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://vk.com/mopieboxoffice-cuevana-ver-titanic-pelicula-completa-espanol-en-linea-grati https://vk.com/piscesarya-ver-titanic-25th-anniversary-pelicula-completa-online-gratis
https://vk.com/veralebedeva12-cuevana-ver-titanic-25-aniversario-pelicula-completa-2023-on https://vk.com/watchstylleronline-pelisplusver-titanic-25-aniversario-pelicula-completa-online
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/mega-verhdtitanic25aniversario/home
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/pelisplus-ver-titanic-25th-ann/home
https://player.soundon.fm/p/73701a54-ce96-4568-95c3-f3f4c1c87f60
https://www.apawla.com/group/apawla-group/discussion/23cc030f-08ea-4baa-833a-83a4ad326160
https://www.volunteenleo.com/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/6c92b48c-e43a-4e7b-8e99-123d1ca66c05
https://johncp765.itch.io/ver-ruby-gillman-teenage-kraken-pelicula-2023-completa-gratis-en-hd
https://johncp765.itch.io/cuevana3-ver-ruby-aventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente-pelicula-completa-espanol
https://vk.com/watchstylleronline-cuevana-3-ver-ruby-aventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente-2023 https://vk.com/mopieboxoffice-pelisplus-ruby-aventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente-completa
https://vk.com/@movphdchinemark-pelisplus-ver-ruby-aventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente-onlin
https://www.apawla.com/group/apawla-group/discussion/3e968a7c-e000-4314-a7f9-b4caeeb42c23
https://www.volunteenleo.com/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/3fd7f7ef-095d-43e4-a9a0-5cdfb0cd7fed
https://www.bcbrewerymd.com/group/bc-brewery-group/discussion/d214f05d-c65e-4961-8ed5-b8581033b734
https://duyungsiren637.itch.io/ver-ruby-adventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente2023-pelcula-completa-online-y-gr
https://itch.io/jam/ver-ruby-pelicula-completa-gratis-cuevana-3-online-en-espanol-latino
https://itch.io/jam/veronline-ruby-gillman-teenage-kraken-2023-pelcula-completa-espaol-y-latino
https://itch.io/jam/ver-the-flash-pelcula-completa-online-latino-cuevana
https://itch.io/jam/cuevana-3ver-the-flash-pelcula-completa-onlne-en-espaol
https://itch.io/jam/pelisplus-the-flash-completa-2023-en-espaol-y-latino-online
https://megalodonlafosacuevanahd.statuspage.io/
https://cuevanavermeg2online.statuspage.io/
https://repelisspidermancruzandoelmultiverso.statuspage.io/
https://barbievercuevanaonline.statuspage.io/
https://verindianajonesyeldialdeldestino1.statuspage.io/
https://verpeliaelementallapeliculaonlinegratis.statuspage.io/
https://verguardianesdelagalaxia3onlinehd.statuspage.io/
https://verculpamiapeliculaonline.statuspage.io/
https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1367675258726776837
https://github.com/mariamerces107/exang/issues/6
https://medium.com/@mariamercez127/over-300-salvadorans-celebrate-u…
http://snaplant.com/question/over-300-salvadorans-celebrate-u-s-ind…
https://stoneforce.copiny.com/question/details/id/760719
https://open.firstory.me/story/cljo2kro201dk01y8cck26t4h
https://tautaruna.nra.lv/forums/tema/50385-indiana-jones-and-the-di…
https://app.lookbook.nu/look/9507050-Gita-Youbi
https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1363697206263021568
https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1363692888545820680
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/56efb780-35cb-4973-a381-65bee7b8be28
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/bed1af1a-0a3a-4d33-9764-cc671414544d
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/207496db-6629-4967-92d7-aeb408755cec
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/61fd4301-69df-41b1-8e53-b46cbce8258c
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/5c1bc471-6434-40fb-9ac2-3ad6d5c17a2e
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/4ac2cdd5-a0eb-4918-b8de-808d5eb818aa
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/71977aa8-1464-4d2b-b252-7a77d682aeed
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/a4d72a77-7fed-42fd-8cf9-76a173a94599
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/bc34c905-bade-41b5-8df7-210a71edba83
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/024f5d38-dfa9-4459-a1cd-0ee0d4605fe3
https://www.hellocities.online/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/01a240cb-484c-4d5f-92e6-0d86190f1f2d
https://www.hellocities.online/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/1e9c25f7-460b-4ca1-8a97-af5df5a382b5
https://www.hellocities.online/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/e970f6b1-3c83-4397-8d88-670e1eb688c2
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/820
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/821
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/822
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/823
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/825
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/826
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/827
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/843
https://community.wongcw.com/blogs/505586/My-Fault-Where-to-Watch-Stream-Online
https://www.hawaiianmusicperpetuationsociety.com/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/3d939e2f-05e0-4113-ad0b-7cafe00a98fb
https://pro.pasteshr.in/m6viieg94y
https://lintanghati187.medium.com/assistir-minha-culpa-pt-2023-filme-completo-dublado-em-portugues-7f060d24be9c
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/a2376f43-7aea-477d-98dd-06883186883f
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/3844c3ab-f740-4b84-a3ee-52662b0eb11d
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/f053f396-11f6-486c-bb1a-a472e3676385
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/30b51250-db25-4012-99fc-1292fe08827f
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/102cf7d1-1447-4fe1-9c64-4c94e20f062e
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/066be3b8-6614-40a0-b100-254853f9bbe9
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/d79c8855-8b34-4c39-a9d0-6500938312f0
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/fast-furious-10-2023-thai/home
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/fast-x-2023-hd/home
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/fastxhd2023/home
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/fast-furious-10-2023-thai-hd/home
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/215edcfc-62ae-44c7-b531-f46a1c1946ec
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/0e58acc0-0570-43a8-a671-164f9998666e
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/cuevanaverlasirenita2023lapelc/home
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/pelispluslasirenitacompleta/home
https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/pelisplus-ver-la-sirenita2023/home
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/817e1f10-8976-468d-ba7a-423833efe86d
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/9202b01f-4dff-4e7f-aa62-76e7f6fba69a
https://www.blackgolfdirectory.com/group/blackgolddirectory-group/discussion/f23ea1e5-5848-4a18-9f0a-f07db787cb98
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4705
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4710
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4711
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4715
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4704
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/670
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/671
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/672
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/673
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/674
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/675
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/676
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/677
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/678
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/679
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4746
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4747
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4749
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4751
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4752
https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/alexander.pfuhz/pallindrom/-/issues/4761
https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5011087843917824/
https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5592612239048704/
https://fnote.net/notes/0WPvPd
https://vocus.cc/article/64982c77fd89780001da9e77
http://pastie.org/p/5lSsK5lmDcbiE3ZvImU8mZ
https://paste.awesom.eu/k5AW
http://ben-kiki.org/ypaste/data/78082/index.html
http://paste.jp/dafab5be/
https://pasteio.com/xPa5N2RXIznq
https://paste2.org/JkMPc1k0
https://bitbin.it/woHMCY98/
https://paste.toolforge.org/view/b7f9a643
https://yamcode.com/untitled-74370
Leave a comment