Coral Bounces Back in Indonesia, But Stops Growing in Great Barrier Reef

by SEA STACHURA
Jan 4th 2009 @ 3:00PM

Filed under: News, Plants and Wildlife

The 2004 tsunami that devestated Indonesia also destroyed the region's coral population. But a study conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society shows that much of that coral has bounced back.

The news is a relief to scientists who worried that the reefs could take as long as a decade to begin recovery. Local communities had begun transplanting coral to the damaged region, and stopped damaging fishing practices. Scientists say this evidence helps them how to encourage coral growth in the face of global warming. 

That's particularly good news given findings by the Australian Institute of Marine Science. They write in the journal Science that coral growth in the Great Barrier Reef this year has been the slowest in 400 years. Coral serves as habitat and food for thousands of species. The slowdown, they say, will result in a major decline in biodiversity. 

[via BBC]