Hawaiian coral colonies are over 4,000 years old

摘要

Some giant deepsea corals like the gold coral Gerardia and the black coral Leiopathes both grow several meters tall and are found at depths of up to 500 meters. Previously by measuring growth rings it was assumed that the corals were several hundred years old. Further carbon dating of layers at the base of the corals revealed that the oldest Gerardia was 2,742 years old and a Leiopathes 4,265 years old. Because these corals are so old scientists would like to see governments adopt measures to protect the corals from fishing and trawling and permanently banned form the Jewelry trade.