The real question is: How long before Michael Mann does a ring study on it with RegEM to claim that the current pH of the ocean is “unprecedented”?
Contacts: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Christine Patrick, 301-734-1030 March 5, 2009
Keeley Belva, 808-294-0932
New Deep-Sea Coral Discovered on NOAA-Supported Mission
Scientists identified seven new species of bamboo coral discovered on a NOAA-funded mission in the deep waters of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Six of these species may represent entirely new genera, a remarkable feat given the broad classification a genus represents. A genus is a major category in the classification of organisms, ranking above a species and below a family. Scientists expect to identify more new species as analysis of samples continues.
“These discoveries are important, because deep-sea corals support diverse seafloor ecosystems and also because these corals may be among the first marine organisms to be affected by ocean acidification,” said Richard Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA’s assistant administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Ocean acidification is a change in ocean chemistry due to excess carbon dioxide. Researchers have seen adverse changes in marine life with calcium-carbonate shells, such as corals, because of acidified ocean water.
“Deep-sea bamboo corals also produce growth rings much as trees do, and can provide a much-needed view of how deep ocean conditions change through time,” said Spinrad.
Rob Dunbar, a Stanford University scientist, was studying long-term climate data by examining long-lived corals. “We found live, 4,000-year-old corals in the Monument – meaning 4,000 years worth of information about what has been going on in the deep ocean interior.”
“Studying these corals can help us understand how they survive for such long periods of time as well as how they may respond to climate change in the future,” said Dunbar.
Among the other findings were a five-foot tall yellow bamboo coral tree that had never been described before, new beds of living deepwater coral and sponges, and a giant sponge scientists dubbed the “cauldron sponge,” approximately three feet tall and three feet across. Scientists collected two other sponges which have not yet been analyzed but may represent new species or genera as well.
The mission also discovered a “coral graveyard” covering about 10,000 square feet on a seamount’s summit, more than 2,000 feet deep. Scientists estimated the death of the community occurred several thousand to potentially more than a million years ago, but did not know why the community died. The species of coral had never been recorded in Hawaii before, according a Smithsonian Institution coral expert they consulted.
Finding new species was not an express purpose of the research mission, but Dunbar and Christopher Kelley, a scientist with the University of Hawaii, both collected specimens that looked unusual. Kelley’s objective was to locate and predict locations of high density deep-sea coral beds in the Monument. NOAA scientist Frank Parrish also led a portion of the mission, focusing on growth rates of deep-sea corals.
The three-week research mission ended in November 2007, but analysis of specimens is ongoing. “The potential for more discoveries is high, but these deep-sea corals are not protected everywhere as they are here, and can easily be destroyed,” said Kelley.
The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument has more deep water than any other U.S. protected area, with more than 98 percent below SCUBA-diving depths and only accessible to submersibles. The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, sponsored by NOAA and the University of Hawaii, piloted the Pisces V submersible from a research vessel to the discovery sites, between 3300 and 4200 feet deep.
Funding for the mission was provided by NOAA through the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Identification of the corals was provided by Les Watling at the University of Hawaii.
The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is administered jointly by the Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, and the State of Hawaii and represents a cooperative conservation approach to protecting the entire ecosystem.
NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration explores the Earth’s largely unknown ocean for the purpose of discovery and the advancement of knowledge, using state-of-the-art technologies.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit www.noaa.gov
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“A Coral graveyard”. All those beautiful corals MURDERED by CO2 deniers!!.
But if killed by CO2 sea acidification by increased amounts of CO2 dissolved in water= decreased water temperatures…They bite their tails!
Speaking seriously: It is just local geothermal conditions, and a good pretext for enjoying free and well paid divings in a tropical paradise. (Really good luck of some!).
Ooh, oooh! They found at least one whole new genus! What subliterate wrote this press-release? They should have learned what genera are in grade school, and why it’s so utterly inconsequential to find a few on a major zoological expedition in under-explored territories!
Just like the coral, mankind will adapt to the next ice age. We will surely develp technologies to help us adapt… it’s not like the glaciers will advance overnight!
So when we find a new species is that a net gain or does it immediately add to a endangered list. So if three die out and seven are found thats a net gain right. BTW anyone know of any animal that has died out in the last 25 years?
Jim Arndt (10:19:44) :
BTW anyone know of any animal that has died out in the last 25 years?
The dusky seaside sparrow went extinct here in Florida around 1990…that one I know off the top of my head…a few others I would have to google.
from the swamp…cdl
Two aspects of this article really bother me:
“NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, …..” This is untrue, as they are striving for comprehension on the incredible diversity and lack of understanding “from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun…”.
Finally, the sheer time scale described on living 4,000 year old coral, the manner in which deep ocean “mixes” and the rate in which it happens. 30 years isn’t even a factor with regards to this coral.
Unfortunately it is a long process before confirming that an animal is extinct. If a particular organism is very distinctive in form/colour and habit then it becomes easier to confirm if an organism is extinct or not. The Costa Rican Holdridge Toad Bufo holdridgeiis an example of this. It had a bright orange and black colouration and predictable behaviour. This was a locally common species that was declared endangered in 2006 and declared extinct last year. the Costa Rican Orange Toad Incilius periglenesis also extinct, again this used to be a locally common species. In Hawaii many species of thethe land snails of the genus Achatinella are either extinct, endangered or the last few members of the species are kept in captive housing.
Add to the list the Zanzibar Leopard Panthera pardus adersi
in 1996
The Pyrenean Ibex Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica in 2000
The Black-faced Honeycreeper Melamprosops phaeosoma in 2004.
The Madeiran Large White Butterfly Pieris brassicae wollastoni in 2007
There are many more recorded, and a lot more than this unrecorded. Each of the extinct organisms will have other organisms that can only live with that particular species, such as lice, bacteria etc, these will also be extinct and may never have been recorded.
Many organisms have suffered huge population crashes, they may not have the population to continue. In the last 35 years there has been a decline of 37% in biodiversity http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13915-global-biodiversity-slumps-27-in-35-years.html
An excellent book on the subject of extinctions is Edward O Wilson’s work ‘The Future of Life’. This man has been my inspiration and I would recommend any of his works for an excellent overview of life on this planet (especially ants!)
Mary Hinge: Add to your list the “Homo Sapiens Thermophylium” (GWr, in english) next to be extinct in the next “Jose´s minimum”
Is there a single benign or beneficial bacteria, plant, bug, fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, or mammal that may not have been hurt by AGW?
Is there a single virus, pestilence, infection, toxic mold, poison plant, invasive species, or mental disorder that may not have been increased by AGW?
An easy way to spot pure unadulterated bilge water is to spot the word “may” as in the article at the top, “these corals …may… be among the first marine organisms to be affected by ocean acidification”
Or they may not.
Jim Arndt (10:19:44) :
Honestus Taxfundis Scientifica.
Mary Hinge (13:05:32) :
New Scientist
Global picture
Ground-living vertebrates have declined by 25%.
The results were released as part of a WWF report,
Pure propaganda in a glossy magazine by the favored mouth piece of the enviro disciples.
Do you honestly believe that the following has no effect on the worlds biodiversity; habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and human population growth. Studies time and time again show that these factors have major effects on biodiversity.
I suggest before commentating on this subject you take some time to actually read up on it first. A good starting place would be to google Hawaii and native wildlife.
Like it or not we are all connected with other living organisms and the loss of one species can have an immediate effect on many others.
Maybe you should think beyond your own back yard and think about what kind of world we are leaving behind for future generations, or maybe you just don’t care.
Mary Hinge (03:23:21) All the things you list add to biodiversity. A static eco-system will minimize biodiversity, change leads to change, it’s nature’s way of surviving. Over 90% of every species that has existed is dead. It happened without humans.
Mary Hinge (03:23:21) :
I’m at a loss to see how you can make such a leap of logic. I questioned the factual content of an report commissioned by the WWF and reported New Scientist. Do you really believe ground-living vertebrates have declined by 25%
with most of the slump occurring since 1980? Do you even know what a vertebrate is?
I’m well aware of the pressure that Mankind is placing on the environment and am concerned. I’m a conservationist and believe we must give large tracts of terrain to wild unrestrained evolutionary progression. We must also take into account the needs of humanity. So I’m sick to death of this manic fixation the loathsome politicised enviro Marxists have with CO2.
They are draining funds needed for conservation and trying to drag wealthy countries into poverty. We can only tackle these problems from a position of strength. Try and be altruistic when you’re hungry, cold and your children are sick. Your friends are working toward forcing people into desperation and when people are desperate the won’t give a flying fig about your mother Earth.
Every bad thing that was blamed on humans in the past is now being blamed on CO2 and fossil fuels, because without cheap energy there will be far fewer humans, except the few million eco-evolved humans, of course.
Welcome to paradise.