在美國國家海洋大氣總署權限下，針對美國珊瑚礁生態系統健康情況，進行研究的最新分析報告顯示，近半數的美國珊瑚礁已處於「破損」或「一般」狀態。
美國國家海洋大氣總署7日在第11屆國際珊瑚礁研討會開幕式上發表了此份報告，本屆研討會在美國羅德岱堡舉行，超過2500位科學家和政府官員本週聚集在此地，就珊瑚礁保育策略，以及未來保護脆弱珊瑚生態系統方面的研究重點進行討論。
研討會主題「珊瑚的未來」，聚焦在全球珊瑚礁的重要性，以及加速保育行動的迫切性。
「2008年美國與太平洋自由聯合邦珊瑚礁生態系統情況」報告發現，美國的珊瑚生態，尤其是鄰近居住地的區域，持續面對因人類活動所造成的威脅，例如海岸開發、污染、捕魚、休閒遊憩用途等等。
此份2008年的報告，也是美國地方及全國珊瑚礁生態系統狀態追蹤研究的第3份報告，報告中指出美國珊瑚礁生態在數十年來持續惡化。從2005年最後一份狀態研究報告公佈後，麋角珊瑚和鹿角珊瑚已成為美國瀕危物種法案下，首次列入瀕危名單的珊瑚物種。
廣闊壯麗的珊瑚礁生態系統，在佛州東南海岸從邁阿密戴德郡到馬汀郡綿延超過100英里，這些珊瑚礁是高居全球分布距離第三的珊瑚群，也是佛州及美國最重要的自然資源之一。
澳洲國立大學教授，同時也是澳洲研究委員會珊瑚礁研究卓越中心研究員的地球科學家麥卡林（Malcolm McCulloch）教授，在研討會上所發表的報告中指出，全球海洋酸化的速度遠比科學家預測的快，對珊瑚、珊瑚藻、貝類和海洋食物鏈產生嚴重的影響。
報告中也提出新的珊瑚舉證，證明人類排放的溫室二氧化碳氣體，已導致海洋酸化了1/3的pH值單位。
當海水中二氧化碳量飽和時，其從大氣中吸收碳的功能也將衰退，導致更多二氧化碳殘留在空氣中，隔絕了地球上的熱度，進而加速暖化的速度。
Nearly half of U.S. coral reef ecosystems are considered to be in "poor" or "fair" condition according to a new analysis of the health of coral reefs under U.S. jurisdiction by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA.
The report was released by NOAA today at the opening of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium in Fort Lauderdale where more than 2,500 scientists and government officials are gathered this week to discuss coral reef protection strategies and research priorities to further protection of sensitive coral ecosystems.
The symposium's theme, Reefs for the Future, highlights the importance of the world's coral reefs, as well as the urgent need for accelerated action to protect them.
U.S. coral reef ecosystems, particularly those near populated areas, continue to face threats from human activities such as coastal development, pollution, fishing, sedimentation and recreational use, finds the report, "The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2008."
The 2008 report is the third in a series tracking the condition of U.S. coral reef ecosystems at local and national scales. The reports show that the condition of U.S. coral reefs has been declining for decades. Since the last status report was released in 2005, two coral species - elkhorn and staghorn corals - have become the first corals ever listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
An extensive, beautiful coral reef ecosystem stretches more than 100 miles along the southeast Florida coast, from Miami-Dade to Martin County. These reefs are part of the third longest reef system in the world and are one of the greatest natural resources in Florida and the United States.
The world's oceans are acidifying far more rapidly than scientists expected, with serious implications for the future of corals, reef algae, shellfish and some ocean food chains, according to a keynote paper presented at the symposium by Australian earth scientist Malcolm McCulloch of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Australian National University.
The paper presents new coral evidence suggesting the oceans may have acidified by almost a third of a unit of pH as a result of human emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
As the oceans become saturated with carbon dioxide, their ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere is expected to decline, leaving more CO2 in the air to insulate the planet and accelerate the pace at which it warms.
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