of global warming just so you don't have to face reality! No job for you except this job of making and relying to comments on the internet!Some job! You are right,i'm not the beat typist but my brain still works.I'd be happy to put my educational experiences and degrees against your, anytime you would like!
Ah, mas, mas, mas... I bet your face is a dark shade of purple right about now.
Speaking of personal attacks, you still haven't found that gay blade you were looking for earlier, huh?
Zorro! You only have your point of view because you are paid to have your point of view!I'm not paid! I do out of love for my country!I don't think i'll be very sad come November! Not in the least! The Economy,Stupid,the Economy(Bill Clinton)!BURY BERRIE,2012! VOTE For your Country not agianst it!
Yes, mas098, you "do out of love for my country!" Well, you certainly convinced me. Let's all go out and help destroy the rest of the world's coral reefs for America! Because America needs fewer corals to be great and prosperous.
It's not ALL of the worlds' coral reef,it represents a very small percentage! There is no way to correctly ascertain the causes except speculation from left wingnut who wish to use it as a taking point!If the coral dies in one spot it will be back in another! Don't worry,your coral will be fine! Not that you ever see any of it! I've also dived for decades and have seen some of the most beautiful,vast areas of coral in the world,Egypt,Mexico,The Caribbian,Hawaii,the Solomans,Australia and other earthly spots and i'm not worried.The world will be fine besides you will not live to see any long term damage,igf any occurs! So why worry!I know,you are such a humanitarian and just want to keep something alive for your children! I wouldn't worry about the latter unless you plan to adopt!
Reefs Dying in the Egyptian Red Sea | Save Our Seas Foundation
Dead Coral Found Near Site of Gulf Oil Spill - NYTimes.com
Gulf Oil Spill: Coral Death 'Definitively' Linked To BP Spill
Warming, Disease Causing Major Caribbean Reef Die-Off
Trying to Save the Coral Reefs - TIME
Hawaii Coral Reef Strategies
Coral Reefs In The Philippines "Slowly Dying" | Ecology and ...
NOAA 200th: Why Are Coral Reefs So Important?
Pacific coral reefs dying faster than expected
Dying Coral Reefs | PBS NewsHour | Feb. 1, 2005 | PBS
Kuwait's coral is dying as sea warms up - The National
Indonesia’s Coral Reefs Dying Faster Than Expected « Reef ...
Coral Reef Protection: What Are Coral Reefs? | Habitat Protection ...
NOAA CoRIS - Hazards to Coral Reefs - NOAA Coral Reef Information ...
Nonsense.
The primary argument is whether we will act on clear scientific evidence or not. Only after we agree to face reality does the question of HOW we will do so arise.
But the stuff looks sooooooo good on my driveway all crushed up!
You really mean,your Mommys' drive ,don't you!Your mommy told me to tell that din-din was at 6 pm,don't be late!
jesus, mas, you get more retarded with every comment you make.
And spare me that "personal attack" crap. You attack everyone who doesn't agree with your insane rants, you god damned hypocrite! ;-).
And don't be ashamed to keep commenting, either! You're funny, like a monkey in the zoo, smearing poop all over himself so people will pat attention to him. We just don't have to pay admission to watch you.
No,No! Remember the rules,no profanity!I know your gods are Marx,Lenin,Satlin,Mao,HoChiMin,PolPot and all the other socialist depots in recent history! I bet you admire China,a communist country proving socialism or communism really can Work! The honnymoon isn't over yet.Wait,just wait! Your mommy just called me and asked me to tell you that if you are not out in 30 days,she going to sell the house and move!
Like I said before:
You're on your way to setting a new record.
Not only retarded, but illiterate, too. I bet your littermates are soooooo proud!
Mas, just to let you know I've clicked the 'no value' button on MANY of your posts MANY, MANY times in hopes you disappear.
.
Now THAT was the most intelligent thing you've ever said.
You would know as a paid operative!
Awwwww, you said something intelligent, then you opened your mouth and spoiled it.
mas098, please do me a favor and go look in the mirror and face the fact that the person looking back is just another run-of-the-mill, dime-a-dozen far right ignorant kook. And I refuse to waste even another five seconds of my time responding to you. So you can have the last word, or five hundred words if you decide to post another of your endless, imbecilic rants.
I will, thank you! You better hope OWS comes back soon so you willl have a place to go to.I know you don't work and your social interactions are limited to the net! Let me guess you are one of those OMMH boys,aren't you! (OccupyMyMommysHouse)
So, ever wonder how many corals went extinct before we had global warming or oil spills to blame it on? I'm just sayin, just look at the fossils of all the extinct floura and fauna we have discovered dating back to the dawn of time. These things were gone long before we had a bunch of green whiners telling us that the sky is falling and it's our fault.
Exactly! This and most on PMSNBC, is about keeping the light of the big cockroach in the room,the economy!Ever notice that there is never an article, on PMSNBS, on how badly the economy is doing ! No, but they can run a story a day on the poor downtroadden,abused gay/lebanese community! It's all fake,just like this thread used to deflect the real problems of America and to keep everyone's attention away from them!
Some corals went extinct zilllions of years ago, therefore it's OK if we destroy all the coral reefs that exist today. Brilliant. Did think that up all by yourself, or did you have help? And yes, coral reefs are being destoyed because of what some humans are doing. How do we know? Because scientists (AKA "green whiners") tell us so. That's what scientists do. They figure things out.
Zorro,I proclaiming you the brightest person on earth! Tell me,why are you so worried about coral when 14% of the workers in Ameirca don't have jobs! Is that related to coral! You shuold be using your paid time explaining that rather regurgetating facts from Wikipedia!Why has Berrie failed to provide jobs or doing anything about the coral! If coral is being driven to extinction,isnt it Berries' fault! He should be acting on your concerns!
Maso, if you're so freaking concerned about the economy how about this. GO TO THE ECONOMY SECTION OR FINANCIAL SECTION AND COMPLAIN TO THOSE PEOPLE!!