http://www.newsweek.com/coral-tick-increasing-reefs-harm-1046046

A small, overlooked snail could be contributing to the demise of coral reefs.

Georgia Institute of Technology scientists studied how the Coralliophila violacea snail might further weaken already damaged reefs. The study, published in Ecological Applications on Thursday, found that the snail could reduce the growth of an important coral species, Porites cylindrica. The Porites coral can provide a foundation for reefs, as it’s less likely to be damaged by seaweed and other threats.