Coral Reefs as a Marker of Environmental Change
Coral is highly sensitive to its external environment. Changes in ocean temperature, pollution and run-off, and pH (ocean acidification) can cause them to 'bleach' (1). When bleached, they can survive if optimal conditions return. However, if the stress is sustained, they will eventually die. As such, coral reefs are deeply threatened by environmental change and therefore make a good marker for the health of ocean ecosystems.
What is coral bleaching?
Coral live in a symbiotic relationship with microscopic, photosynthetic, algae called zooxanthellae (2). Like plants, the zooxanthellae capture sunlight and convert it into energy, providing essential nutrients to the coral (3). In return, the coral provides a protected environment for the zooxanthellae to live. Aside from providing nutrients, the zooxanthellae are also responsible for the colouring of many stony corals.
Under conditions of stress caused by changes in ocean temperature, agricultural run-off, and ocean acidification, resulting from human activities releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, the coral polyps expel their zooxanthellae, causing them to take on a white appearance, what is known as "coral bleaching" (4). The coral will not die instantly when the zooxanthellae is expelled, but if the period of stress is sustained, the zooxanthellae will be unable to re-enter the coral tissue, the coral will not get the essential nutrients it needs to survive.
What is left is the corals calcium carbonate skeleton. Algae begins to grow over the coral skeletons, blocking any chance of regrowth. After time, the skeletons will erode, resulting in the collapse of the reef structure. This collapse is not just an eyesore, it has catastrophic impacts for the ocean ecosystem, fisheries and local communities that depend on the reef for an income.
Why is it Important That we Protect Coral Reefs?
Habitat - Coral skeletons are an important component of the reef architecture and provide a habitat for 25% of all marine species (5). They provide shelter, spawning grounds and protection from predators. In their absence, fish stocks will decline, this has a knock-on effect to local communities who are reliant on fish for their main source of protein.
Tourism and Recreation - For coastal communities that are reliant on tourism for their income, the health of coral reefs is paramount to their survival. Ecotourism provides thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in income. It has been estimated that coral reefs have a global economic value of $36 billion per year (6).
Coastline Protection - Coral reefs absorb 97% of a waves energy (7), acting as a buffer against storm events, such as hurricanes and tsunamis, to 150,000 km of global tropical coastlines in over 100 countries (8).
Pharmaceuticals - Due to the stationary nature of coral, it has developed a plethora of chemical defences in order to gain protection from predators and to fight disease. Coral is therefore becoming increasingly recognised as an important source of new drugs to treat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and arthritis.
What Can we do to Help?
Although small changes at home will make a difference (e.g. buying organic food as to not contribute to the use of pesticides and herbicides), the real issue here is climate change which requires global cooperation and action to reduce emissions and slow global warming. The death of coral reefs is not just a great loss to the ocean but it will greatly impact millions of people, in over 100 countries, who rely on the reefs for their income and as a food source.
References:
- https://science.sciencemag.org/content/328/5985/1523
- https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_corals/coral02_zooxanthellae.html#:~:text=Coral%20polyps%2C%20which%20are%20animals,water%20to%20carry%20out%20photosynthesis
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs003380050249
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/1312064
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160404152918.htm
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X17300635
- https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/coral-reefs.html
- https://oceanwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Atlas_of_Ocean_Wealth.pdf
Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!
https://wokwi.com/projects/402549691111694337
https://wokwi.com/projects/402549795868698625
https://wokwi.com/projects/402549839104661505
https://wokwi.com/projects/402549913041898497
https://wokwi.com/projects/402549963128186881
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550075596364801
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550121321621505
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550166311837697
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550429843133441
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550472271670273
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550568608550913
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550625829367809
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550673417949185
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550758087327745
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550802501863425
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550871882998785
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550914980531201
https://wokwi.com/projects/402550957445770241
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551098549511169
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551152702178305
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551198114961409
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551262730317825
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551390328398849
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551465868892161
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551521701397505
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551582227323905
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551633475432449
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551688299188225
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551738231329793
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551801334638593
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551846214747137
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551921290696705
https://wokwi.com/projects/402551970180558849
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552011055106049
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552074381765633
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552135908018177
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552182899956737
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552261294654465
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552306588949505
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552361641299969
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552401994703873
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552454620647425
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552500731780097
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552544002320385
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552587869503489
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552643870808065
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552685565337601
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552751816473601
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552807009326081
https://wokwi.com/projects/402552864423067649
https://paste.rs/pOlFx.txt
https://jsfiddle.net/72jvucbe/
https://snippet.host/qmujes
https://paste.centos.org/view/4868e1c3
https://paste.ofcode.org/d7UFVVkhmy3uWdi46Nb3AG
https://paste.chapril.org/?614335d216146090#7nnuvsBqo5o6m9ff7LEzdhum1y4pJzxUPFrCQioCf7qo
https://pastebin.com/a6EggWqK
https://pastebin.freeswitch.org/view/5e0a7800
https://paiza.io/projects/Cvrs3tgIQ3Z8OVAkkfDN_w
https://tempel.in/view/A5mSMcr
https://bitbin.it/qBKbi9aN/
https://onlinegdb.com/TeWi_EJh_
https://paste.intergen.online/view/a48a045c
https://paste.thezomg.com/208750/17201647/
https://ivpaste.com/v/8LjjOCOydK
https://binshare.net/ToO4ZD65LBiK4g7nVBpt
https://paste.myst.rs/b454ar0y
https://sharetext.me/wftofzkr8q
https://www.facebook.com/events/906770831648684/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1126366405814255/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1742415542968271/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1320840422274694/
https://www.facebook.com/events/951326653246291/
https://www.facebook.com/events/598771292797735/
https://www.facebook.com/events/931949635669685/
https://www.facebook.com/events/993026342734196/
https://www.facebook.com/events/966461688763172/
https://www.facebook.com/events/930616985872623/
https://github.com/Flight-Risk-CZ-Filmy
https://github.com/Na-plech-Filmy-cz
https://github.com/Babygirl-Filmy-cz
https://tinhte.vn/profile/odvazna-vaiana-2-cely-film-cz-dabing-hd1080p.3289538/
https://tinhte.vn/profile/cely-film-odvazna-vaiana-2-cesky-dabing-cz.3289547/
https://tinhte.vn/profile/odvazna-vaiana-2-cely-film-cesky-dabing-filmy-cz.3289552/
https://tinhte.vn/profile/sledujte-odvazna-vaiana-2-cely-film-cz-dabing-sk.3289556/
https://tinhte.vn/profile/odvazna-vaiana-2-2025-cely-film-cz-sk-dabing-hd.3289562/
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KeigAyyZsavM8fqH7s1fE
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dfYjTvuckM65oOAHCUBPi
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1yk37eeg28r2JrGzfiVEhT
https://tinhte.vn/profile/velky-pan-cely-film-cz-dabing-a-zdarma-hd1080p.3289761/
https://tinhte.vn/profile/cely-film-velky-pan-cesky-dabing-filmy-cz.3289764/
https://tinhte.vn/profile/velky-pan-2025-cely-film-cesky-dabing-filmy-cz.3289770/
https://tinhte.vn/profile/sledujte-velky-pan-2025-cely-film-online-zdarma-cz.3289775/
https://tinhte.vn/profile/velky-pan-2025-cely-film-online-zdarma-cz-sk.3289779/
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-6
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-6
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-6
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-6
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-6
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-6
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-6
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-6
https://m.facebook.com/events/906770831648684/
https://m.facebook.com/events/1126366405814255/
https://m.facebook.com/events/1742415542968271/
https://m.facebook.com/events/1320840422274694/
https://m.facebook.com/events/951326653246291/
https://m.facebook.com/events/598771292797735/
https://m.facebook.com/events/931949635669685/
https://m.facebook.com/events/993026342734196/
https://m.facebook.com/events/966461688763172/
https://m.facebook.com/events/930616985872623/
https://m.facebook.com/events/432110796650539/
https://m.facebook.com/events/1139731004410673/
https://m.facebook.com/events/1298113874564436/
https://m.facebook.com/events/1147139120146069/
https://m.facebook.com/events/966581608189933/
https://www.resume.id/works/ee0c8085d192b4ba
https://www.resume.id/works/654f88271d72afe3
https://www.resume.id/works/22c60f11d977cd80
https://www.resume.id/works/b49a5def105f172f
https://www.resume.id/works/e95c492a4054570f
https://www.resume.id/works/738c108670054999
https://www.resume.id/works/0f4c3010e4c6da85
https://www.resume.id/works/e694116ddde66083
https://www.resume.id/works/213df7ccc5e49854
https://www.resume.id/works/14cdba63cff9c902
https://www.resume.id/works/0302819c9c4edc23
https://www.resume.id/works/76184795e8ceeb4e
https://www.resume.id/works/d0376bd5e13065df
https://www.resume.id/works/c0541df9866e7cc9
https://www.resume.id/works/5bcecf1b69c4dff2
https://www.resume.id/works/a2f2351705cada99
https://www.resume.id/works/e1a5a4cd4f4ac411
https://www.resume.id/works/e92b1109373ba050
https://github.com/Nosferatu-f-i-l-m-y-cz-sk
https://github.com/Better-Man-2024-film-cz
https://www.resume.id/works/9e61f755dde8cf8f
https://www.resume.id/works/46646e942ea2049c
https://www.resume.id/works/a39a1269ac6649f9
https://www.resume.id/works/25c5afba3da6789f
https://www.resume.id/works/374445e8ab6e3b22
https://www.resume.id/works/35bd70b21c998623
https://www.resume.id/works/0e1f29a91426bd07
https://www.resume.id/works/d59792d0a3cec233
https://www.resume.id/works/0539c9cf7c425b58
https://www.resume.id/works/53c0680c2649e8b7
https://www.resume.id/works/98cead19ffe9d000
https://www.resume.id/works/d324238c7301ba98
https://www.facebook.com/events/432110796650539/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1139731004410673/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1298113874564436/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1147139120146069/
https://www.facebook.com/events/966581608189933/
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Jezek-Sonic3-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Jezek-Sonic3-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Jezek-Sonic3-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Jezek-Sonic3-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Jezek-Sonic3-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Nosferatu-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Nosferatu-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Nosferatu-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Nosferatu-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Nosferatu-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vaiana2-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vaiana2-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vaiana2-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vaiana2-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vaiana2-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Babygirl-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Babygirl-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Babygirl-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Babygirl-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Babygirl-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/BetterMan-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/BetterMan-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/BetterMan-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/BetterMan-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/BetterMan-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/V-dobremizlem-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/V-dobremizlem-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/V-dobremizlem-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/V-dobremizlem-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/V-dobremizlem-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Flight-Risk-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Flight-Risk-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Flight-Risk-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Flight-Risk-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Flight-Risk-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Valiant-One-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Valiant-One-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Valiant-One-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Valiant-One-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Valiant-One-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Valiant-One-6
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Valiant-One-7
https://www.resume.id/works/9ff9de2ab69a0859
https://www.resume.id/works/2a19c8b4a62c3780
https://www.resume.id/works/ba7404f788adf656
https://www.resume.id/works/ca7a74c280700475
https://www.resume.id/works/b7ea0e9d067dcebe
https://www.resume.id/works/c6cdda5e07600693
https://www.resume.id/works/c88b55f7c7374a9b
https://www.resume.id/works/23e04862326b9249
https://www.resume.id/works/3be99484a6895b1d
https://www.resume.id/works/3c38421b8308330d
https://www.resume.id/works/bac55292e48cfd70
https://www.resume.id/works/064baf7662001906
https://www.resume.id/works/bcaceadb31346d59
https://www.resume.id/works/0d948db0f0d21030
https://www.resume.id/works/e744ac42bdcdea73
https://www.resume.id/works/a73b0c8cbd1a163a
https://www.resume.id/works/e91fcbf867889a49
https://www.resume.id/works/240f1c3241f8e31d
https://www.resume.id/works/21c6d292bbd9cb8a
https://www.resume.id/works/6f331a9dd96ff106
https://www.resume.id/works/0626e6a059c800b5
https://www.resume.id/works/32d2c68f4b4f67c4
https://www.resume.id/works/5f6e698669605840
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Na-plech-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Na-plech-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Na-plech-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Na-plech-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Na-plech-5
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-cz-1
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-cz-2
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-cz-3
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-cz-4
https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-cz-5
Leave a comment