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Posted On: November 13th 2007
Posted By: Adam Coozer
Source: Science Daily |
This is serious.
Marine Catastrophe? Soft Corals Melting Away Due To Global Warming, Says Researcher
ScienceDaily (Nov. 13, 2007) — Tel Aviv University Professor (and alumnus) Hudi Benayahu, head of TAU's Porter School of Environmental Studies, has found that soft corals, an integral and important part of reef environments, are simply melting and wasting away. And Prof. Benayahu believes this could mean a global marine catastrophe.
Environmental stress, says Benayahu, is damaging the symbiotic relationship between soft corals and the microscopic symbiotic algae living in their tissues. There is no doubt that global warming is to blame, warns the marine biologist, explaining that this symbiotic relationship is key for the survival of most soft corals.
Soft corals help maintain the health and balance of reef ecosystems and provide protection to numerous animals such as "Nemo", the famous clown fish from the Walt Disney movie. They are also a rich and promising source of life-saving drugs against cancer and deadly infectious diseases.
Read the full article here. |
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