Current thinking on how the Toxoplasma gondii parasite invades its host is incorrect, according to a study published today in Nature Methods describing a new technique to knock out genes. The findings could have implications ...
Definition. Coral bleaching is a process whereby the coral colonies lose their colour, either due to the loss of pigments by microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) living in symbiosis with their host organisms (polyps), or because these zooxanthellae have been expelled.
Coral bleaching, if it continues, will threaten coral reefs around the world whenever the weather conditions are unusually hot, and will affect not only reefs that are under stress by human usage but also the most remote and pristine reefs so far untouched by human hands. This is a recipe for disaster for any and all reefs. Growth for a reef occurs slowly. Typically reefs can generate approx one inch of growth per year. Any interruption to this slow growth only weakens the coral and severely limits itâs ability to cope with environmental change..