When you consider that the reefs are nurseries for so many marine forms, and that much of the plankton which feeds larger animals begins there, the picture becomes more scary. 

Alas, those now governing the US seem to never have studied any life science, for their ignorance and hence their lack of interest in the environment is devastating.

---- Vicky Wall <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 

=============
I just read an article about Trump's proposed budget....science is one of the losers. He wants to cut all research in climate change along with medical research. I hope that the rest of the world's countries continue the fight against climate change and realize not all of us in the United States are anti-environment and anti-science as our government officials. The question remains how much damage can this admimistration do in 4 years? That is what scares me the most. 


Vicky Wall 
Mayodan, NC 

----- Original Message -----

From: "David Kirsh" <[log in to unmask]> 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2017 9:05:57 AM 
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Death of the Great Barrier Reef 


I'm with you, John. 


There was an AP story a few days ago discussing the extensive bleaching in the central Pacific and western and eastern portions of the Indian Ocean. I wonder whether shell dealers (and others) are noticing changes in abundance. 


While the news media is embroiled in the minute details of debate on social media ephemera and celebrity foibles, the public might be forgiven for not noticing the rapid and continuing degradation of their planet, including that we are in the midst of a mass extinction. 


The changes in temperature and environmental consequences have proceeded much more rapidly than the models predicted 5 or 10 years ago. These changes have been partly obscured for the public because they are occurring more drastically at the poles. If it hasn't happened already there will be brief periods when the North Pole will be entirely ice-free at the end of summer. 


We can expect dramatic impacts on food availability and human migrations in response to accelerated drought and flooding. Some commentators cite drought as a major factor in the Syrian civil war and refugee crisis. 


Meteorologists have mentioned alternations of drought punctuated by occasional intense rainfalls as the expected new norms in the southeast US (and California?). 


The devastation of the world's coral reefs have more importance than their impact on our favorite phylum. Hopefully we can be part of a dramatic shift in the outlook that glorifies quarterly corporate profit statements over human and environmental benefits as a measure of prosperity. 

There aren't any sidelines any more. 


David Kirsh 
Durham, NC 

Sent from my iPhone 



On Mar 16, 2017, at 7:32 AM, John Varner < [log in to unmask] > wrote: 






This is an unspeakable tragedy and should impel everyone who loves the sea and its creatures to climate action. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/science/great-barrier-reef-coral-climate-change-dieoff.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0 

	
	

Large Sections of Australia’s Great Reef Are Now Dead, Scientists Find 
www.nytimes.com 
If most of the world’s coral reefs die, some of the richest and most colorful life in the ocean could be lost, along with huge sums from reef tourism. 




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