Source: CBC News [1]
January 12, 2011

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is threatened by pollution and toxic substances being carried out to sea by the devastating floods that have been causing havoc in the eastern state of Queensland for the past few weeks.

Researchers at James Cook's University are concerned that as floodwaters empty into the Coral Sea on Australia's eastern coast, they will bring with them pesticides, heavy metal residue and other toxins washed away from farms and abandoned mines.

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"Because coral animals derive most of their food through the photosynthesis that takes place from microscopic algae living in their tissue, corals need warm, clear water to survive," said Rick MacPherson, conservation program director for the Coral Reef Alliance in a statement emailed to CBC News.

To read the full text of the article, click here [2].