Coral Reef's: An Evolutionary Hotbed

It has recently been found that coral reefs are evolutionary hotbeds. Science Journal reported that new species evolve 50% faster in coral reefs than in marine areas. According to Wolfgang Kiessling of Humboldt University, coral reefs provide "pump of new marine species." Scientists came to this conclusion after examining the fossil record in order to find the earliest evidence of creatures who lived on the sea floor. The scientists then determined whether these earliest fossils came from in a reef or outside. This project was called the Paleobiology Database. From the study it was determined that these coral reefs are necessary for further marine evolution and can be called the "rain forests of the sea."

This new found data makes the fact that coral reefs are currently disappearing at a rate of 2% per year even more frightening.We are loosing these reefs manly due to rising ocean temperatures.

The disappearance of these reefs would deeply impact the evolutionary capacity of the sea. It is vastly important to for us to save these reefs in order to maintain the vast evolutionary capacity of the sea.

Sources:

Pennisi, Elizabeth. "In the Deep Blue Sea." Science 23 Jan. 2010. Print.

Gill, Victoria. "BBC News - Coral reefs are evolution hotspot." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 7 Jan. 2010. Web. 12 Feb. 2010. .

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