sustainability · 4649 comments ·

Coral Reefs as a Marker of Environmental Change

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:

  1. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/328/5985/1523
  2. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_corals/coral02_zooxanthellae.html#:~:text=Coral%20polyps%2C%20which%20are%20animals,water%20to%20carry%20out%20photosynthesis
  3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs003380050249
  4. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1312064
  5. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160404152918.htm
  6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X17300635
  7. https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/coral-reefs.html
  8. https://oceanwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Atlas_of_Ocean_Wealth.pdf

4650 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • uetkteuktku

    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

  • alajs

    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246090
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/244176
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243423
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246070
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246060
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/244166
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243393
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/244156
    https://paste2.org/dYw2F7Ap
    https://pastes.io/myvwgywdcx
    https://yamcode.com/lbsxfegr6i
    https://rextester.com/WELU89680
    https://onecompiler.com/php/3ypkczuj8
    https://paste.toolforge.org/view/de1dbc5c
    https://paiza.io/projects/H9YP1EmR93u5l5_LvQB9Zw?language=php
    https://paste.centos.org/view/1430aff0
    https://pasteio.com/xdpGWWaPEtwI
    https://p.teknik.io/2ysuY
    https://pastelink.net/k9hkhwrl
    http://paste.jp/a7b4ff5d/
    https://www.pastery.net/cszsbz/
    https://pasteio.com/xdpGWWaPEtwI
    https://justpaste.it/7asah
    https://jsfiddle.net/mize123salajs/6bnadzpy/
    http://pastebin.falz.net/2459174
    https://paste.laravel.io/1d257548-5609-4133-8b6d-94010cd44c23
    https://privatebin.net/?c9747053aa6d5b18#J5LaV6DTvyACuLCjiWkTqttaASiRuu62WSjDwooCMf34
    https://paste.ec/paste/-JbjJ+Tz#uNlJCsAcJTqWL0Jp2lrFAJMPRLtfX0zvk-/KCcmsNXU
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/_jPChk
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/C+k~$K
    https://paste.md-5.net/uboyezuboc.rb
    https://paste.mozilla.org/W3RL8KKJ
    https://paste.myst.rs/9qepyht3
    https://paste.awesom.eu/dfdfdsfdfdf/59ho
    https://paste.enginehub.org/lXu0xqreb
    https://paste.imirhil.fr/?30804298c9922762#j2lqTMDLHWMp0Lbiro3QFtK1WVAa4tIWKP37hIpWD1E=
    https://paste.itefix.net/?d3eb5ba76c58d36d#C9g8xLVb1tnk4HAGbhGfWtd1USRmdL35BtmvzEREDdmA
    https://paste.me/?new=true
    https://paste.chapril.org/?bea9c603edb2cc48#FV5CaLU2NHtVq3NyBaNE3prq544nCm54ECRopPieAxwQ
    https://paste.offsec.com/?110f961958c375e8#p8l9Ya+eqAYLR8qtzkoIsK3+8iZ15X1yb3pw9GpwcAk=
    https://anotepad.com/note/read/ph6aykbf
    https://notepad.pw/raw/aPNOl5AcurVRBQTZWJ0l
    https://ideone.com/i2czhY
    https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQZfn6Eg
    https://0paste.com/410480
    https://controlc.com/83b770bd
    https://paste.rs/dm2.php
    https://rentry.co/DSFDFDFD
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243378
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243363
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243172
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243167
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/244171
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246080
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243408
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243403
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246050
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243388
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243127
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243122

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/185596
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186390
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184818
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184042
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184813
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/185591
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184808
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184779
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184774
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186385
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184037
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186380
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184803
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186375
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184032
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184798
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186370
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/185576
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186365
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184769
    https://mzmovies4k.com/es/movie/505642/black-panther-wakanda-forever

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://watch-avatar-2-2022-online.tumblr.com/
    https://terrifier-2-filme-complet-hd.tumblr.com/
    https://terrifier-2-pelicula-completa.tumblr.com/
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180339
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179607
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/182325
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180329
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/182315
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179592
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/182310
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179577
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180309
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/181171
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180374
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180543
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179647
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180533
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180364
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180359
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179632
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180349
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179617
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/182330
    https://mzmovies4k.com/es/movie/663712/terrifier-2

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://terrifier-2-filme-complet-hd.tumblr.com/
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178678
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178579
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178668
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179496
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/177722
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180635
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/177717
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178648
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/177712
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178559
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178614
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179546
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/177782
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180675
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179541
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180665
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178713
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178708
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178703
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179526
    https://watch-avatar-2-2022-online.tumblr.com/

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/tryit.php/952b926f-70a4-4b03-8c7f-cd74d59c2dd2
    https://paste2.org/mAVpVW1c
    https://pastes.io/0hndweh3pn
    https://yamcode.com/xviqcj2zy6
    https://rextester.com/JDWDC58620
    https://onecompiler.com/html/3ypddn9mp
    https://paste.toolforge.org/view/a65127bb
    https://paste.centos.org/view/1fe22e1e
    https://jsfiddle.net/mize123salajs/c8juxb7g/1/
    https://pasteio.com/xDFdHmYmWQ4W
    https://p.teknik.io/GAUCh
    https://paste.laravel.io/21ed0d40-b88e-40c5-a54d-2b8e032bf968
    https://pastelink.net/9kra7y91
    http://paste.jp/f62e5f28/
    https://www.pastery.net/prcwwj/
    https://justpaste.it/2r6vq
    https://paste.laravel.io/21ed0d40-b88e-40c5-a54d-2b8e032bf968
    https://paste.ec/paste/O8vFLNEk#Cmfam+lVH+zT6Sjj4bpMWvawNyUwtY95h2JBMk8cHCP
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/hfErU6
    https://paste.md-5.net/letabuboti.rb
    https://paste.mozilla.org/PLOmNEf6
    https://privatebin.net/?3d90bb94f17e336a#37W1DiYQscrTVs6RruTYsriRiJYVFxxeMM2dTux6hngq
    https://paste.ec/paste/2CZlWpeK#RKaaneQWKBK1pnNaqO1RnJFP45EXOC6aSIE5SamqMg7
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/X8-TDc
    https://paste.md-5.net/iruyigatuy.rb
    https://paste.mozilla.org/2Khoj1Ai
    https://paste.myst.rs/k1zk8aw7
    https://paste.awesom.eu/raw/dfdfdfsd/Qyqg
    https://paste.imirhil.fr/?4a5f85d23ecbd77d#Zac6rOI3mdpssvmZSnFMEiye4H+Wgiq/wze3E73HhAc=
    https://paste.itefix.net/?888b8b2ba32f9195#Cky6Jtr9W5Qm8reBBTQBJU2LEGTqqC41SNmKoWiGiCW9
    https://paste.enginehub.org/JMiaYJTPn
    https://paste.me/?new=true
    https://paste.chapril.org/?ad8c99622706ab49#BfUuVJ6MrYnbkSQLjU7pAQ2t3Ewtd3Ga8eGdxoytsgvf
    https://paste.offsec.com/?40a92ec9f8540874#WkFLKSOqJrmLHnFb9Pbn6Ly4kmo8m/NN232yICgAzAk=
    https://anotepad.com/note/read/hy7r89fk
    https://sharetext.me/apkgz5jwct
    https://notepad.pw/raw/v7WiUr2wncpAZhKb6DbJ
    https://ideone.com/Qr9N5L
    https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQHX0QEQ
    https://0paste.com/409401
    https://controlc.com/7a75d7e8
    https://paste.rs/jud.php
    https://rentry.co/fdsfsdfdsfdsfsdf
    https://write.geeksforgeeks.org/preview/4603663
    https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/82791cdf-59c0-4eb5-b2d4-02ac685eba0b
    https://terrifier-2-filme-complet-hd.tumblr.com/

Leave a comment

BLOG