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://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
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.129821473509088
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.129823913508844
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.134135239738212
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.134137456404657
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.169386689495815
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.615109630766486
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.248073361500380
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.272759728718369
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.272761128718229
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.130943003394987
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.128145173678089
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.615137564097026
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.130119283479307
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.248281184812931
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.294628636555905
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.615280490749400
https://eventsframe.com/e/t8YvT6HRu/3-khun-phan-3-hd-movies-online/
https://eventsframe.com/e/qZV3rpjCU/3-2023-khun-phan-3-hd-thai/
https://eventsframe.com/e/n5rvXbbJS/3-2023-hd-thai/
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1lIzCM-KaF-FX7_jkr3BTMYYs20YdRRiJ
https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/jwIgPCqkVaM
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1zOoDZ3bo8xfLu4dbBFsrlEACRAPFn5tb
https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/u-LTg2VDVRw
https://soundcloud.com/tomas-aryo/3-khun-phan-3-2023-1080-hd-thai
https://soundcloud.com/aryan-fardian/th-3-2023-khun-pan-3-m-thai-hd
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CYMRR3T
https://github.com/mannjonny/arsilla/issues/1
https://github.com/kiqmalkenshi/khunpan3hdthai/issues/1
https://github.com/kiqmalkenshi/khunpan3hdthai/issues/2
https://vk.com/movpcinemark-3-khun-pan-3-3 https://vk.com/movphdchinemark-full-hd-3-2023-thai-sub
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.289289153756520
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.289294470422655
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.610515121225937
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.610546994556083
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.242279172079799
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.242281078746275
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.610560637888052
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.289321930419909
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.242291122078604
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.610564261221023
https://www.deviantart.com/rerewilli/journal/sArebtes-drjrjrdjr-973732309
https://www.ralphkmorrisfoundation.org/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/6e2b31ab-573d-4b14-9fbf-3c157729ef09
https://www.vingle.net/posts/6540113
https://forum.webnovel.com/d/94463-drbgtrnjtyjmt7y-tynjtymjt
https://pastelink.net/rv5m0wlt
https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/online-php-compiler/d2cdf637-5ffd-467c-bf8f-23e752a8a2b9
https://pasteio.com/xuZHikQ8YM4a
https://dotnetfiddle.net/IwiR2P
https://onlinegdb.com/e3b4kMYPk
https://rextester.com/TDLP64616
https://codepen.io/esntestn/pen/BaGOMor
https://paste.awesom.eu/srnbsetnes/Noke
https://paste.mozilla.org/AFJJSjbi
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/2901ce44
https://etextpad.com/b1ebgx5czp
https://notes.io/qH7eJ
https://vk.com/sensationfilm-2023-1080p https://vk.com/cinemarkmovieonline-20231080p
https://sites.google.com/view/one-and-only-2023-hdtw/home
https://sites.google.com/view/oneandonly2023tw/beranda
https://sites.google.com/view/one-and-only-fullhd-tw2023/home
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1Z1OLaQwj42kcYWaIM_wDOPCUtAoLOaiC
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1zmeZTkvh36RYPcckz3stk1KCwe_oTwwE
https://groups.google.com/g/one-and-only-hd-4k/c/bVbLgZAUEYY
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/one-and-only-hd2023
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/hdfilmtaiwan-one-and-only
https://github.com/pisankejam318/filmhdtw/issues/1
https://github.com/saereartyyt0/oneandonly2023filmtw/issues/1
https://vk.com/698222070-oppenheimer20231080p https://vk.com/movpcinemark-oppenheimer2023-subchinahd
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1NwB5acXupw-Kv2YFSyDg-P2UF1ZH2v0D
https://groups.google.com/g/oppenheimer-hd-4k/c/JaiY0dWTXkg
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/2023-1
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1boSIhQSh8IPHsCxSB2XvcvVBYDz6irmU
https://soundcloud.com/fera-awerte/1080p
https://soundcloud.com/yo-wes-729312025/2023-1080p
https://github.com/awdwdfera6/ratnasanjaya/issues/1
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.759200119336185
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.759203309335866
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.759205006002363
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.759216942667836
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.759221952667335
https://eventsframe.com/e/rwTKWPxHa/barbie2023hd/
https://eventsframe.com/e/swaH3KuvC/2023-hd-1080p/
https://eventsframe.com/e/ob2eWmSsM/2023-hd/
https://eventsframe.com/e/kH38rIFUY/2023-hd-1080p/
https://eventsframe.com/e/qeLyT8hJC/3-hd-1080p/
https://eventsframe.com/e/ugXTiqJgY/1080p-2023/
https://eventsframe.com/e/pqFDgbJSM/oppenheimer-2023/
https://eventsframe.com/e/mg1SentwA/2023-hd-1080p/
https://eventsframe.com/e/pB7MPrCwg/hk-tm-2023-oppenheimer/
https://community.oppo.com/thread/1381754358017818624
https://community.oppo.com/thread/1381758659830218761
https://community.oppo.com/thread/1381759884885753859
https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1381928691134627849
https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1381943109063016457
https://medium.com/@vanessalaura823/barbie-芭比線上看-完整版-2023-在线观看和下载完整电影tw-8495472802f8
http://snaplant.com/question/elon-musk-looks-to-rebrand-twitter-with-the-letter-x
https://www.ralphkmorrisfoundation.org/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/55a7584c-b1de-4820-8ade-5ff178b9c38b
https://sites.google.com/jonin02.com/repelis-hdsonidodelibertadpelc
https://sites.google.com/jonin02.com/cuevanasonidodelibertad2023pel
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/sound-of-freedoma-2023
https://app.eventsframe.com/e/lfrz5kaGs/ver-online-sonido-de-libertad-2023-pelicula-completa-online-espanol-latino/
https://vk.com/mopieboxoffice-ver720p-sonido-de-libertad-2023-pelicula-completa-online-esp https://sites.google.com/view/versonidodelibertadpeliculacom/beranda https://vk.com/styler95-sonido-de-libertad-pelicula-completa-2023-hd-descargar-y-lat
https://eventsframe.com/e/oKscfnGne/2023-1080p/
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/barbie2023-hd-tw
https://vk.com/chyoumai-20231080p https://vk.com/fullversionhd-barbie-2023tw
https://sites.google.com/view/barbie2023hdtw/beranda
https://groups.google.com/g/barbie-2023-hd1080p/c/i2b46qeTIS4
https://sites.google.com/jonin02.com/barbie-2023-hd/home
https://sites.google.com/view/2023barbie/beranda
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/barbie2023hk
https://groups.google.com/g/barbie1080tw-2023-/c/ttzduYS_hKM
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1zTacjdYfDKlHUlfc8BiTyyu_KPo1RAl5
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/barbie-fullversion2023-tw
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1iHywY96xClhCaLwQ9T7a2ptj6iIxpvly
https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/tY3BXVb8m8g
https://github.com/kripea123/filmchinesehd/issues/1
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/creation-of-the-gods-1-kingdom-of-storms
https://vk.com/@blurayhd1080p-creation-of-the-gods-1-20231080p
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1DNwwOhqojJVvNSSefThqday1kpN1Gb6O
https://sites.google.com/jonin02.com/creation-of-the-gods-1-2023/home
https://sites.google.com/view/2023-4khd1080p/beranda
https://eventsframe.com/e/sx49KaaEU/creation-of-the-gods-i2023/
Leave a comment