25 Jul 2010

Scientists conduct coral reef experiment

9:36 am on 25 July 2010

A group of scientists is conducting a world first experiment on a living coral reef, in Queensland.

Researchers from the University of Queensland are pumping carbon dioxide into the ocean at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef, to see how the ecosystem copes.

Studies have shown that carbon emissions can cause reefs to decline by making the ocean more acidic and affecting the ability of coral to grow, the ABC reports.