Half of the Great Barrier Reef has disappeared in the last 3 decades. - Polidicks

[quote]Half the Great Barrier Reef has disappeared in past 3 decades: report 'In terms of geographic scale and the extent of the decline, it is unprecedented anywhere in the world," says the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences chief John Gunn. Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, has been reduced by 50 percent over the past 27 years, a new study found. [b]The reef is vanishing due to climate change, predatory starfish and intense cyclones linked to a warming of the oceans, according to scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS) and the University of Wollongong.[/b] [b]Coral cover could fall to just 5 percent in the next decade,the study warns.[/b] “This loss of over half of initial cover is of great concern, signifying habitat loss for the tens of thousands of species associated with tropical coral reefs," the study released on Tuesday said. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world and the only living thing on Earth visible from space. Stretching for 1800 miles parallel to Australia’s northeastern coast, it is a breeding area for humpback whales, home to thousands of sea species and is the biggest single structure made by living organisms. [b]Coral reefs have been disappearing around the world but the pace of decline of the Great Barrier Reef has been more pronounced, especially since 2006, scientists said. "In terms of geographic scale and the extent of the decline, it is unprecedented anywhere in the world," AIMS chief John Gunn told Reuters.[/b] “This loss of over half of initial cover is of great concern, signifying habitat loss for the tens of thousands of species associated with tropical coral reefs," says the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences study. Normally resilient, a coral reef can recover in 10 to 20 years from an extreme storm or bleaching — caused by warmer sea temperatures. But an increased frequency in cyclones — 34 in total since 1985 — have caused nearly half the losses of the Great Barrier Reef, the report found. So scientists are pushing for immediate attention in two other areas — cutting both greenhouse gas emissions and the predatory starfish population. “We can't stop the storms but perhaps we can stop the starfish," AIMS chief John Gunn said. Experts say reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions must be an immediate priority. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere during the burning of fossil fuels and part of that gas is absorbed by the oceans. This leads to ocean acidification, disrupting the ability of corals to build their calcium carbonate structures, scientists said. Another short-term option is through managing the growing starfish population, which has been boosted by nutrient-rich runoff from agriculture in the region, LiveScience reported. Katharina Fabricius, a coral reef ecologist, told LiveScience that the introduction of “natural starfish disease,” could be an option. "Starfish normally are rare," Fabricius said. "We want to help Mother Nature keep them rare.”[/quote] [url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/great-barrier-reef-losses-50-report-article-1.1172893?localLinksEnabled=false]Sad[/url] First to post before OvB :v:

[QUOTE] The reef is vanishing due to climate change, [B]predatory starfish[/B] and intense cyclones linked to a warming of the oceans[/QUOTE] Goddamn starfish have to ruin everything.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;37885367]Goddamn starfish have to ruin everything.[/QUOTE] Australian authorities have initiated an ocean-wide crustacean hunt for the lead terrorist [img_thumb]http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.deviantart.com/download/91226830/Patrick_Star_from_Spongebob_by_LxgShaka.png&sa=X&ei=NjxrUPCZPOzOigLP6YHgCg&ved=0CAsQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNG3IgfTYNiGLoSi4wiZw1KLrXxktA[/img_thumb] This was the most recent intelligence photo

at least make it small or something this is a real shame though... haven't people considered building artificial barriers (heh) to protect it?

[QUOTE=CabooseRvB;37885379]Australian authorities have initiated an ocean-wide crustacean hunt for the lead terrorist [img_thumb]http://niggaupload.com/images/VuQv6.png[/img_thumb] This was the most recent intelligence photo[/QUOTE] ftfy

so In civ 10 it wont be a natural wonder anymore?

[QUOTE=MeMassiveFag;37885683]so In civ 10 it wont be a natural wonder anymore?[/QUOTE] "You've build the Holographic Display Memorial of the Great Barrier Reef: +5 disappointment for a bright future"

dun worry guys, obama can fix this

It's a shame really. A damn shame. Thanks to Googles new thing, we can see it for ourselves. Compare these two, both taken somewhere on the Barrier Reef. It's full of fish and corals. There is some bleaching on the tips here and there but all in all, it's a pretty healthy reef. [url]http://goo.gl/maps/AbZZD[/url] Now look at this one. Barren, broken corals strewn across the ground. Hardly any fish poking about around the floor. It looks a bit better off to the west, but right there in that spot it's not doing too good. [url]http://goo.gl/maps/vFjMq[/url] If diving a reef is on your list of things to do before you die, I wouldn't wait much longer. Reefs are getting less healthy by the year. [b]Caribbean Coral Reefs Mostly Dead, IUCN Says[/b] [quote]The Caribbean’s coral reefs have collapsed, mostly due to overfishing and climate change, according to a new report released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the most comprehensive study yet of Caribbean coral reefs, scientists have discovered that the 50 to 60 percent coral cover present in the 1970s has plummeted to less than 10 percent.[/quote] [url]http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/09/06/caribbean-coral-reefs-mostly-dead-iucn-says/[/url] [b]Brazil lost 80 percent of coral reef in 50 years[/b] [quote]SÃO PAULO, Brazil — A new report from the Federal University of Pernambuco and Brazil's Environment Ministry says the South American country has lost 80 percent of its coral reef in just the past 50 years. According to EFE, the report blames abusive extraction and pollution from urban and industrial resources, as well as excessive fishing, for the destruction of the reef.[/quote] [url]http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/brazil/120925/brazil-lost-80-percent-coral-reef-50-years[/url]

thats so sad and yet nobody gives a shit

Is there any way to reverse this, cause this really sucks and I wish there was something I could do. But I don't know what to do... :(

[QUOTE=ogggrez;37887088]Is there any way to reverse this, cause this really sucks and I wish there was something I could do. But I don't know what to do... :([/QUOTE] Ecological preservation policies via government are the strongest tools we have at the moment, but it's pretty hard to pass anything meaningful to that end when everyone has their panties in a bunch about comparatively useless shit. I also recall an article about robots that could potentially repair coral - while it certainly wouldn't fix all the damage, it would be a start.

[QUOTE=OvB;37886027]It's a shame really. A damn shame. Thanks to Googles new thing, we can see it for ourselves. Compare these two, both taken somewhere on the Barrier Reef. It's full of fish and corals. There is some bleaching on the tips here and there but all in all, it's a pretty healthy reef. [url]http://goo.gl/maps/AbZZD[/url] Now look at this one. Barren, broken corals strewn across the ground. Hardly any fish poking about around the floor. It looks a bit better off to the west, but right there in that spot it's not doing too good. [url]http://goo.gl/maps/vFjMq[/url] If diving a reef is on your list of things to do before you die, I wouldn't wait much longer. Reefs are getting less healthy by the year. [b]Caribbean Coral Reefs Mostly Dead, IUCN Says[/b] [url]http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/09/06/caribbean-coral-reefs-mostly-dead-iucn-says/[/url] [b]Brazil lost 80 percent of coral reef in 50 years[/b] [url]http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/brazil/120925/brazil-lost-80-percent-coral-reef-50-years[/url][/QUOTE] of course, it's likely that this is just going to fall on deaf ears as far as the world's governments are concerned... It IS a damn shame. A damn shame indeed.

that's funny i'm doing an assignment on this right now this article will be very handy, thanks op!

[QUOTE=Paradox621;37887253]Ecological preservation policies via government are the strongest tools we have at the moment, but it's pretty hard to pass anything meaningful to that end when everyone has their panties in a bunch about comparatively useless shit. I also recall an article about robots that could potentially repair coral - while it certainly wouldn't fix all the damage, it would be a start.[/QUOTE] Those robots only work assuming the water conditions remain optimal for coral growth. If you try to plant corals in water that is too hot they will not grow.

[QUOTE=Paradox621;37887253]Ecological preservation policies via government are the strongest tools we have at the moment, but it's pretty hard to pass anything meaningful to that end when everyone has their panties in a bunch about comparatively useless shit. I also recall an article about robots that could potentially repair coral - while it certainly wouldn't fix all the damage, it would be a start.[/QUOTE] Not to mention half of America believes global warming is a myth and resist all efforts to do anything about it.

At this rate Nemo will have nowhere left to hide!

[QUOTE=Krinkels;37890520]At this rate Nemo will have nowhere left to hide![/QUOTE] That will make [i]Finding Nemo[/i] much easier

Well,shit

Has been on my list of places to visit since I was a kid. Definitely want to dive there before it's gone.