Scientists already have several hypotheses. Kenting's reefs are
fortunate to be replenished by a steady supply of what scientists call
"recruits" - new coral, in this case brought north from waters near the
Philippines. That means that even when some coral is destroyed, new
coral rushes in to take its place.

More important, though, are the tide-driven currents that regularly push
up deeper, colder water to the shallow waters off Taiwan's southern tip.
This type of "upwelling," says Fan, is very rare.

Edmunds and Fan believe the Kenting reefs' tenacity is related to their
natural exposure to sharp variations in seawater temperature (as much as
9 degrees Celsius, or 16 Fahrenheit, over a single day) caused by these
tidal patterns.

"It's possible that such thermal stresses somehow provide the corals
with the ability to resist subsequent stress," said Edmunds. Toughened
by the daily battering of such temperature swings, Kenting's reefs may
simply shrug off hotter ocean waters that are so damaging to other reefs.

Oddly, the nuclear power plant may have also helped toughen the reefs,
says Fan. The coral reefs in the area have had 30 years to adapt to
higher temperatures (2 to 4 degrees Celsius higher) close to the outflow
of cooling water from Taiwan's Third Nuclear Power Plant on Nanwan Bay -
which also happens to be the site of a popular recreational beach.

To be sure, Kenting's reefs are faring well only in comparison with
others around the world.

Dai Chang-feng, a coral expert at National Taiwan University's Institute
of Oceanography, said in an interview that three decades ago, Kenting's
coral reef coverage was as high as 75 percent to 80 percent, almost
twice what it is now.

Models predict that by 2050, "most of the coral species in Kenting will
disappear," Dai said. Specifically, his models predict that fewer than
50 of Kenting's 300 species will survive by 2050, with few or none left
alive by 2100.

To help them avoid that fate, scientists and government officials first
need better data on what exactly kills off corals and why some like
Kenting's are hardier.

Enter the U.S.-led Integrated Coral Observing Network. Scientists in
Taiwan and officials of Kenting National Park (which has jurisdiction
over the reefs) have been meeting with U.S. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration scientists to discuss Taiwan's inclusion in
the network. Kenting could be incorporated next year, said Fan and
others involved in the project.

[continued.....]

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