Ancient Coral Found In Hollywood, FL

Marvel · Sep 22, 2005

Really interesting article- & right in our back yard?

Coral Discovered

Kev7 · Sep 22, 2005

Thanks for sharing that, it was very interesting! It was stated in the article , "Ken Banks, a reef expert for Broward County's Environmental Protection Department, saw it 20 feet below the surface while diving on the first reef from shore." Are you aware of where this is at?....to bad there were not any photos

justleesa · Sep 22, 2005

Very interesting, thanks for posting....just a question, how can they check the growth rings without killing the coral?

RonFrank · Sep 23, 2005

justleesa:
Very interesting, thanks for posting....just a question, how can they check the growth rings without killing the coral?

f

justleesa · Sep 23, 2005

They extracted an eight-foot core sample, being careful to plug the gap and avoid harming the coral. Using a masonry saw, they sliced it into thin sections, X-rayed them and used the growth bands to establish the coral's age. Each pair of black-and-white bands represents one year.

ah-hem...I guess I over looked that part...Thanks

DandyDon · Sep 23, 2005

justleesa:
ah-hem...I guess I over looked that part...Thanks

Scientists do about the same with old trees - looking for similar patterns, etc. Certainly better than cutting the tree down and studying the stump. :11:

I am fascinated that the coral is thriving in shallow water so close to the pollution runoff, and grateful it hasn't met any of the Cozumel cruise ship captains.

Orlando Eric · Sep 23, 2005

Marvel that is interesting. Makes you wonder how many times you have swam right on by looking at it and never knew that, that specific piece of coral was any different than any other.

Life should come with better signage.

SFLDiver · Sep 23, 2005

I'm holding my breath on what they find as far as actual pollution content in the growth rings (if possible?) I'm also curious as to studies of just which and how much pollutants might actually be incorporated Into the coral structure itself.

High levels of nitrates are not a smoking gun, as these may occur naturally.
See studies of Sahara sands from Africa and how they relate to red algae blooms off Florida's west coast.

http://www.floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=22896

Walter · Sep 23, 2005

What made them think that this coral head was any different and how do they know it is?

how can they check the growth rings without killing the coral?

Unless they drilled in a dead zone, they did kill a small portion of the colony.

fldiver327 · Sep 23, 2005

kev7,

If you go back to the article just to the right there is a graphic depicting the x-ray ofthe coral and below that is a really bad pic. Just click on the pic itself and it will enlarge. As I said its not a great pic but at least it woud give you some idea of what it looks like if you were to go looking for it on a dive.

fldiver327

Ancient Coral Found In Hollywood, FL

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