Boffins at the University of Plymouth and the city’s Plymouth Marine Laboratory have made a major breakthrough in identifying what may be responsible for the destruction of the world’s coral reefs.
In what is being hailed as a significant discovery, experts believe the so-called bleaching process that ultimately leads to the death of the reefs is probably caused by a latent virus, brought on by the effects of global warming.
It had previously been thought that climate change alone was the primary cause for the bleaching effect, but this is the first time it’s been established that a viral infection could be a key part of the process.
PhD student Jayme Lohr, who discovered the virus, said: “This is a very exciting breakthrough. I have shown that the symbiotic algae contain a latent virus – it is only when they are stressed by temperature or UV light that the virus multiplies.”
Dr Colin Munn, Jayme’s PhD supervisor at the University of Plymouth, explained: “It could be compared to the situation of herpes in humans, where stress can trigger cold sores because a latent virus starts to multiply.
“This is another significant piece of evidence as to why this bleaching occurs as it could explain how climate change alone is not responsible for the destruction of coral reefs.”
The findings have been published in PRSD’s favourite journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Oh yes.
Posted by Thin White Duke
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