Lost at Sea: Coral reefs, considered the "rainforests" of the marine world, now have even more in common with those fragile ecosystems
Kirkwood S. 2006. Lost at Sea: Coral reefs, considered the "rainforests" of the marine world, now have even more in common with those fragile ecosystems. National Parks Magazine. 80(2):70-71
Not far off the shores of coastal parks like Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, and Virgin Islands National Parks are the ancient skeletons of dozens of shipwreck victims. These aren't the remains of pirates from the 18th century who sailed too close to the shore, but rather coral reefs-living creatures known for their hulking skeletons. For centuries, the biggest hazard facing a coral reef was the hull of a wayward ship, but a recent report issued by NPCA's Center for the State of the Parks reveals that factors like pollution, global warming, and overfishing have become common culprits. But before getting into a detailed description of the prognosis facing coral reefs, let's learn a little bit more about the nature of the patient.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Kirkwood, Scott
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Coral Reef, Diseases, Environmental Aspects, preservation , public participation