Want healthier coral? Clean up coastal discharge

Global warming and ocean acidification are very probably going to affect coral reefs adversely. But there are other direct things that affect coral reefs, the main one being water quality. Pump untreated or poorly-treated sewage water out into the coastal zone, and corals get sick and die. Plus, the nutrients increase algal growth, which decreases the clarity of the water -- corals need very clear water for the algal symbionts to photosynthesize. Add to that, with too much nutrients, algae can start growing right on the corals -- which isn't good.

So it's not surprising that research has found that cleaner water will help corals survive in warming waters. What needs to be done now for the corals is to improve efforts to clean up water discharge in countries that have a great wealth of coral reefs, but are otherwise not financially up to the task. Yet another reason that a world government would be a great help to the environment.

Global warming: clean water helps corals