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Killing Rats Could Save Coral Reefs (bbc.co.uk)

The much maligned rat is not a creature many would associate with coral reefs. But scientists studying reefs on tropical islands say the animals directly threaten the survival of these ecosystems. From a report: A team working on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean found that invasive rats on the islands are a "big problem" for coral reefs. Rats decimate seabird populations, in turn decimating the volume of bird droppings -- a natural coral fertiliser. The findings are published in Nature. Scientists now advocate eradicating rats from all of the islands to protect these delicate marine habitats.

3 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. If killing a rat could save some reefs... by h33t+l4x0r · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just think what killing POTUS could do. ** ducks**

  2. Re:Is it not the really big rats? by Nidi62 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nothing a few kittehs can't fix.

    Except the cats would kill the birds too. So you would have to introduce dogs to keep the cats under control as well. Which means adding cars to keep the dog population from getting out of hand. Then the car population gets too big so you have to introduce hipsters to reduce the number of cars. And the last thing anyone wants are islands overrun with hipsters.

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
  3. Re:Is it not the really big rats? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Have you ever met a cat? I mean, I'm pretty much agnostic and don't ascribe much to god or the devil, but if I were religious in any way, shape or form, I would absolutely believe cats are the spawn of the devil. They're evil little shits even when they're being all sweet and cuddly because you know it's a 50/50 chance the cuddle will turn into a grab and bite at any given moment.

    And then the weaving through your feet when you're trying to walk, or lunging at you as you're carrying something big and heavy, or the jumping at your head off the dresser just to fuck with you when you're half awake. Little fuckers are entertaining, but DEFINITELY evil.