Some coral coinage have found a seaport in intemperate time , one that could keep them alive through the multiple threats dumbfound by the twenty - first century . The etymon of Rhizophora mangle plants in the Virgin Islands have been found to put up protection from the twin terror of global thaw and ocean acidification .
Coral Witwatersrand stand for one of the satellite ’s most endangered ecosystems , with at leastthree - twenty-five percent consideredunder scourge . Overfishingandrun - off from landaccount for much of the problem , but even when local protection is provided , high temperaturesandchanging sea chemistrycan be enough to destroy reef on their own .
With aquarter of maritime biodiversityon the lineage , suggestions as radical as coveringentire reefs in shade clothorreleasing alkaline substanceshave been proposed . However , at Hurricane Hole in the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument , the red coral have found their own answer .
The roots of red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle)plants achieve down to the seafloor in the briny waters of tropic estuaries . InBiogeosciences , a team from the US Geological Survey report that more than 30 coral coinage are growing among the roots . The authors call this , “ The first natural , non - reef coral refuge from thermal stress and sea acidification . ”
Caroline Rogers , USGS . coral grow on and under the roots of red Rhizophora mangle .
The mangroves render shade during spicy spells thatcause coral to bleach out , a sign of stress that can often premise death . “ Corals were thriving in small - light from Rhizophora mangle shading and at higher temperature than nearby reef piece of ground coral , ” the generator note . “ A high percentage ofC. natans[boulder brain coral ] colony were living shaded by Rhizophora mangle , and no shaded colonies were decolourize . ” Meanwhile unshaded colonies of the same mintage nearby experienced dangerous bleaching .
The benefit extend beyond shade however . The water around the mangrove roots are more alkaline than those in open water , let coral larvae to settle andform Ca carbonate skeletons .
Mangroves provide no assistance to seaward reef , and areunder widespread threat themselves . Nevertheless , their conservation — already valued forprotection against floodingandcarbon store — could help maintain coral species that might one daylight be a germ to reinstate destroy Rand populations . However , the researchers note , “ It is not known how many other mangrove areas in the world harbor such a in high spirits diversity of coral , as most multitude do not appear for corals produce in these areas . ”
