In the general area of the Caribbean, but mostly in the Florida keys, scientist have observed over the past 9 years that a bacterium that is found humans waste, known as white pox, is also killing the coral reefs. The coral being affected by the bacterium is elkhorn coral which is scattered across the caribbean. After various test, scientists discovered that the pathogen can be found in the waste of Key deer and Key seagulls but were determined to prove that the cause of the white pox was from humans. They knew that Serratia marcecens was the cause of white pox and after different experiments, they successfully proved that this bacterium was not natural and was brought on by humans. This investigation has been funded by the University of Georgia with 2.2 million dollar grant. Now that scientist have found the source of this problem, now they can find a cure for the coral.
Scientist have Hypothesis based science, because they tested different experiments to collect data. They made observations to come to a eventual conclusion. This investigation has brought knowledge for humans, and now allows us to correct the human error we have created.
Author: James Porter.
Title: Human Pathogen Killing Corals in the Florida Keys
Journal: Science Daily
Published: August 18, 2011
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