The bad news is that coral reefs are declining at a breakneck pace. Only a sixth of the structure’s original range has survived the last few decades, and it may take only 20 years to edge out the remaining reefs.
The good news is that there may be a very simple answer: don’t kill parrotfish. The study found that these keystone herbivores disproportionately contribute to the health of their host reefs by feeding on coral-suffocating algae.
The IUCN cited the declining parrotfish population, as well as other algae grazers like sea urchins, as the key driver behind reef collapse. It even trumps the negative effects of climate change on tropical reefs, though that may change over the coming decades.
by Becky Ferreira, Motherboard | Read more:
Image: Phil's 1stPix
