Coral reefs are also dying at an alarming rate. In one case, a reef had lost more than one third of its coral in three years. Professor James Porter said, ‘As we went back through our data, we saw an alarming trend.’

Many coral diseases have not been fully identified yet but in the meantime they have been given names such as ‘bleaching’, ‘white plague’, ‘white pox’ and ‘black band’. Professor Porter says: ‘These are the cries and whispers which, when you look at the ocean carefully and really think about what is going on, begin to affront you with the dangers that lie ahead.’

At the moment, very little is understood about the diseases harming the coral. What is known is that the diseases are most common in areas where there is human development. Coral bleaching may be caused by global warming, which is caused by humans. It is possible that the coral bleaching may in turn be making the coral susceptible to other human diseases.

Scientists have to understand the diseases in order to cure the sick corals before they disappear for ever.

GLOSSARY
coral reefs: colonies of coral which form lines under the sea
sickly: unhealthy, not healthy
bleaching: turn white
affront: offend, make you angry
susceptible: easily influenced or affected by something

Source: New English Digest (Author: Michael Parks)