Bleaching, diseases, storms, pollution—numerous threats weigh heavily on the coral reefs of our archipelago. Today, nearly 80% of the coral reefs in the Antilles have been lost.
Recently, the Arbig, the regional biodiversity agency of Guadeloupe, published an indicator on the health of the coral reefs in our archipelago. This document is the result of hard work also carried out by the national park, the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), and the Deal (Department of Environment, Planning, and Housing). Through this document and the testimony of professionals, the dangers threatening our coral reefs are highlighted.
A Mystery of Nature
Coral is a great source of questions and fascination for the scientific world. It is both an animal, a mineral, and a plant. Its animal aspect is expressed through the presence of a microalga called zooxanthellae. These live in symbiosis with the polyp, the animal part of the coral. The algae provide the nutrients the coral needs while the polyp offers shelter in return. The polyps produce a common skeleton, which, for certain species, becomes the foundation of a coral reef. In other words, a coral reef is a colony of polyps that have created several limestone skeletons, more or less close to each other.
Source: guadeloupe
