Caribbean wins ‘seaweed Olympics’
The researchers found that seaweeds bloom four times faster in the Caribbean than the Pacific Ocean. Image: George Roff A new study finds that Caribbean seaweeds are far better competitors than their equivalents in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. But this triumph is bad news for Caribbean coral reefs.The picture-postcard beauty of Caribbean reefs owes much to the living corals that build reefs and contribute startling white sand to beaches. Coral reefs might seem to be tranquil environment but in fact a battle is constantly waged between corals and seaweeds that fight over space. Scientists have known for some time that seaweeds can gain the upper hand if corals are damaged by hurricanes or excessively warm sea temperatures that cause coral bleaching. But a new study, published online today, reveals that Caribbean seaweeds are the equivalent of Olympian athletes compared those found on coral reefs elsewhere."Seaweeds bloom four times faster in...