[Coral-List] Objective Science

[Rudy Bonn]

Might as well put my two cents in,and I must agree with Dr. Fabricus that it is well known that threats to coral reef ecosytems are from a combination of threats working in synergisim to bring about the declines we are now witnessing, not only thermal stress and increased hydrogen ion concentration but many other factors are involved here as well-- OA being a recent contributor.  We must not forget that pollution, water quality decline, sedimentation, overfishing, apex predator removal, among others such as diseases that have been linked to bacteria found in the human intestinal tract, are killing corals.  I also believe that the rapid pace of these threats is overwhelming many coral species in terms of adaptation.  Lets not put these threats under a microscope, we have to focus on the big picture.  Incidentally, I spoke to a commercial fisherman the other day and he told me that he has never seen water temperatures this high ( ~ 75 to 78 F) in
 February in the Keys.    Cheers,  Rudy 

Rudy S Bonn
Director of Marine Projects
Reef Relief
631 Greene Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-3100