sustainability · 5275 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

5276 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • robert andhara

    https://www.are.na/film-deadpool-wolverine-streaming-ita-altadefinizione-cb01
    https://www.are.na/film-deadpool-wolverine-streaming-ita-altadefinizione-cb01/deadpool-wolverine-film-sub-ita
    https://www.are.na/deadpool-wolverine-streaming-sub-ita
    https://www.are.na/deadpool-wolverine-streaming-sub-ita/streaming-ita-deadpool-wolverine
    https://www.are.na/deadpool-wolverine-streaming-ita-film
    https://www.are.na/deadpool-wolverine-streaming-ita-film/deadpool-wolverine-cb01
    https://www.are.na/deadpool-wolverine-film-streaming-ita
    https://www.are.na/deadpool-wolverine-film-streaming-ita/deadpool-wolverine-ita-film-gratuito
    https://www.are.na/deadpool-wolverine-film-completo-sub-ita
    https://www.are.na/deadpool-wolverine-film-completo-sub-ita/deadpool-wolverine-film-2024

  • uasuu

    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/hjR2eGgc0Ro
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/iRvUxVBygtQ
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/vHUuRJjtwZw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/lpBFqkIvk00
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/hTgb6W11vsA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/qBce7IdLwlA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/ro44aRzyJVo
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/qFOdrPzrYB0
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/queIs_yzj3Y
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/m6rh-ELMyw4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/oZJcQsMxWzw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/tEJiYqbWlcg
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/n1pbiRMCIk8
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/ifZMUHOWdjE
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/gjz29dftBVw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/kA5VsPBXsB4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/gWOX4hiQLkY
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/i6HlxWQAU0U
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/uOUmGa0FLng
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/o6NsBI_C8ic
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/nNuLmrkyO9o
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/vZKz_bPp5H4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/rEl5Z_49DMI
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/pRdSMajic04
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/poAOEr3qHv8

  • katak

    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/hjR2eGgc0Ro
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/iRvUxVBygtQ
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/vHUuRJjtwZw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/lpBFqkIvk00
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/hTgb6W11vsA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/qBce7IdLwlA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/ro44aRzyJVo
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/qFOdrPzrYB0
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/queIs_yzj3Y
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/m6rh-ELMyw4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/oZJcQsMxWzw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/tEJiYqbWlcg
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/n1pbiRMCIk8
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/ifZMUHOWdjE
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/gjz29dftBVw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/kA5VsPBXsB4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/gWOX4hiQLkY
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/i6HlxWQAU0U
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/uOUmGa0FLng
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/o6NsBI_C8ic
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/nNuLmrkyO9o
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/vZKz_bPp5H4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/rEl5Z_49DMI
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/pRdSMajic04
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/poAOEr3qHv8

  • katak

    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/hjR2eGgc0Ro
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/iRvUxVBygtQ
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/vHUuRJjtwZw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/lpBFqkIvk00
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/hTgb6W11vsA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/qBce7IdLwlA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/ro44aRzyJVo
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/qFOdrPzrYB0
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/queIs_yzj3Y
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/m6rh-ELMyw4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/oZJcQsMxWzw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/tEJiYqbWlcg
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/n1pbiRMCIk8
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/ifZMUHOWdjE
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/gjz29dftBVw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/kA5VsPBXsB4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/gWOX4hiQLkY
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/i6HlxWQAU0U
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/uOUmGa0FLng
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/o6NsBI_C8ic
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/nNuLmrkyO9o
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/vZKz_bPp5H4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/rEl5Z_49DMI
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/pRdSMajic04
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/poAOEr3qHv8

  • hjujuuju

    https://bento.me/pelisplus—joker-2-folie-a-deux-pelicula-completa-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino https://bento.me/-pelisplus—beetlejuice-2-pelicula-completa-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino https://bento.me/pelisplus—ver-robot-salvaje-pelicula-completa-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino https://bento.me/pelisplus—ver-terrifier-3-pelicula-completa-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino https://bento.me/pelisplus—ver-venom-3-the-last-dance-pelicula-completa-2024-online-en-espanol-y-latino https://bento.me/ver-transformers-one-2024-online-en-espanol-gratis https://bento.me/pelisplus-ver-the-wild-robot-2024-pelicula-completa-en-espanol-y-latino https://bento.me/pelisplus-ver-transformers-one-2024-pelicula-completa-en-espanol-y-latino https://bento.me/pelisplus-ver-terrifier-3-2024-pelicula-completa-en-espanol-y-latino https://bento.me/pelisplus-ver-overlord-the-sacred-kingdom-2024-pelicula-completa-en-espanol-y-latino https://github.com/4k-ote/-Watch-Beetlejuice-Beetlejuice-2024-FuLLMovie-Streaming-At-Home https://github.com/4k-ote/-CUEVANA-3-VER-.-terrifier-3-2024-oNLINE-eN-ESPA-OL-REPELIS-HD- https://github.com/4k-ote/-PELL-SPLUS-VER-Joker-2-Folie.-Deux-2024-Online-en-Espa-ol-y-Latino https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/455cdccc-843c-4058-815f-b5e72c77b463/page/g3VEE?s=l1LoHAT_7GA https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/2a460769-3823-4658-8560-6686b9ce7166/page/OAWEE?s=nNtbo9MzDIA https://www.akcie.cz/nazor?ID_TEMA=336&ID_NAZOR=396920#sel https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/e2f1337c https://www.pastery.net/kzgfpv/ https://paste.toolforge.org/view/75869765 https://telegra.ph/hyhh-10-08 https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/185266-ynyny https://forum.instube.com/d/152461-nyhy https://rextester.com/PWXU50130 https://pastebin.com/BAjRjTZY https://bitbin.it/Hy4DurgM/ https://bitbin.it/Hy4DurgM/raw/ https://www.taptap.io/post/8303222 https://paste.thezomg.com/229488/72841124/ https://www.onlinegdb.com/ https://www.wowace.com/paste/6c567e21 https://jsitor.com/Q9JdgXxzqf https://www.selbstbesaiter.com/g%C3%A4stebuch/ https://issuu.com/amirah123/stacks http://paste.jp/7d965eb2/ https://www.nehannn.com/artist-detail/715.html?sasla https://yamcode.com/untitled-106090 https://rentry.co/2q26289w https://tech.io/snippet/YcHBKMm https://pastecode.io/s/shk7x5ok https://snippet.host/pbktbx https://penzu.com/journals/31329148/102113624 https://justpaste.it/fjv7p https://glot.io/snippets/h0o4zn0p8p https://jsfiddle.net/w4sfrjg7/ http://www.codyjhughes.com/guestbook/ https://www.lacabaneasavon.fr/blogs/blog-la-cabane-a-savon/les-savons-naturels-un-soin-naturellement-sain?comment=138433593677#comments https://www.lomarfarms.com/blogs/news/people?comment=136606417201#comments https://paste.myst.rs/t91nu0p0 https://paiza.io/projects/-REWTUuu7k1-jA467YC90A http://www.theartist.co.kr/tv/view.html?idxno=1 https://pastelink.net/7d0f3bs3 https://matters.town/a/odk8p204y0vp https://hackmd.io/cbHbczdzSZ-ciJcmMgDucQ https://wokwi.com/projects/411200772039205889 https://etextpad.com/zehvimyugi

  • wryjrwyj

    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/hPacEeH79Gg
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/q41Frufia5Y
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/sroIZprzMCw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/sXlR6OGSTys
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/vTnlFCFxzsI
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/ld4g4_AfYjM
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/ho7s6qSDByw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/lh1dvehYAz4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/k76gQYN4J9E
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/gGRfmi1w3WQ
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/iCt3LtXXpC4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/l8T-pPadwNs
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/idYYCU6IKqM
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/os2jX9LjTNI
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/mZY8WIuyd7w
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/oSY8AyxlLUA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/jZ1T9G1VZaw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/qW_MK2F9ODg
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/j5M83U8xjP4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/m4A8lW_03B4
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/sNMODBgZZxo
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/uVq5_E9YkGw
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/nXZgNgFw_FQ
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/lhlu1X1TsjA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/nb1B6hSR8m0
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/quof7AjrSBc
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/p_mnUpHr758
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/lN6-YZKU-q0
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/sK3GU_xENPk
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/tNuZvuYYH7o
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/vr0Kt3HH0mA
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/gqvmZAKphfM
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/embed/s/uSw797v-YUs

    https://namelessmc.com/forum/topic/9309-vxvxvxvxvxvxvvx/
    https://recroom.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/26922667747607-asasaasasas
    https://divx.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/26922658028439-ewwerwerwe
    https://forum.daoyidh.com/topic/3416/yyjyjyjyjyj
    https://forger.forums.maxon.net/topic/512/ktkuktuktku
    https://zagspace.gonzaga.edu/members/status/show?id=28936624%3AStatus%3A121587
    https://sloan.ucr.edu/members/status/show?id=28936984%3AStatus%3A140100
    https://community.thoracic.org/members/status/show?id=28940104%3AStatus%3A298015
    https://communicators.ncsu.edu/members/status/show?id=28933104%3AStatus%3A255471
    https://network.propertyweek.com/members/status/show?id=28940084%3AStatus%3A140161
    https://mypaste.fun/ooq0otk8x8
    https://www.surveyking.com/survey/5mgxl
    http://playit4ward-sanantonio.ning.com/photo/albums/ndndndnd
    http://taylorhicks.ning.com/photo/albums/mhmhmhmh
    https://www.tadalive.com/forum/thread/56690/kkljkjkjkjkjkjj/
    https://doc.clickup.com/9018117031/p/h/8crb2x7-5378/397743c67ec1a8a
    https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/185128-tkuteuktektuek
    https://www.snibc.co.uk/fusion/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=12275
    https://www.ofurea.com/forum/thread/3672/tektukkteutku/
    https://diendannhansu.com/threads/utetuktuek.631885/
    https://forum.theknightonline.com/threads/ryjryjryjryjrjy.491399/
    http://opensource.platon.org/forum/projects/viewtopic.php?p=12670759#12670759
    https://forum.instube.com/d/152420-tueteukteukktu
    https://forum.realdigital.org/d/192271-etktuktuktek
    https://ultrafighteronline.com/topic/10056/etktektektku
    https://forum.thecodingcolosseum.com/topic/13356/ktuekteuktuk
    https://web3devcommunity.com/topic/21508/tkteukteuktuektuk
    https://nodebb.klangknecht.com/topic/4996/utktuketketkutku
    https://healingxchange.ning.com/profiles/blogs/yryirlyilyirl
    http://www.limesucks.com/thread/ukttuktktek/
    https://www.khedmeh.com/wall/blogs/post/71216
    https://solidice.com/forums/1016/topic/rwyjryjrywjrjyw
    https://lebanonhub.app/blogs/32568/tuuktktuk
    https://app.solpal.io/blogs/7546/oipiipipii

    https://paste.me/paste/e663f6b9-0248-496b-6d5e-a262fecabfce#6fbefad7e9015397438cc76af67db9768f1094ab4bddd31f468e1a70c3cb1e63
    https://searchtech.fogbugz.com/default.asp?Suggestions.1.502080.0
    https://sharetext.me/mn57kjspa3
    https://tiny-paste.com/140214/
    https://paste.myst.rs/4ss6bsxk
    https://ivpaste.com/v/OpNfvMayVm
    https://paste.thezomg.com/229485/72840910/
    https://paste.intergen.online/view/2d1ff99a
    https://onlinegdb.com/eLiYJLh-j
    https://bitbin.it/88XVxIOZ/
    https://tempel.in/view/odWXcL51
    https://paiza.io/projects/ROlbNjc_WOpFVNF_wMH7fw
    https://pastebin.freeswitch.org/view/586c8e4d
    https://pastebin.com/NDH3SVFE
    https://paste.chapril.org/?09e02810e6cda73e#3CvX9MfVe7Ein5AR2DrwUcrHeG6P7pXkmeoq4LK5ydYc
    https://paste.ofcode.org/nLj4W3WjUAvucxRki8eySN
    https://paste.centos.org/view/a0a7e555
    https://snippet.host/ghttpe
    https://jsfiddle.net/kezg2s1d/
    https://paste.rs/9VMd9.txt
    https://ideone.com/uSnhGy
    https://paste.laravel.io/b7fc11d9-7572-4961-afc9-ee0910bd2f51
    https://notes.io/w36Gt
    http://nopaste.ceske-hry.cz/414629
    http://ben-kiki.org/ypaste/data/117725/index.html
    https://jsbin.com/terimejava
    https://www.posteezy.com/fefefefefef
    https://rentry.co/gauzq2wo
    https://anotepad.com/notes/an29g9if
    https://www.onfeetnation.com/profiles/blogs/wrwrgkllkjjljkjl
    https://paste.ee/p/7I86I
    https://smart-blue-butterfly.slab.com/posts/rwjyrwjyrwyj-8hkxrgfu
    https://etextpad.com/q2r7ly0yeh
    https://paste.toolforge.org/view/a6ec8e3d
    https://telegra.ph/tuekteukteuk-10-08
    https://paste.mozilla.org/SNUqfrxL
    https://fnote.org/notes/nP959m
    https://paste.imirhil.fr/?7993172425515f5d#qSZdBWHHH04L36y4SG+b8gvQwWcRM2f4Jk6C9igRGJg=
    https://paste.enginehub.org/7mhCAEe-o
    https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/Jh3hrvr97X/
    https://paste.gd/8PDKTbhN
    https://paste.vpsfree.cz/cKgm4XVx
    https://sebsauvage.net/paste/?23cac4db65731aa4#5umtOFv34TbPnT4/6S7p/9tJy6s/vfidXTrtfOLYMqY=
    https://pastenote.net/pvm5m
    https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/02d00fea
    https://onecompiler.com/html/42uhf6qdz
    https://tech.io/snippet/Ggt3SyC
    http://pastie.org/p/2HF6Q1MdUVZwjfghJ07hlr
    https://p.ip.fi/3-kL
    https://pastelink.net/bm2j3pru
    http://pastebin.falz.net/2529986
    https://glot.io/snippets/h0o55cbk0v
    http://paste.jp/642034cf/

Leave a comment

BLOG