Global Warming and Coral Reefs
Scientists have identified which parts of the Great Barrier Reef and other reefs are most capable of recovering from mass bleaching events which will become more frequent due to global warming. The information should help conservationists to target their efforts to protect the portions of reefs that are most capable of survival, they say. Previous studies have shown coral reefs as they exist today will be largely wiped out by climate change in the long term, but the new work by an Australian team shows for the first time which reefs in the short term can be expected to bounce back from bleaching events (Source: The Guardian, Environment).
GR: The whole idea that we might save parts of Earth’s natural ecosystems from global warming is troubling. The fundamental principles of island biogeography predict that smaller areas loose species more quickly than large areas. If we try to preserve patches of reefs, deserts, and forests that we deem most resistant to global warming, are we just prolonging the collapse. Wouldn’t it be smarter to spend our energy on stopping global warming?
