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Stunted Coral Highlights Troubling Ocean Trends

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January 1, 2009

Coral in the Great Barrier Reef is showing significant signs of trouble, apparently the result of human activities.

Scientists say one species of coral is growing much more slowly than it was 15 years ago. If current trends continue, this species of coral could stop growing altogether by the middle of the century.

Scientists suspect that coral growth is being stunted by warmer ocean waters, as well as increasing acidity caused by carbon dioxide that's entering the ocean as a result of fossil fuel combustion.

 
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