NPR

Florida's Corals Are Dying Off, But It's Not All Due To Climate Change, Study Says

A new study from the Florida Keys shows that a lot of the stress on corals comes from local sources, providing hope that community action can help save them.
Diver swimming over Elkhorn Coral in the Florida Keys. Elevated nutrients as well as elevated temperatures are causing a massive loss of this iconic branching species in Florida.

Brian Lapointe, a research professor at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, has spent his career studying corals at the Looe Key Reef, in a National Marine Sanctuary in the Florida Keys.

Over that time, he's witnessed an alarming trend. In the past 20 year, half of Florida corals have died off.

"Watching the decline of coral at Looe Key has been heartbreaking," Lapointe says. "When I moved here in

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min read
TikTok Faces Its Biggest Threat Yet; Earth Day Tips For Sustainable Living
The House passed a bill that would ban TikTok unless the China-based ByteDance sells it. These small changes will help you live more sustainably.
NPR2 min read
Oncologists' Meetings With Drug Reps Don't Help Cancer Patients Live Longer
Drug company reps commonly visit doctors to talk about new medications. A team of economists wanted to know if that helps patients live longer. They found that for cancer patients, the answer is no.
NPR2 min read
Europe Is Warming Up Faster Than Any Other Continent, And The Heat Is Deadly
The number of heat-related deaths in Europe increased 30% in the last 20 years. Climate change is to blame.

Related