Date published: 2006/06/07
The BBC says:
Some coral reefs may be able to adapt to rising ocean temperatures, a consequence of global climate change.
Coral live in close partnership with algae, but lose the algae when temperatures rise, causing death.
Australian scientists have discovered that coral may be able to exchange their algae for varieties which can survive at higher temperatures.
They say this provides a "nugget of hope" for some reefs threatened by climate change.
"While this is likely to be of huge ecological benefit," write Ray Berkelmans and Madeleine van Oppen, "it may not be enough to help these populations cope with the predicted increases in average tropical sea temperatures over the next 100 years.
"It may, though, be enough to buy time while measures are put in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Well most species can adapt to a changing environment, the question is whether they can adapt fast enough to a quickly changing environment, as it seems we have now.
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