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Researchers at the University of Miami warn that once abundant coral species in the Caribbean Ocean are heading towards extinction. They say that global warming is causing increased carbon dioxide levels that are absorbed by the world’s oceans, turning them increasingly acidic. The next 100 years could witness a drop in the recruitment of new corals by more than 70 percent.
According to marine scientists, there is no eco-system on earth more vulnerable to global warming than coral reefs.
They say that higher levels of CO2 are causing the oceans to become more acidic, and that corals like the once abundant Elkhorn in the Caribbean are facing an almost impossible struggle for survival.
The Elkhorn is already listed as critically endangered and it's numbers have fallen dramatically since the early 1980's.
Marine biologist Chris Langdon, says humans are largely to blame.
The Elkhorn reproduce by broadcast spawning - releasing millions of eggs and sperm into the water.
The researchers say decreased PH levels are disturbing this process.
The coral also reproduce asexually by branching off, but coral bleaching, another product of global warming, is killing them faster than they are able to reproduce.
Marine Biologist Rebecca Albright says that if the coral do manage to reproduce - their growth is slowed dramatically by the acidification.
Acidification and bleaching are just two of the blights attacking coral reefs throughout the world.
Researchers say pollution, over-fishing and disease are contributing to the probable extinction of many species of coral in the near future.
Albright says the only way to restore the ocean's chemical balance is to replace carbon-based fuels with renewable energy sources although, she admits that's unlikely to happen anytime soon.
