Cyclone wipes out reefs in Tahiti

[ScubaSteve]

I saw this article (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100327075904.htm) this morning and I was totally blown away by the destruction (pun not intended). It makes be wonder why after a forest fire we go and replant new trees or make some restoration efforts but when a reef gets destroyed no one seems to lift a finger. Out of sight, out of mind I guess...

[rstar]

I wonder how fast a healthy reef would recover from a disaster like this? Perhaps it's better for the reef to heal on its own rather than have human intervention. Alot of forest does regrow on its own after a fire...

[hillbillyreefer]

It's a natural event that's been happening for millenia. The reefs will be fine.

[ScubaSteve]

Yes, you're quite right, I wonder that too. One thing that stook out in that article is the giant mat of algae that was forming and covering the area, that will certainly slow things down or cease them all together. It also makes me wonder how long it will take when you hear about al of the healthy reefs failing...

[blueyota]

It could be mother natures way of controlling the coral eating star fish :biggrin: