No subject

[Ben Richards]

>,
        Lauri MacLaughlin <lauri.maclaughlin at noaa.gov>, rpiltz at usgcrp.gov,
        "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov" <coral-list>
Subject: Re: Fwd: (WPost) African drought linked to death of coral reefs in=
=20
 Caribbean
Sender: owner-coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov

Dear All -
    I recall back in College we were discussing a similar role of African
(Saharan) dust in the deterioration of Caribbean reefs.  In our discussions=
,
however, the culprit was not Aspergillus sydowii, but molecular iron in the
dust.  It was the hypothesis of Dr. Barber (Duke Marine Lab) that iron was =
a
limiting nutrient in many Caribbean waters and that, large amounts of iron =
laden
dust settling in Caribbean waters resulted in largescale algal blooms which=
 in
turn resutled in localized oxygen depletion, shading, and fouling which lea=
d to
localized deterioration in reef systems.  Since leaving the Duke Marine lab=
, I
have not heard much discussion on this subject.  I would be interested in y=
our
input on this hypothesis.

Billy Causey wrote:

> Thanks Paul.. I have seen these articles.  What Gene doesn't explain is w=
hy
> coral reefs are dying all around the world and not just the Caribbean!!  =
BDC
>
> Paul Moen wrote:
>
> > Another article I recieved.  Gene is still on the dust theory.  Sounds =
like
> > the evidence may be building on this one.  Note the article cited from =
the
> > Oct. 1 issue of GRL.  Hope all is well for you and the FKNMS.  I miss y=
ou
> > guys!   All the best.      Paul
> >
> > >X-Sender: rpiltz at earth.usgcrp.gov
> > >Mime-Version: 1.0
> > >Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 10:23:19 -0400
> > >To: gcrp2000 at earth.usgcrp.gov
> > >From: Rick Piltz <rpiltz at usgcrp.gov>
> > >Subject: (WPost) African drought linked to death of coral reefs in
> > > Caribbean
> > >Status:
> > >
> > >Washington Post, 10/2/2000
> > >Science Notebook
> > >
> > >Reefs Plagued by African Dust
> > >
> > >Providing new evidence that we live in a small world, the drought in A=
frica
> > >could be playing a role in the death of coral reefs in the Caribbean,
> > >according to new research.
> > >
> > >Eugene A. Shinn of the U.S. Geological Survey Center for Coastal Geolo=
gy in
> > >St. Petersburg, Fla., and colleagues analyzed dust that satellite data
> > >showed had arrived in the Virgin Islands from Africa. In the dust, the
> > >researchers found spores of a soil fungus called Aspergillus sydowii t=
hat
> > >could be harming the coral, the researchers said.
> > >
> > >"Identification and culturing of A. sydowii from air samples taken fro=
m the
> > >atmosphere during dust outbreaks in the Virgin Islands shows that Afri=
can
> > >dust is an efficient substrate for delivering Aspergillus spores," the
> > >researchers wrote in the Oct. 1 issue of Geophysical Research Letters.
> > >
> > >While warmer water due to the El Nino weather pattern also plays a rol=
e in
> > >the death of coral, drought in Africa has coincided with die-offs of c=
oral.
> > >In addition, dust can also carry iron and other nutrients that trigger=
 the
> > >growth of phytoplankton and algae that could also damage coral, the
> > >researchers said.
> > >
> > >"This combination of atmospheric nutrient enrichment along with an
> > >intermittent supply of fungal spores and possibly bacterial cysts,
> > >especially when combined with warm El Nino conditions, suggest a stron=
g
> > >potential for environmental perturbation."
> > >
> > Commander Paul D. Moen, NOAA
> > Deputy Director
> > US Global Change Research Program
> > 400 Virginia Ave, SW - Suite 750
> > Washington, D.C. 20024
> > 202-314-2221,  Fax: 202-488-8681
> > pmoen at usgcrp.gov
>
> --
> Billy D. Causey, Superintendent
> Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
> PO Box 500368
> Marathon, FL 33050
> Phone (305) 743.2437, Fax (305) 743.2357
> http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/

--
Benjamin L. Richards
Web Master/Research Assistant
NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
P.O. Box 500368
Marathon, FL 33050
(305)743-2437 x28 =95 ben.richards at noaa.gov

Visit the new and improved Web site of the Florida Keys National Marine San=
ctuary
at: http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov

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"You start life with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience.
The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of
luck."
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