The study found that if the world continues to emit carbon at the same pace as it does now, reef building corals will suffer, by 2050 and die in 2100.
The study found that if the world continues to emit carbon at the same pace as it does now, reef building corals will suffer, by 2050 and die in 2100.
The research has global implications because one of the seaweed species they studied that causes the most damage is a common brown algae found in coral reefs all over the world
Research, Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, discovered that algae killing corals through powerful chemicals that poison.
Professor Guillermo Diaz-Pulido of Griffith School of Environment and co-author of the study, said: "it s an important step forward in understanding how algae can harm corals
and has important implications for understanding the implications of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions on the health of the great barrier reef.
"For algae to grow they need light and CO2 just like any other plant,and because the algae in the future would be exposed to a lot more CO2 in the sea water we wanted to know how much CO2 would have an impact on some of the things algae do, Physiology and interaction with the animals."
Research, conducted in the island to Herons at the end South of the reef, used underwater experiments and the experiments in the laboratory.
The researchers tested samples of algae in the laboratory to observe the effect of carbon on the algae.
The research found that higher levels of carbon dioxide made compounds produced by the algae more potent - and some species of algae produce more of these poisonous chemicals than others
Professor Guillermo Diaz-Pulido of Griffith School of Environment and co-author of the study, said: "it s an important step forward in understanding how algae can harm corals
and has important implications for understanding the implications of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions on the health of the great barrier reef.
"For algae to grow they need light and CO2 just like any other plant,and because the algae in the future would be exposed to a lot more CO2 in the sea water we wanted to know how much CO2 would have an impact on some of the things algae do, Physiology and interaction with the animals."
Research, conducted in the island to Herons at the end South of the reef, used underwater experiments and the experiments in the laboratory.
Research, conducted in the island to Herons at the end South of the reef, used underwater experiments and the experiments in the laboratory.
The researchers tested samples of algae in the laboratory to observe the effect of carbon on the algae.
They exposed sample of algae at two levels of carbon dioxide: ambient and high, ambient, reflecting
current and high, levels reflecting levels projected for 2100 according to a model by the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change.
The research, published in the journal of scientific reports, revealed that higher levels of compounds produced by the algae's carbon dioxide more powerful - and some species of algae produce more of these chemicals than others.
current and high, levels reflecting levels projected for 2100 according to a model by the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change.
The research, published in the journal of scientific reports, revealed that higher levels of compounds produced by the algae's carbon dioxide more powerful - and some species of algae produce more of these chemicals than others.
The research found that higher levels of carbon dioxide made compounds produced by the algae more potent - and some species of algae produce more of these poisonous chemicals than others
Professor Mark Hay, Professor of science and environmental technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology and co-author of the study, said: "what we have discovered is that some algae produce chemicals more powerful that suppress or kill corals faster."
"This can happen quickly, in just a few weeks.
"If algae exceed the coral, we have a problem which contributes to degradation, on top of what we already know with whitening, Crown of stars of sea thorn outbreaks, cyclones or other nuisance of coral reef."
Professor Diaz-Pulido said that research has global implications too because one of the algae species they studied which causes the most damage is a common Brown seaweed found in coral reefs in the world.
"It's a problem because if these algae take advantage of CO2 in seawater that is even more a matter of concern," said Professor Diaz-Pulido.
"The scale of the problem is so great in removing a bunch of algae of the reef won't do much because it comes from regrowth and regenerates, so I think that the way to deal with this is really to reduce CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere."
WHAT IS CORAL BLEACHING?
Coral bleaching is a violent expulsion of the algae living in their tissue which causes them turn white
This happens when they become stressed in response to various changes within their environment, including temperature, light, and nutrients.
As the algae are expelled from the coral, their pigment is lost as well, turning them white or transparent.
While some are able to return to normal and regain their algae and colour given the right conditions, not all are so lucky.
If they are not recolonized quickly, the corals can die.
Source: NOAA
"If algae exceed the coral, we have a problem which contributes to degradation, on top of what we already know with whitening, Crown of stars of sea thorn outbreaks, cyclones or other nuisance of coral reef."
Professor Diaz-Pulido said that research has global implications too because one of the algae species they studied which causes the most damage is a common Brown seaweed found in coral reefs in the world.
"It's a problem because if these algae take advantage of CO2 in seawater that is even more a matter of concern," said Professor Diaz-Pulido.
"The scale of the problem is so great in removing a bunch of algae of the reef won't do much because it comes from regrowth and regenerates, so I think that the way to deal with this is really to reduce CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere."
WHAT IS CORAL BLEACHING?
Coral bleaching is a violent expulsion of the algae living in their tissue which causes them turn white
This happens when they become stressed in response to various changes within their environment, including temperature, light, and nutrients.
As the algae are expelled from the coral, their pigment is lost as well, turning them white or transparent.
While some are able to return to normal and regain their algae and colour given the right conditions, not all are so lucky.
If they are not recolonized quickly, the corals can die.
Source: NOAA
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