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据美国探索频道报道,全球三分之一的珊瑚因气候变化和水污染而面临灭绝。负责此项研究的肯·卡彭特调查了845种珊瑚,发现704种珊瑚还能找到,231种珊瑚处于高度灭绝的威胁中,而407种珊瑚已灭绝或近乎灭绝。海洋温度上升加快珊瑚白化,并抑制海藻生长,从而使海洋生物变换其颜色,导致它们更加容易患病。在热带浅海区,由只有几毫米长的微小生物构成的珊瑚礁,其珊瑚虫以巨大的群体生活在一起,分泌碳酸钙,经历数百万年形成了坚硬的珊瑚礁骨架。而今只有最上层的珊瑚还活着。导致珊瑚难以生存的原因包括:大气二氧化碳浓度升高导致海洋温度越来越高,使海洋更加酸化,从而加快珊瑚的白化。此外,污水、过度捕鱼和农业化学物以及沿海的建筑也加大了对珊瑚的破坏。
According to the American Discovery Channel, one-third of the world’s corals are facing extinction due to climate change and water pollution. Ken Carpenter, who was responsible for the study, surveyed 845 species of coral and found that 704 species of coral could be found. 231 species of coral are at high risk of extinction, while 407 species of coral have become extinct or nearly extinct. The rising temperature of the ocean accelerates the bleaching of corals and inhibits the growth of algae, which causes marine life to change its color and make them more susceptible to disease. In tropical shallow seas, coral reefs consisting of tiny creatures only a few millimeters long, their corals live together in huge groups and secrete calcium carbonate, which has formed a hard coral reef skeleton for millions of years. Only the top coral is still alive. Reasons that make corals difficult to survive include: Higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels cause higher temperatures in the oceans, making the ocean more acidic and accelerating coral bleaching. In addition, sewage, over-fishing and agrochemicals as well as coastal structures have also increased the destruction of corals.