Coral reefs in crisis: reversing the biotic death spiral

• Main Authors: Mark E Hay, Douglas B Rasher
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Ocean acidification
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.295.8085; http://www.biology.gatech.edu/people/pdf/hay/pdf/F 1000 Report Hay and Rasher 2010.pdf

Coral reefs are disappearing due to global warming, overfishing, ocean acidification, pollution, and interactions of these and other stresses. Ecologically informed management of fishes that facilitate corals by suppressing seaweeds may be our best bet for bringing reefs back from the brink of extinction. Introduction and context Coral reefs are declining dramatically due to cascades of interacting stresses ranging from global warming, overfishing, pollution, and ocean acidification to catastrophic events like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.