Coral Reef Health

Laura Van Vliet

The health of coral reefs around the world has been a serious issue in recent years. Many different factors have been related to the aggravation of the issue: water pollution, water quality, rising sea temperatures, and coral disease (Raymundo et al, 2009). Coral disease is an area in which the incidence, origin, and spread of disease is not well understood by the scientific community (Raymundo et al, 2009). A recent study, titled Functionally diverse reef-fish communities ameliorate coral disease, led by Laurie J. Raymundo, sheds some light on the matter. This research is also presented in an article; Diverse fish reduce coral disease, by Richard Black, from the BBC. These two articles, while based upon the same scientific study and data, are different in their inherent purpose and basic writing approach. These presentation of the data and the weight it is given is thus affected.

The primary source article, a journal article titled Functionally diverse reef-fish communities ameliorate coral disease and appearing in Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), is a detailed description of the study performed. Its purpose is to convince members of the scientific community of its validity, and thus provides a report of the study which proves its merit. In Diverse fish reduce coral disease, the secondary article, methods are not discussed except for some rudimentary explanations of sample size. This article is trying to reach the general public, and thus must be to the point, sensational, and not necessarily contain proof. The discussion of method in this article is contained in, “the researchers selected sevens marine protected areas (MPAs)... and seven neighbouring areas” (Black, 2009). A full understanding of detail is, however, central to the full understanding of the implications of the study. In Dr. Raymundo’s journal article the choosing of the 7 MPAs and surrounding reefs is discussed in relation to water quality and past overfishing in that area (Raymundo et al, 2009). The discussion of methods in the primary article shows areas of uncertainty in the results while also explaining how certain errors were avoided. In general, however, the lack of an in depth discussion of method makes the study seem more definitive than it is, by simplifying the process it appears that the method utilised is best method, and not a debatable one.

Similar to above, the way material is presented in the primary article versus the secondary article is quite different. In Black’s article regarding the study, the implications of many interpretive statements are facts. For example, in Black’s article he states that “reefs where lots of different kinds of fish swim are healthier than overfished ones, scientists have shown” (Black, 2009). While in Raymundo’s scientific journal article, a less definitive statement is used, “we showed that even among fished reefs, those with greater fish diversity were, on average, less diseased.” (Raymundo et al, 2009). The connotations on the word ‘health’ versus ‘less-diseased’ are very different. The second quotation portrays the relationship between fish diversity and incidence of disease a potential causation, but perhaps also a correlation. In the first statement however, it is implied that the relationship is causal.

Water pollution and poor water quality was referred to by both articles in reference to coral reef health. The journal article presents this information in the introduction to the article, and as it is not the focus of the research but a key contributing factor, this is logical. The primary article is in this way of a more specific focus. The secondary article presents the information as a part of the discussion of other causes and conclusions. For example, the secondary article claims that “disease seems to be exacerbated by pollutants... may be stimulated by anything that stresses coral” (Black, 2009), while the primary article marks in the introduction that reefs “remain under increasing threat from poor water quality, habitat degradation, and destructive fishing practices” (Raymundo et al, 2009). The main difference is in a previously arrived at conclusion or recently arrived at one; though both agree that poor water quality is major contributor to poor coral reef health.

Generally, the same conclusions are drawn by both authors, despite differences in connotation. Raymundo and Black both agree that butterflyfish are potentially a main cause of coral disease, and that the population of the butterflyfish increases as a result of decreased species diversity. They also suggest that at least a partial reduction or limitations on fishing in non-protected zones would increase coral reef health by increasing species diversity. Further, they both note that water quality, pollution, and other factors are degenerative to the health of coral reefs. While the secondary source does make the results of said study appear more authoritative than suggested in the primary source article, the effects are not prominent enough to affect the basic message.

References

Black, Richard (2009) Diverse fish reduce coral disease. BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8279572.stm Accessed 7 October 2009.

Raymundo, Laurie J. et al. (2009). Functionally diverse reef-fish communities ameliorate coral disease. PNAS. Vol. 106, no. 40, pg 17067-17070. http://www.pnas.org/content/106/40/17067.full.pdf+html Accessed on 7 October 2009.