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Clown Fish Struggle to Survive
Scientists Work to Save a Rare and Beautiful Species
by Zoe Benelcaid, age 11
Clown
fish are at risk of being endangered. Clown fish live in sea anemones
that grow on coral reefs. Because of climate change, scientists fear
that coral reefs will die and the clown fish won’t have a place to live.
Last
September, the center for biological diversity made a petition that
they hope will prevent clown fish from becoming an endangered species.
Shaye Wolf, a scientist from the Center of Biological Diversity, says
coral reefs are becoming unhealthy because of climate change and
pollution. This is also damaging clown fish’s sense of hearing, sight,
and smell.
The pollution from humans is also hurting
coral reefs by increasing the acid in the ocean. This makes it hard for
young clown fish to find coral reefs, healthy enough, to make their
homes. The National Marine Fisheries Service provides conservation for
endangered or threatened species. They are also the ones that will
possibly help the Clown fish survive.
There is no evidence that
clown fish numbers are dropping, but scientists are still concerned
about this species because of the damaged coral reefs. “The longer we
wait the harder it’s going to be to save these unique creatures” said
Wolf.
[Source:
Time For Kids
]
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