[Coral-List] Mixed Messages

Thu Jul 25 23:48:29 UTC 2019

> Aloha Steve,
>
> I would first point out the the scale of these two papers is very
> different. The second paper focuses on a single area in Florida, Looe Key,
> and the first paper focus on a global scale over the course of 2014-2017.
>
> I do not think the papers contradict each other. Both talk about multiple
> stressors impacting reefs. In the case of Looe Key, shore based and direct
> human stressors appear to have a bigger impact, whereas in the first paper,
> remote MPAs in the Pacific that are not exposed to direct human stressors
> or nutrient loading also experienced mass bleaching that was primarily due
> to sea surface temperature anomalies driven by AGW. I think the take home
> message for both papers is that direct and indirect human stressors are
> impacting coral reefs world wide, but the order and intensity of these
> stressors varies by location.
>
> I hope that helps,
> Andy
>
> On Thu, Jul 25, 2019 at 12:03 PM Steve Mussman via Coral-List <
> coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Two recently published papers caught my eye and though I appreciate both
>> perspectives, I can’t help but come away a bit perplexed by what appears to
>> be somewhat contradictory conclusions.  I have links to and a couple of
>> (what I believe to be conflicting) quotes from each listed below:
>>
>> 1.   “The 2014–2017 global-scale coral bleaching event: insights and
>> impacts”
>>
>> https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-019-01844-2
>>
>> “Examining the patterns of the 2016 bleaching across a gradient of local
>> stressors in the GBR showed no sign of bleaching protection where water
>> quality was high (Hughes et al. 2017b)”.
>>
>> “Past conservation approaches do not address the scale of the greatest
>> threats corals face in the Anthropocene—the growing climate crisis (Hughes
>> et al. 2017a; Bellwood et al. 2019). Clearly, this points to the need for
>> action to avert the growing climate crisis rather than relying on local
>> action”.
>>
>>
>> 2.    “Thirty years of unique data reveal what's really killing coral
>> reefs”.
>>      https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190715164652.htm
>>
>> "Citing climate change as the exclusive cause of coral reef demise
>> worldwide misses the critical point that water quality plays a role, too,"
>> said Porter. "While there is little that communities living near coral
>> reefs can do to stop global warming, there is a lot they can do to reduce
>> nitrogen runoff. Our study shows that the fight to preserve coral reefs
>> requires local, not just global, action."
>>
>> “These coral reefs were dying off long before they were impacted by
>> rising water temperatures. Elevated nitrogen levels cause phosphorus
>> starvation in corals, reducing their temperature threshold for bleaching”.
>>
>>
>> While I believe that no one is actually claiming that climate change is
>> the exclusive cause of coral demise or that dealing with local stressors is
>> a cure-all, these two papers do seem to be to some degree at odds. For
>> someone who has settled into the narrative that emphasizes the need to
>> address climate change, water quality issues and over-fishing (perhaps in
>> that order) all this is a bit unnerving.
>>
>>  How do you suggest that I reconcile these (at least partially)
>> antithetical approaches?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Steve
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Andy CollinsEducation CoordinatorPapahānaumokuākea Marine National
> MonumentMokupāpapa Discovery Center76 Kamehameha AveHilo, HI 96720*
>
> *Office:  **808-933-8181*
> *Cell:  *
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>
> *email: andy.collins at noaa.gov <andy.collins at noaa.gov>*
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-- 


*Andy CollinsEducation CoordinatorPapahānaumokuākea Marine National
MonumentMokupāpapa Discovery Center76 Kamehameha AveHilo, HI 96720*

*Office:  **808-933-8181*
*Cell:  *
*808-294-5556**Fax:  **808-455-3093*

*email: andy.collins at noaa.gov <andy.collins at noaa.gov>*

* Visit us on the Web: **www.papahanaumokuakea.gov *
<http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/>
* Follow us on Facebook: **www.facebook.com/Papahanaumokuakea*
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