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/402539701143812097
https://wokwi.com/projects/402539809886400513
https://wokwi.com/projects/402539857080719361
https://wokwi.com/projects/402539906192882689
https://wokwi.com/projects/402539966327676929
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540018027720705
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540069455135745
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540113915810817
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540166258636801
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540214037014529
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540263666123777
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540313369680897
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540360970851329
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540450891528193
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540659872829441
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540715362451457
https://wokwi.com/projects/402540767049934849
https://wokwi.com/projects/402541662847820801
https://wokwi.com/projects/402541707700673537
https://wokwi.com/projects/402541753173237761
https://wokwi.com/projects/402541797996732417
https://wokwi.com/projects/402541842824419329
https://wokwi.com/projects/402541887745434625
https://wokwi.com/projects/402541967925875713
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542031804105729
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542082878160897
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542130213000193
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542177505890305
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542228954291201
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542301112062977
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542384611237889
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542437487785985
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542498476128257
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542545291909121
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542591401994241
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542654618556417
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542697379491841
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542774615518209
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542823919572993
https://wokwi.com/projects/402542876307496961
https://paste.rs/gjPGj.txt
https://jsfiddle.net/sx1gpf2u/
https://snippet.host/yntpbn
https://paste.centos.org/view/6bcf2d19
https://paste.ofcode.org/fq8VudiaW3sbyqnbJyea9D
https://paste.chapril.org/?0fedcbdcdc79bcc6#33gAmo8FaXknMpAATtNQeXdf3o9twp654qEo4wJJEvnE
https://pastebin.com/wPEcXRP8
https://pastebin.freeswitch.org/view/cc67610d
https://paiza.io/projects/vguThGGo8-yDW1Des6pMeQ
https://tempel.in/view/jMyLS
https://bitbin.it/gK6oIpDj/
https://onlinegdb.com/YQjGZLX3Y
https://paste.intergen.online/view/50f88a06
https://paste.thezomg.com/208745/20164330/
https://ivpaste.com/v/mSqtXRPh4K
https://binshare.net/ZwLAksDEy9x46PWuw40E
https://paste.myst.rs/s1gt03ne
https://sharetext.me/lfnhmx9tlj
https://www.showwcase.com/series/2074/123pelis-online-ver-m3gan-pelisplus-hd-pelicula-completa2023espanol-y-latino-720p
https://www.showwcase.com/series/2079/hd-pelis-ver-online-m3ganpelicula-2023-completa-en-espanol-4k-castellano
https://www.showwcase.com/series/2088/streamcloud-babylon-2023-espanol-hd-stream-pelicula-online
https://events.ydr.com/event/2fb988bc41e24fd6c279cc1c56b845a0
https://events.ydr.com/event/65820bf72d76f50568b67a72f06d408d
https://events.ydr.com/event/c1c162c21828303284b5fafdbf4e9f09
https://events.ydr.com/event/19540f2ba500cbaa5fadef08367ad3e5
https://events.ydr.com/event/cbae980432dfa505f6cfa986f9e2281d
https://events.ydr.com/event/7f79a24425daa00f71ca92c92713a933
https://www.runtheworld.today/app/invitation/50167
https://www.runtheworld.today/app/invitation/50168
https://www.runtheworld.today/app/invitation/50169
https://www.runtheworld.today/app/invitation/50170
https://www.runtheworld.today/app/invitation/50171
https://www.runtheworld.today/app/invitation/50172
https://www.runtheworld.today/app/invitation/50173
https://new.c.mi.com/br/post/493160/CUEVANA_VER-M3gan_HD_2023_en_Pelicula_completa_esp
https://new.c.mi.com/br/post/494007/Las_mejores_pel%C3%ADculas_de_Terror_de_2023M3GAN_VER-h
https://new.c.mi.com/br/post/493180/Repelisver_HD_-Terrifier_2_2023_Pelicula_Completa
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/298412/HD-PELICULA_2023_El_r%C3%ADo_de_la_ira_VER_Completa_en
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/300380/VERPELiculA_Babylon_2023_Online_HD_espa%C3%B1ol_Y_latin
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/298417/%F0%9D%90%95ER_Aqui_M3GAN_2023_HD_Gratis__es_Nuevo_mega_4KPe
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/297918/PelisplUS__Ver_El_Gato_con_Botas_El_%C3%BAltimo_deseo_H
https://verm3ganenhdzpelisonline1.statuspage.io/
https://vercuevana3m3gan2023hdpeliculaesmejor.statuspage.io/
https://streamhdverbabylonencine2023drama.statuspage.io/
https://gratissubverterrifier2megarepeliscompleta.statuspage.io/
https://megacuevanahdverthefirstslamdunk2023streamonline.statuspage.io/
https://pelisnetflix2023loscrimenesdelaacademiamegaespanol.statuspage.io/
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/298540/ver-M3GAN_2023_HD_Espanol_-Online_TERROR_Pelicula
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/297569/Online720p_-_BABYLON_2023_Peliucula_hd_completaEN
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/295968/VER_Terrifier_2_en_Pelicula_Espanol-4K_Gratis_-HD
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/296421/vER_m3gan_terrorPelicula_HD_Completa_en_ESPANOL_au
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/296562/4Kver_Poker_Face_Espanol-Latino_PeliculaHdStream_2
https://new.c.mi.com/br/post/492165/HD-pelisPlus_Ver_Operaci%C3%B3n_Fortune_El_gran_enga%C3%B1o
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432426
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432430
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432427
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432434
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432438
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432441
https://www.showwcase.com/series/1579/ver-pelicula-m3gan-online-castellano-hd-online-4k-espanol
https://www.showwcase.com/series/1583/repelis-nueva-the-first-slam-dunk-2023-mega-ver-pelicula-completa4k-en-espanol-latino
https://soundcloud.com/oquvuzug/jetzt-m3gan-strem-deutsch-g-a-n-z-e-r-film-2023-hd-online
https://soundcloud.com/oquvuzug/hd-jetzt-film-terror-m3gan-kinox-deutschonline-ganzer-film
https://soundcloud.com/oquvuzug/kinox-stream-jetzt-4k-operation-fortune-2023-ganzer-film-online-schauen
https://soundcloud.com/oquvuzug/kino-m3gan-2023ganzer-film-hd-deutsch-stream-kostenlos-hd
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/298540/ver-M3GAN_2023_HD_Espanol_-Online_TERROR_Pelicula
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/297569/Online720p_-_BABYLON_2023_Peliucula_hd_completaEN
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/295968/VER_Terrifier_2_en_Pelicula_Espanol-4K_Gratis_-HD
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/296421/vER_m3gan_terrorPelicula_HD_Completa_en_ESPANOL_au
https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/296562/4Kver_Poker_Face_Espanol-Latino_PeliculaHdStream_2
https://new.c.mi.com/br/post/492165/HD-pelisPlus_Ver_Operaci%C3%B3n_Fortune_El_gran_enga%C3%B1o
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432426
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432430
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432427
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432434
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432438
https://writer.dek-d.com/dek-d/writer/view.php?id=2432441
https://www.showwcase.com/series/1579/ver-pelicula-m3gan-online-castellano-hd-online-4k-espanol
https://www.showwcase.com/series/1583/repelis-nueva-the-first-slam-dunk-2023-mega-ver-pelicula-completa4k-en-espanol-latino
https://soundcloud.com/oquvuzug/jetzt-m3gan-strem-deutsch-g-a-n-z-e-r-film-2023-hd-online
https://soundcloud.com/oquvuzug/hd-jetzt-film-terror-m3gan-kinox-deutschonline-ganzer-film
https://soundcloud.com/oquvuzug/kinox-stream-jetzt-4k-operation-fortune-2023-ganzer-film-online-schauen
https://soundcloud.com/oquvuzug/kino-m3gan-2023ganzer-film-hd-deutsch-stream-kostenlos-hd
https://www.showwcase.com/series/1426/mega-repelis-v-e-r-m3gan-2023online-pelicula-completa-y-espanolhd
https://www.flowcode.com/page/voirstreamingvfm3ganfrench
https://www.flowcode.com/page/filmhdm3ganvfgratuit
https://www.flowcode.com/page/vfhdfilmavatar2online
https://www.flowcode.com/page/streamterrifier2onlinevf
https://hd4kmegapelism3gangratisonline.statuspage.io/
https://hdrepelisgratism3gan2023vercompletaonline.statuspage.io/
https://terrifier2peliculahd4kmegavideogratissubespanol.statuspage.io/
https://nuevopelisverbabylonstreamingpelicula4khd.statuspage.io/
https://veravatar2streamingonlinerepelis4kgratisenlinea.statuspage.io/
https://pokerfacestreamingvergratispelicula.statuspage.io/
https://elriodelairahd2023cinenuevocuevanaflix.statuspage.io/
https://subespanolverdetectiveknightredencionpeliculagratishd2023.statuspage.io/
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/cuevana-3online-m3gan-hd-verpelicula-terror-2023
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/ver-m3gan-nuevo-pelicula-completa-en-espanol-hd-2023
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/ver-cuevana-operacion-fortune-el-gran-engano-2023-hd-espanol-y-latino-gratis-mp4
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/ver-repelis-avatar2-2022el-sentido-del-agua-pelicula-completa-en-espanol
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/ver-el-peor-vecino-del-mundo-a-man-called-otto-pelicula-mp4-completa-en-espanol-latino-hd
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/verpelicula-babylon-pelicula-completa-en-espanol-latino-hd-2023
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/hd-repelis-el-menu-2022-pelicula-completa-gratis-online-en-espanol-latino-asf-asda
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/ver.-720p-mega-el-menu-2022-pelicula-completa-or/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/pelicula-hd-m3gan-online-en-espanol-ver-gratis/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/e-max-cines-ver-terrifier-2-online-pelicula-co/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/mega-.123repelis-babylon-2023-hd-online-la-p/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/pelicula-completa-ver-m3gan-online-hd-sub-es/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/hd-pl4y-ver-online.-avatar-el-sentido-del-agu/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/playcinemas-2023-ver-poker-face-online-pelicul/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/online-123pelis-hd-detective-knight-redencion-2/
https://www.showwcase.com/series/1426/mega-repelis-v-e-r-m3gan-2023online-pelicula-completa-y-espanolhd
https://www.flowcode.com/page/voirstreamingvfm3ganfrench
https://www.flowcode.com/page/filmhdm3ganvfgratuit
https://www.flowcode.com/page/vfhdfilmavatar2online
https://www.flowcode.com/page/streamterrifier2onlinevf
https://hd4kmegapelism3gangratisonline.statuspage.io/
https://hdrepelisgratism3gan2023vercompletaonline.statuspage.io/
https://terrifier2peliculahd4kmegavideogratissubespanol.statuspage.io/
https://nuevopelisverbabylonstreamingpelicula4khd.statuspage.io/
https://veravatar2streamingonlinerepelis4kgratisenlinea.statuspage.io/
https://pokerfacestreamingvergratispelicula.statuspage.io/
https://elriodelairahd2023cinenuevocuevanaflix.statuspage.io/
https://subespanolverdetectiveknightredencionpeliculagratishd2023.statuspage.io/
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/cuevana-3online-m3gan-hd-verpelicula-terror-2023
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/ver-m3gan-nuevo-pelicula-completa-en-espanol-hd-2023
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/ver-cuevana-operacion-fortune-el-gran-engano-2023-hd-espanol-y-latino-gratis-mp4
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/ver-repelis-avatar2-2022el-sentido-del-agua-pelicula-completa-en-espanol
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/ver-el-peor-vecino-del-mundo-a-man-called-otto-pelicula-mp4-completa-en-espanol-latino-hd
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/verpelicula-babylon-pelicula-completa-en-espanol-latino-hd-2023
https://www.podcasts.com/hd-cineplus/episode/hd-repelis-el-menu-2022-pelicula-completa-gratis-online-en-espanol-latino-asf-asda
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/ver.-720p-mega-el-menu-2022-pelicula-completa-or/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/pelicula-hd-m3gan-online-en-espanol-ver-gratis/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/e-max-cines-ver-terrifier-2-online-pelicula-co/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/mega-.123repelis-babylon-2023-hd-online-la-p/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/pelicula-completa-ver-m3gan-online-hd-sub-es/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/hd-pl4y-ver-online.-avatar-el-sentido-del-agu/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/playcinemas-2023-ver-poker-face-online-pelicul/
https://123pelispremiere-mega-online.gitbook.io/online-123pelis-hd-detective-knight-redencion-2/
Leave a comment