it’s what’s in the sediment
The mystery of why some corals die suddenly after sedimentation events, while others survives appears to be tied to what’s in that sediment. A recent study documents for the first time mechanisms that cause nutrient enriched sediments to damage corals, while nutrient-poor sediments have little effect. And as little as 1% additional organic matter in the sediments is enough to trigger a chain reaction and coral death. More at aims.gov.au
