Rejuvenating reefs
Though pollution and overuse are damaging corals, their biodiversity offers hope for their future
THE waters off the Hawaiian island of Oahu are visited each winter by migrating marine mammals such as humpback whales. All year round they are home to much smaller animals that form vast reefs: corals. Intricate pink structures stand out amid contortions of vegetable-green ones; dark-striped fish flit among them and turtles hover above. Corals lay down limestone skeletons of different shapes and sizes: branching types like small trees; ground-huggers spreading squat.
This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Rejuvenating reefs”
International February 13th 2016
From the February 13th 2016 edition
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