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does play an active roll, but there is some discrepancy in the cause of the elevated temperatures. Furthermore, there are plenty of other environmental conditions such as high doses of ultraviolet light and bacterial infection that may be limiting the ability of the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae. Nevertheless, there is but little scientific data to ascertain any definitive cause. Both scientific literature and the popular press report that there is a problem and that temperature increase is one of the conditions that causes coral bleaching. According to Huppert et al. (1998) the cause is El Ni?o, but Helvarg (2000) suggests that CO2 may be a legitimate reason, which it may be. The opposing viewpoints between Huppert et al., reputable scientific authority, and Helvarg, a member of the popular press, are not so much in opposition due to their cultural status, but rather they are both reporting on an issue that has yet to have a determinant cause. The same holds true for the views of Winiarski (1998) and Warrick (1999). On the topic of coral reef bleaching, and since it is a new notion, the popular press is probably more capable of expressing this knowledge to the general public. Huppert et. al (1998) and Gates et al. (1999) merely touch on the principles of coral bleaching before exploring the in depth tests and models that were conducted in search of a very specific fragment of the general subject. While on the contrary, authors such as Helvarg (2000), Winiarski (19998) and Warrick (1999) have the benefit of being able to describe what coral bleaching is and it?s probable causes in a much more concise and to-the-point fashion.

Bibliography

References

Gates, R.D., and Edmunds, P.J. 1999. The Physiological Mechanisms of Acclimatization in Tropical Reef Corals. American Zoologist; Vol. 39, No. 1 (Feb. 1999), pp. 30-43.

Huppert, A., and Stone, L. 1998. Chaos in the Pacific?s Coral Reef Bleaching Cycle. The American Naturalist; Vol. 152, No. 3 (Sept. 1998), pp. 447-459.

Levin, T. 1999. To Save a Reef. National Wildlife; Vol. 37, No. 2 (Feb./Mar. 1999), pp. 20-29.

Warrick, J. 1999. Warm Weather Destroyed Corals in ?98, Report Says. Houston Chronicle; March 8, 1999, p. 6.

Winiarski, K. 1998. Coral in Peril as Reefs Suffer Worldwide. USA Today; October 19, 1998, p. 04A.