"White Syndrome" : suicide in the Great Barrier Reef
Friday, April 6, 2007 at 8:47PM Marine scientists in Queensland have a theory. It's their explanation for the rapidly emerging coral reef killer known as "white syndrome". The researchers believe the syndrome is not caused by bacterial attack from the outside, but by a self-destruct mechanism inside the coral. And they say what they regard as a form of coral suicide is a reaction to stress. Humans believe that coral are intelligent enough to make the decision to die.
It has been reiterated that the Great Barrier Reef will die within 20 years unless greenhouse gases are greatly reduced. Rising sea temperatures had been thought to bleach coral and cause it to die, but now, we have the suicide theory. What are we doing about this? Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are making the world's oceans more acidic and preventing corals from forming their protective limestone skeletons. Changing global climates are disrupting the ability of the corals to reproduce and develop and this could be their plea for assistance.
Are we prepared to permit corals to initiate widespread euthanasia? They could be replaced by things like seaweed. That would be the end of a place of incredible biodiversity which also holds mysteries including uninvestigated leads for potential medical cures.
The warning signs had been around since 1998 when a major bleaching event caused the death of 16 per cent of the world's coral. What will it take for government and industry to take heed of these warnings and take more far-reaching action to reduce the effects of climate change? What is occurring with reefs is caomparable to other vulnerable areas of the environment, such as glaciers and rainforests, which are all changing drastically with global warming.
The dramatic increases in growing rates of coral diseases would be partly explained by suicide. Hard to stomach that the rate of disease has muliplied five times during the past decade. Action is long overdue on climate issues. If we don't dramatically change lifestyles and reduce emissions, we'll endure more than a visible loss. Scientists believe our last chance is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 % within the next 30 years. The question is, will Humanity take advantage of this last chance opportunity or suffer irreversible consequences?
Reader Comments (2)
One of the items my little shop manufactures is a component used in the transmission of natural gas. It is a component that reduces leaks and waste. When it is used correctly it has a beneficial impact on the planet and can save some dollars and cents (just an added benefit we didn't intend to create).
What we are finding, however, is very large oil and gas companies simply aren't interested. It's the small to mid-sized oil and gas companies that are excited over it. There is a noticeably different attitude in large companies than in small to medium ones.
My estimation is that it takes a conscience. The small and mid sized companies are far more socially aware than the large ones. They are also more forward thinking and seem to understand that the future will take care of itself if we concern ourselves with doing our best in the present.
So back to "What will it take.." It will take the small and medium companies to be the innovators and leaders while the large ones sit back and wonder where all their investors went.
You may know from human relationships that we can only change ourselves and our own thinking. Its up to others to evolve and change themselves. I like the how proactive, smaller companies set positive examples. As you suggest, the large ones may soon wonder where more than their investors disappeared.