Coral reefs can recover from devastating effects of global warming

In a new research, scientists from the University of Exeter, UK, have provided the first evidence that coral reefs can recover from the devastating effects of global warming.

Scientists and environmentalists have warned that coral reefs may not be able to recover from the damage caused by climate change and that these unique environments could soon be lost forever.

Now, a new research adds weight to the argument that reducing levels of fishing is a viable way of protecting the world's most delicate aquatic ecosystems.

Increases in ocean surface water temperatures subject coral reefs to stresses that lead quickly to mass bleaching.

The problem is intensified by ocean acidification, which is also caused by increased carbon dioxide (CO2).

This decreases the ability of corals to produce calcium carbonate (chalk), which is the material that reefs are made of.

Approximately 2% of the world's coral reefs are located within marine reserves, areas of the sea that are protected against potentially-damaging human activity, like dredging and fishing.

The researchers conducted surveys of ten sites inside and outside marine reserves of the Bahamas over 2.5 years.

These reefs have been severely damaged by bleaching and then by hurricane Frances in the summer of 2004.

At the beginning of the study, the reefs had an average of 7% coral cover.

By the end of the project, coral cover in marine protected areas had increased by an average of 19%, while reefs in non-reserve sites showed no recovery.

According to professor Peter Mumby of the University of Exeter, "In order to protect reefs in the long-term, we need radical action to reduce CO2 emissions. However, our research shows that local action to reduce the effects of fishing can contribute meaningfully to the fate of reefs."

"The reserve allowed the number of parrotfishes to increase and because parrotfish eat seaweeds, the corals could grow freely without being swamped by weeds. As a result, reefs inside the park were showing recovery whereas those with more seaweed were not," he said.

"This sort of evidence may help persuade governments to reduce the fishing of key herbivores like parrotfishes and help reefs cope with the inevitable threats posed by climate change," he added.