We're Killing Coral Reefs Faster Than Ever - Newsy

Reefs are disappearing.
Stag-horn coral is one of the dominant building blocks of coral reefs all over the world, but now they're in trouble.
A collection of new studies shows stag-horn coral is in major decline because they can't handle the warmer, more acidic ocean waters that result from human pollution.
The most visible effect is bleaching. When water conditions get too stressful, corals lose the algae that give them their color. If it keeps up for too long, the corals die.
Recent surveys suggest 93 percent of corals in Australia's Great Barrier Reef are bleaching to some degree.
Researchers warn stag-horn reefs near the mouth of the Amazon River are also at risk. Nearby oil drilling presents a "major environmental challenge."
But recovery is still possible. Scientists say tighter controls on runoff and dredging would give corals a better chance in today's warmer waters.

INC News, 24/04/2016 - source: ©NewsyScience