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Mystery disease spreads, threatens coral reefs in the Lower Florida Keys
BY JENNY STALETOVICH
April 20, 2018 07:42 PM
Updated 1 hour 32 minutes ago
A mysterious disease hammering Florida's dwindling reefs was found for the first time this week in the Lower Keys, alarming scientists who've used epoxy band-aids, amputated sick coral and even set up underwater "fire breaks" in a four-year battle to contain the outbreak.
Florida Keys Community College researchers working with state and federal investigators discovered the infected coral during a routine dive to collect samples, said Mote Marine Laboratory biologist Erinn Muller.
The discovery off Looe Key, south of Big Pine in part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, puts in jeopardy the southern end of the world's third-largest barrier reef — a scuba-diving destination renowned for its biological diversity.
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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loca...209447494.html
BY JENNY STALETOVICH
April 20, 2018 07:42 PM
Updated 1 hour 32 minutes ago
A mysterious disease hammering Florida's dwindling reefs was found for the first time this week in the Lower Keys, alarming scientists who've used epoxy band-aids, amputated sick coral and even set up underwater "fire breaks" in a four-year battle to contain the outbreak.
Florida Keys Community College researchers working with state and federal investigators discovered the infected coral during a routine dive to collect samples, said Mote Marine Laboratory biologist Erinn Muller.
The discovery off Looe Key, south of Big Pine in part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, puts in jeopardy the southern end of the world's third-largest barrier reef — a scuba-diving destination renowned for its biological diversity.
...
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/loca...209447494.html