sustainability · 4684 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

4685 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

  • ryahinadasha

    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185743794069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185744124069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185745450069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185745696069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185746170069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185746386069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185746674069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185747052069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185748342069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185748522069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185749230069648
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122185749416069648

  • ceasarady

    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108747978442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108748170442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108748710442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108749058442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108750354442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108750804442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108751206442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108751542442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108752034442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108752340442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108752754442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108753108442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108753492442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108753744442186
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186842778063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186844350063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186844626063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186844956063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186845220063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186845496063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186845916063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186846264063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186846762063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186846960063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186847860063724

  • google indexs

    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186848076063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186848346063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186848652063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186850452063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186851952063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186852720063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122186852996063724
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100737612461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100741800461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100775010461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100780188461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100816662461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100818372461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100818900461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100822152461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100823136461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100825710461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100828212461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100830762461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100831662461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100832820461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100833786461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100835514461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122100837206461603
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108503046438742

  • indexs ai tool

    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108504324438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108513594438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108514692438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108515370438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108515802438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108516198438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108516984438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108517242438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108518100438742
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108518430438742

  • bobbi2004

    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104878584444411
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104879406444411
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108432816444329
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108433002444329
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122095345904472188
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122095346630472188
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122093407358476260
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122093407622476260
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104915916444411
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104918214444411
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108437496444329
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108437676444329
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122095394096472188
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122095394960472188
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122093425034476260
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122093425394476260
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104952000444411
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104952852444411
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108446130444329
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122108446364444329
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122095408910472188
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122095409420472188
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122093432504476260
    https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122093433296476260

Leave a comment

BLOG