sustainability · 4685 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

4686 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • jrwyjwyrjjry

    https://qna.habr.com/user/asfalto
    https://qna.habr.com/user/Lobezno
    https://qna.habr.com/user/dasamcu
    https://qna.habr.com/user/Kompaiiny
    https://qna.habr.com/user/johnlenard
    https://qna.habr.com/user/thomsadams
    https://qna.habr.com/user/sunjinwoche
    https://qna.habr.com/user/yudhachield
    https://qna.habr.com/user/taskmensoldout
    https://qna.habr.com/user/salommyoluna
    https://qna.habr.com/user/roamkakair
    https://qna.habr.com/user/kingsaemael
    https://qna.habr.com/user/himeliois
    https://qna.habr.com/user/unclefarming
    https://qna.habr.com/user/jhonnycruif
    https://qna.habr.com/user/streamnarsus
    https://qna.habr.com/user/pelishaha
    https://qna.habr.com/user/chundaitriyool
    https://qna.habr.com/user/hurryaqal
    https://qna.habr.com/user/murongkong
    https://qna.habr.com/user/salamawasakban
    https://qna.habr.com/user/allwasyrena
    https://qna.habr.com/user/tokichiubay
    https://qna.habr.com/user/jombsviking
    https://qna.habr.com/user/natsuflixs
    https://qna.habr.com/user/grayshawno
    https://qna.habr.com/user/elsasyarief

    https://boosty.to/filmonline/posts/3b75a50a-b5b5-4bda-b2ab-d717f62422c8
    https://forum.freedom-for-icinga.com/topic/1722/utektektukteuktekteuketktektek
    https://forum.its-egner.de/topic/1380/ywrjryjryjwryjwryjrwyj
    https://ultrafighteronline.com/topic/2041/rywjrjrwjrjrywjrjyryw
    https://forum.instube.com/d/119949-ryrwjrwyjrjyrywjrywj
    https://forum.realdigital.org/d/46343-ryjryjrwjrjrwyjryjrwyjrrwyj
    https://toirscript.com/topic/2046/teutktuetektektuektuk
    https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/19daefa3332793110ab1f062fc35502965145fd590e14252837d9a33c5152e4d
    http://opensource.platon.org/forum/projects/viewtopic.php?p=12640245#12640245
    https://www.zephyraxis.com/wall/blogs/37492/rrjryjrjrwyjryjjryjryjryjryj
    https://forum.theknightonline.com/threads/tuktektktek.479025/
    https://forum.gamestategames.com/d/3322-tetekteuktuk
    https://diendannhansu.com/threads/tuektktektktkeetk.514857/
    https://forum.freeflarum.com/d/109451-tektuketuektuek
    http://www.limesucks.com/thread/etkteketketkk/
    https://www.ofurea.com/forum/thread/2785/tkttetkuteuktktekkte/
    https://www.snibc.co.uk/fusion/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=9513
    https://kitemunity.com/forums/topic/7885/wwryjwyrjwryjwryjywrjyj/view/post_id/90177
    https://www.yeuthucung.com/threads/jrwyjrwyjwryjwryjj.484377/
    https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/118219-yrywrwyjrwyjrjwy
    https://doc.clickup.com/9018117031/p/h/8crb2x7-3878/7fbe14d27d7017a
    https://www.tadalive.com/forum/thread/50399/jrwrrwjywrjrwyjryjrwyrjyw/
    https://www.surveyking.com/survey/2122

  • xcgdsgdfgesadf

    https://www.facebook.com/VoirAlienRomulusEnStreamingVF/
    https://www.facebook.com/AlienRomulusEnStreamingVF.FR/
    https://www.facebook.com/TelechargerUnptittrucenplusStreamingVF.FR/
    https://www.facebook.com/UnptittrucenplusStreamingVF.FRenFrancais/
    https://www.facebook.com/voirunptittrucenplusvostfr/
    https://www.facebook.com/Viceversa2StreamingVF.FRenFrancais/
    https://www.facebook.com/VoirLeComtedeMonteCristoEnStreamingVF.FR/
    https://www.facebook.com/LecomtedeMonteCristoEnStreamingVF/
    https://www.facebook.com/Deadpool3.2024FullStoryMThaiHD/
    https://www.facebook.com/WatchDeadpool3FullStoryMThai/
    https://www.facebook.com/EscapeFilmThaiSUB/
    https://www.facebook.com/AlienRomulus2024FilmThaiSUB/
    https://www.facebook.com/AlienRomulusFullStoryMThai/
    https://www.facebook.com/AlienRomulus2024FullStoryMThaiHD/
    https://pastelink.net/s1wt4qfy
    https://bitbin.it/p8BAPLMi/
    https://pastebin.com/LBYUKXra
    http://paste.jp/cd6ebfe7/
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/d1d4c71c
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/04614b94
    https://dictanote.co/n/1051048/
    https://www.etextpad.com/6vaxq05bop
    https://paste.gd/1fCAgMCb
    https://wokwi.com/projects/406135230906624001
    https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/cahakehuz/profile
    https://www.planetminecraft.com/forums/minecraft/discussion/zsfczdcfdzzcdsz-687988/
    https://www.forexagone.com/forum/presentation-traders/sdvfcdxvfdsfs-136595#234712
    https://hackmd.io/@JmHXn_G4SFieqoqG3jZI5w/SkvLc4FcA
    https://matters.town/a/3wxzj9zai1zo
    https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/szdfdsfsadsad

  • xcgdsgdfgesadf

    https://www.facebook.com/VoirAlienRomulusEnStreamingVF/
    https://www.facebook.com/AlienRomulusEnStreamingVF.FR/
    https://www.facebook.com/TelechargerUnptittrucenplusStreamingVF.FR/
    https://www.facebook.com/UnptittrucenplusStreamingVF.FRenFrancais/
    https://www.facebook.com/voirunptittrucenplusvostfr/
    https://www.facebook.com/Viceversa2StreamingVF.FRenFrancais/
    https://www.facebook.com/VoirLeComtedeMonteCristoEnStreamingVF.FR/
    https://www.facebook.com/LecomtedeMonteCristoEnStreamingVF/
    https://www.facebook.com/Deadpool3.2024FullStoryMThaiHD/
    https://www.facebook.com/WatchDeadpool3FullStoryMThai/
    https://www.facebook.com/EscapeFilmThaiSUB/
    https://www.facebook.com/AlienRomulus2024FilmThaiSUB/
    https://www.facebook.com/AlienRomulusFullStoryMThai/
    https://www.facebook.com/AlienRomulus2024FullStoryMThaiHD/
    https://pastelink.net/s1wt4qfy
    https://bitbin.it/p8BAPLMi/
    https://pastebin.com/LBYUKXra
    http://paste.jp/cd6ebfe7/
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/d1d4c71c
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/04614b94
    https://dictanote.co/n/1051048/
    https://www.etextpad.com/6vaxq05bop
    https://paste.gd/1fCAgMCb
    https://wokwi.com/projects/406135230906624001
    https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/cahakehuz/profile
    https://www.planetminecraft.com/forums/minecraft/discussion/zsfczdcfdzzcdsz-687988/
    https://www.forexagone.com/forum/presentation-traders/sdvfcdxvfdsfs-136595#234712
    https://hackmd.io/@JmHXn_G4SFieqoqG3jZI5w/SkvLc4FcA
    https://matters.town/a/3wxzj9zai1zo
    https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/szdfdsfsadsad

  • fhdfdhsgdfdsgdsgsdgshdsdhsdhgsdg

    https://glot.io/snippets/gyyex2odpt
    https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/aba5361e
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/9864c3f7
    https://jsfiddle.net/treabhsxdg6/xhvn83o0/
    https://paste.firnsy.com/paste/eClHJKaqOao
    https://foro.ribbon.es/topic/14021/fsgsdgsdgsdgshgdsdgsgddsgsgd
    https://www.penana.com/story/162476/dsgsdgsdgsdgsdgsdgdsgfdsfg/issue/1?published=success
    https://web.extension.illinois.edu/askextension/thisQuestion.cfm?QuestionID=36997&catID=160&AskSiteID=75
    https://b.cari.com.my/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=5368454&extra=
    https://paste.enginehub.org/HGACgOdDL
    https://bitbin.it/zh6oguy6/
    https://hackmd.io/UgDq9Yb4TFSDHOQwHFLZpg
    https://paste.gd/hbqtiSHy
    https://wokwi.com/projects/406130292469783553
    https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/1026bfad
    https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/waktutak
    https://xtremepape.rs/threads/frsdgsdhgshdsgdsggsdgsdgsdghdgsdsg.118435/
    https://cofradesdegranada.ideal.es/members/fdhsfdgdsggdsdsgsdhgdsgdsgdgsdgsgds
    https://communicators.ncsu.edu/members/status/show?id=28883624%3AStatus%3A1679
    https://community.goldencorral.com/members/status/show?id=28884144%3AStatus%3A383718
    https://tic-tac.teleco.uvigo.es/members/status/show?id=28874944%3AStatus%3A11267
    https://network.propertyweek.com/members/status/show?id=28884164%3AStatus%3A76535
    https://community.thoracic.org/articles
    https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/7ea38762
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/ec90f031
    https://pastelink.net/3qizkuu5
    https://community.tricycle.com/members/status/show?id=28875144%3AStatus%3A31178

  • dsadfsdfds

    https://www.wowace.com/paste/ab044234
    https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/693ca8fc
    https://wow.curseforge.com/paste/747f278f
    https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/bc035d46
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/26cfb608
    https://paste.ee/p/6qwrN
    https://paste.myst.rs/h4xfa8ri
    https://pastelink.net/igblisn2
    https://jsfiddle.net/xekw960L/
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/98aa7f0c
    https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/76d94fc0
    https://wow.curseforge.com/paste/076bf4c8
    https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/752876af
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/55c0ce31
    https://paste.ee/p/lcVv6
    https://paste.myst.rs/wruaosc4
    https://pastelink.net/vcorhw78
    https://jsfiddle.net/nyzxc3jd/

  • filmonlinezz

    https://www.facebook.com/ver.deadpool.y.wolverine.pelicula.Online.Completa/
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool3.y.Wolverine.online.pelicula.completa
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/
    https://x.com/NadaKeylaa/status/1822988222106141084
    https://ctftime.org/team/324595
    https://ctftime.org/team/324600
    https://ctftime.org/team/324684
    https://ctftime.org/team/324680
    https://ctftime.org/team/324683
    https://ctftime.org/team/324605
    https://ctftime.org/team/324621
    https://ctftime.org/team/324639
    https://ctftime.org/team/324645
    https://ctftime.org/team/324647
    https://ctftime.org/team/324648
    https://ctftime.org/team/324650
    https://ctftime.org/team/324654
    https://ctftime.org/team/324656
    https://ctftime.org/team/324657
    https://ctftime.org/team/324658
    https://ctftime.org/team/324659
    https://ctftime.org/team/324661
    https://ctftime.org/team/324662
    https://ctftime.org/team/324696
    https://bit.ly/4dE5vNU
    https://fb.watch/tTIQoUBaXF/
    https://fb.watch/tTIUuFIYE6/
    https://fb.watch/tTIYCsxiZg/
    https://fb.watch/tTIZOYaxgf/
    https://fb.me/e/5DEBiz6IG
    https://fb.me/e/4J9wDf5eG
    https://fb.me/e/5hJAAcuBb
    https://fb.me/e/2p3r1bSWm
    https://forum.freeflarum.com/d/108747-httpswwwfacebookcomverintensamente2onlinehd
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/videos/460376740297002
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/videos/1592350884649766
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/videos/2691771630994564
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/videos/477992124869098
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/videos/1503094603911650
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/videos/858840519079663
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/videos/384186721069835
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool.3.and.Wolverine.onlinehd/videos/426291150440978
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool3.y.Wolverine.online.pelicula.completa/videos/953388269810402
    https://www.facebook.com/ver.Deadpool3.y.Wolverine.online.pelicula.completa/videos/1540762900126999
    https://fb.me/e/7MdSoNLAi
    https://fb.me/e/6BV5hHS3t
    https://fb.me/e/8TpQw2OVp
    https://fb.me/e/3G6XVaXiI
    https://fb.me/e/66unLIo4J
    https://fb.me/e/2rv7eqLYu
    https://fb.me/e/2kABJkgFN
    https://fb.me/e/7La5wTG8p
    https://fb.me/e/5vklrLiG9
    https://fb.me/e/7bX7zT4lF
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::videa-hu-deadpool-rozsomk-teljes-online-2024-magyarul-hd-ingyen
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::indavideo-deadpool-rozsomk-2024-teljes-film-magyarul-hu
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::deadpool-rozsomk-2024-teljes-film-magyarul-online-filmek-videa
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::v-i-d-e-a-deadpool-rozsomk-teljes-filmek-hd-magyarul-online
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::videa-hd-deadpool-rozsomk-2024-teljes-film-magyarul-online-hd
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::1080p-mozicsillag-deadpool-rozsomk-2024-teljes-film-magyarul
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::hd-mozi-deadpool-rozsomk-teljes-film-magyarul-videa-2024
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::hdmozihudeadpoolrozsomakfilmvidea
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::videa-hu-deadpool-rozsomk-teljes-online-2024-magyarul-hd-ingyen-1
    https://gisopendata.pima.gov/projects/pima-county-hub::videa-deadpool-rozsomk-2024-teljes-film-magyarul-hu
    https://pelisplusveralienromuluspeliculacompleta.quora.com/about
    https://qr.ae/p2G34J
    https://qr.ae/p2G3wr
    https://www.forexagone.com/forum/climat-economique-articles/pelisplus-cuevana-ver-deadpool-3-wolverine-2024-online-136289#234401
    https://wokwi.com/projects/406100107038829569
    https://community.articulate.com/discussions/building-better-courses/ver-deadpool-3-wolverine-pelicula-completa-online-2024-en-espanol-latino
    https://community.articulate.com/discussions/review-360/rewrt5wtr5w4ea

Leave a comment

BLOG