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Samples of past bleaching events in the Red Sea suggest nutrients worsen the already devastating effects of climate change on corals. Credit: Jess Bouwmeester
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A new study shows nutrients can aggravate the already negative effects of climate change on corals to trigger mass coral bleaching. Coral reef environments are typically low in naturally occurring nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous compounds. But ocean currents passing by can bring in a concentration of nutrients from elsewhere. Similarly, nutrients from man-made fertilisers and stormwater runoff enter reefs from adjacent coastlines.

Original Article