sustainability · 5476 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

5477 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • wjjrwyrwyj

    https://pelishaha5.outgrow.us/pelishaha5-2
    https://pelishaha5933.outgrow.us/pelishaha5933-2
    https://pelishaha5230.outgrow.us/pelishaha5230-2
    https://pelishaha5147.outgrow.us/pelishaha5147-2
    https://pelishaha5483.outgrow.us/pelishaha5483-2
    https://pelishaha5574.outgrow.us/pelishaha5574-2
    https://pelishaha5755.outgrow.us/pelishaha5755-2
    https://pelishaha5760.outgrow.us/pelishaha5760-2
    https://pelishaha5201.outgrow.us/pelishaha5201-2
    https://pelishaha596.outgrow.us/pelishaha596-2
    https://pelishaha5533.outgrow.us/pelishaha5533-2
    https://pelishaha5381.outgrow.us/pelishaha5381-2
    https://pelishaha5807.outgrow.us/pelishaha5807-2
    https://pelishaha5922.outgrow.us/pelishaha5922-2
    https://pelishaha585.outgrow.us/pelishaha585-2

    https://streamnarsus.outgrow.us/streamnarsus-2
    https://streamnarsus451.outgrow.us/streamnarsus451-2
    https://streamnarsus363.outgrow.us/streamnarsus363-2
    https://streamnarsus184.outgrow.us/streamnarsus184-2
    https://streamnarsus762.outgrow.us/streamnarsus762-2
    https://streamnarsus436.outgrow.us/streamnarsus436-2
    https://streamnarsus164.outgrow.us/streamnarsus164-2
    https://streamnarsus749.outgrow.us/streamnarsus749-2
    https://streamnarsus406.outgrow.us/streamnarsus406-2
    https://streamnarsus875.outgrow.us/streamnarsus875-2
    https://streamnarsus428.outgrow.us/streamnarsus428-2
    https://streamnarsus172.outgrow.us/streamnarsus172-2
    https://streamnarsus848.outgrow.us/streamnarsus848-2
    https://streamnarsus731.outgrow.us/streamnarsus731-2
    https://streamnarsus767.outgrow.us/streamnarsus767-2

    https://jhonnycruif.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif-2
    https://jhonnycruif62.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif62-2
    https://jhonnycruif215.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif215-2
    https://jhonnycruif594.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif594-2
    https://jhonnycruif583.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif583-2
    https://jhonnycruif647.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif647-2
    https://jhonnycruif401.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif401-2
    https://jhonnycruif9.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif9-2
    https://jhonnycruif467.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif467-2
    https://jhonnycruif104.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif104-2
    https://jhonnycruif951.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif951-2
    https://jhonnycruif316.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif316-2
    https://jhonnycruif404.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif404-2
    https://jhonnycruif96.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif96-2
    https://jhonnycruif449.outgrow.us/jhonnycruif449-2

    http://taylorhicks.ning.com/photo/albums/etkteuktektkueteuk
    http://playit4ward-sanantonio.ning.com/photo/albums/teth
    https://www.theprose.com/post/828310/wrwryjwryrwjy
    https://txt.fyi/1741e1bb055bd466
    https://txt.fyi/b3148ed58c6bae1a
    https://txt.fyi/a8d14334b24ce492
    https://namelessmc.com/forum/topic/8934-jrywjrywjrywjrwjyrw/
    https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/1029c60daa34d08ec59b1c16225cc591e7ec39e17bb610b3fdfff8d3f8af7d72
    https://ultrafighteronline.com/topic/3363/tuktktutketek
    https://forum.its-egner.de/topic/2524/tuektekteukte
    https://toirscript.com/topic/2930/tuketuktuktke
    https://forum.realdigital.org/d/51280-etktkutuektuek
    https://forum.instube.com/d/127042-etktuktukut
    http://opensource.platon.org/forum/projects/viewtopic.php?p=12645837#12645837
    https://forum.theknightonline.com/threads/tuktukttktuek.481071/
    https://forum.gamestategames.com/d/4482-tektuektktek
    https://diendannhansu.com/threads/rwjrwyjrwyjrwyjrywj.536067/
    https://forum.freeflarum.com/d/116207-etktketukeetk
    http://www.limesucks.com/thread/wryrwjrwyjyrwj/
    https://www.ofurea.com/forum/thread/2912/etuktekteukttek/
    https://www.snibc.co.uk/fusion/infusions/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=9992
    https://kitemunity.com/forums/topic/8245/etktekteukteku/view/post_id/90551
    https://www.yeuthucung.com/threads/teuktuktuektuk.493033/
    https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/126463-rjrwyjrrywjrjwy
    https://doc.clickup.com/9018117031/p/h/8crb2x7-4298/2fe0c75a0ec6755
    https://www.surveyking.com/survey/3902

    https://paste.laravel.io/743ee6a5-bf4e-43be-b222-4df34137f1a8
    https://notes.io/wnEXk
    http://nopaste.ceske-hry.cz/411180
    http://ben-kiki.org/ypaste/data/112506/index.html
    https://jsbin.com/cujohukone/1
    https://www.posteezy.com/tktuktuktuktuk
    https://rentry.co/t8y8mzh5
    https://anotepad.com/notes/2as5ps9t
    https://sharetext.me/2rvoj6sblq
    https://tiny-paste.com/138203/
    https://paste.myst.rs/vjs76px6
    https://ivpaste.com/v/SM3GgR6MMH
    https://paste.thezomg.com/218315/08806172/
    https://paste.intergen.online/view/5afc0944
    https://onlinegdb.com/sC-D_EcCt
    https://bitbin.it/gh76RWPh/
    https://tempel.in/view/hco
    https://paiza.io/projects/SoGJ9Wxir3vAYpdvSFcToA
    https://pastebin.freeswitch.org/view/d1381139
    https://pastebin.com/AwSAz4KR
    https://paste.chapril.org/?478285e5594d1359#8nj6f3v9Nc6tjNxgNvhXs62uhAsvKEwfNGy5kuLZMyEQ
    https://paste.ofcode.org/5Anxhh28sM4LKHfpykyNrn
    https://paste.centos.org/view/a284dccf
    https://snippet.host/kxcbvk
    https://jsfiddle.net/ed63fu0t/
    https://paste.rs/F55LB.txt

  • hdfshghgfjg

    https://assistirindianajonesfilmeonline.statuspage.io/
    https://assistirfilmeindianajonesemdublado.statuspage.io/
    https://misionimposibleonlinepelicula.statuspage.io/
    https://vermisionimposiblesenteciamortacinehd.statuspage.io/
    https://misionimposiblefullversiontwonline.statuspage.io/
    https://mypreciousfullonlineducklingtw.statuspage.io/
    https://repelisbarbie2023peliculaonlineenespanol.statuspage.io/
    https://cuevana3veroppenheimerpeliculaonline.statuspage.io/
    https://cuevanavermegalodon2lafosapeliculacompletaesp.statuspage.io/
    https://pelisplusspidermancruzandoelmultiversopeliculaonlineenespanol.statuspage.io/
    https://sites.google.com/view/ver-spiderman-pelic-online-hd/halaman-muka
    https://sites.google.com/view/repelisoppenheimer2023elculahd/halaman-muka
    https://sites.google.com/view/pelisplus-megalodn-2-la-fosa/halaman-muka
    https://sites.google.com/view/watch-mision-imposible-onlintw/home
    https://sites.google.com/view/ko-mision2023hd-1080p/home
    https://sites.google.com/view/korean-elemental-hd2023/home
    https://sites.google.com/view/kr-spiderman-2023-online-hd/halaman-muka
    https://sites.google.com/view/myfault-2023-hd-korea/halaman-muka
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370044801193345033
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370047220996374533
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370085399287824385
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370148174680817673
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370156508695756801
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370163562852384772
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370171541509111816
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370178578200657926
    https://community.oppo.com/thread/1370186969342017537
    https://git-ce.rwth-aachen.de/yuening.hong/Protoyping-Project_WallAngle/-/issues/1007
    https://medium.com/@mariamercez127/不可能的任務-致命清算-第一章-完整版-在线观看-2023-hd-1080-8f20c9ecfeaf
    https://open.firstory.me/story/cljt54uop044k01y80puohlup
    https://stoneforce.copiny.com/praise/details/id/29579
    https://stoneforce.copiny.com/idea/details/id/125442
    http://snaplant.com/question/do-you-have-a-snack-every-time-you-are-hungry-or-do-you-wait-for-the-lunch-or-dinner/
    https://marketing.ning.com/members/status/show?id=6773344%3AStatus%3A9702
    https://community.wongcw.com/blogs/513315/Jennifer-Garner-Reprising-Elektra-Role-In-Deadpool-3
    http://molbiol.ru/forums/index.php?showtopic=925713
    https://tautaruna.nra.lv/forums/tema/50455-jennifer-garner-reprising-elektra-role-in-deadpool-3/
    https://app.lookbook.nu/look/9508166-Jennifer-Garner-Deadpool
    https://yamcode.com/untitled-76353
    https://controlc.com/c0473a2b
    https://rentry.co/aumf3
    https://bitbin.it/R77mGwXJ/
    https://pastelink.net/bnda4jgw
    https://homment.com/OcX7eINibtP9uFrqdoCN

  • asasasa

    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5984693428158464/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5832335436021760/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6469452293996544/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5518624246726656/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6434989476413440/
    https://vk.com/zeft1983-mision-imposible-sentencia-mortal-parte-1-la-pelicula-ver-pe https://vk.com/zeft79-mision-imposible-sentencia-mortal-parte-1-la-pelicula-pelicu
    https://vk.com/zeft4favo-pelisplusver-mision-imposible-sentencia-mortal-parte-1-pelic https://vk.com/vann92-cuevana3ver-mision-imposible-sentencia-mortal-parte-1-2023-p
    https://vk.com/abau98-ver-mision-imposible-sentencia-mortal-parte-1-ompleta-nline https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5027614592860160/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5517935307128832/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5707420137422848/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5165111461281792/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6321056610516992/ https://vk.com/gasken79-pelisplus-ver-insidious-la-puerta-roja-pelicula-completa-onl
    https://vk.com/bwiliam-la-pelicula-ver-insidious-la-puerta-roja-2022-completa-en-es https://vk.com/lassasin88-cuevana-3insidious-la-puerta-roja-i-2023
    https://vk.com/anana96-ver-insidious-la-puerta-roja-2022-pelicula-completa-en-linea https://vk.com/agaming93-uevana-3er-insidious-la-puerta-roja-elicula-ompleta-nline-en
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6750927270707200/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5540669978312704/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6269504789151744/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5414964942602240/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6547643381579776/
    https://vk.com/najwa93-mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one https://vk.com/dgratis-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one
    https://vk.com/sutarma-2023mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one https://vk.com/billie2022-1080pmission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one
    https://vk.com/juswatch-mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one2023-hd https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6130970283474944/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5105494026878976/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5481218437021696/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6116024401264640/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5150592458555392/ https://vk.com/sukmara97-5-insidious-the-red-door
    https://vk.com/nana_nini-5 https://vk.com/jaja1997-52023insidious-the-red-door
    https://vk.com/kkaka2022-51080pinsidious-the-red-door https://vk.com/yagesya-5insidious-the-red-door2023-hd
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/4565485305724928/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5145853431906304/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5166780525838336/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6418905494978560/
    https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5854790733004800/
    https://vk.com/753578737-mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one-2023-hd https://vk.com/753579927-mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one-2023-hd
    https://vk.com/753581099-mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one-2023-thai-hd https://vk.com/barudakavatar-mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one-2023-hd-thai
    https://vk.com/aku_nana-mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-one-2023 https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5006872786501632/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5131241617620992/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/6406905893224448/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/5030716163227648/ https://app.eventsframe.com/app/event/4604057266159616/ https://vk.com/zeft1983-gt-insidious-the-red-door-2023-hd-1080i
    https://vk.com/zeft79-insidious-the-red-door-2023-hd-1080i2023-hd https://vk.com/zeft4favo-2023-insidious-the-red-door-2023-hd-thai
    https://vk.com/vann92-insidious-the-red-door-2023-hd-thai https://vk.com/abau98-insidious-the-red-door-m-thai-2021-thai-hd

  • asgseghs

    https://vk.com/piscesarya-assistir-hd-que-horas-eu-te-pego-2023-filme-completo https://vk.com/blogchinemax-assistir-que-horas-eu-te-pego-filme-completo-dublado
    https://vk.com/watchstylleronline-assistir-que-horas-eu-te-pego-dublado-online-e-legendado-em https://vk.com/movp95boxoffice-que-horas-eu-te-pego-2023-filme-completo-e-legendado-online
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/oYFt0Apc0Bg
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/tB781iLSJqE
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/14HlKDv1OsqHiDEUtaZTo7zz9dKamzqgq
    https://soundcloud.com/dede-rifki-10452010/assistir-que-horas-eu-te-pego-a-online-2023-filme-completo-dublado-em-portugues
    https://soundcloud.com/bradley-g-gregory/assistir-que-horas-eu-te-pego-online-dublado-e-legendado
    https://soundcloud.com/bradley-g-gregory/que-horas-eu-te-pego-pt-2023-filme-completo-dublado-e-legendado-em-portugues
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/tbzBOgun7pY
    https://vk.com/styler95-assistir-da-minha-janela-um-mar-entre-nos-dublado-online-e-l https://vk.com/movies2022-assistir-hd-da-minha-janela-um-mar-entre-nos-filme-completo
    https://vk.com/optimummm-da-minha-janela-um-mar-entre-nos-2023-filme-completo-e-legen https://vk.com/filmchinemax-assistir-hd-da-minha-janela-um-mar-entre-nos-filme-completo
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1QCaqEIhX80Fqm5lgFFKSC3ijKFjXAcf2
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/ryDZMCJEsS8
    https://soundcloud.com/fany-felia/assistir-da-minha-janela-um-mar-entre-nos-a-online-2023-filme-completo-dublado-em-portugues
    https://soundcloud.com/fany-felia/da-minha-janela-um-mar-entre-nos-pt-2023-filme-completo-dublado-e-legendado-em-portugues
    https://www.volunteenleo.com/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/2d175f88-eb69-4568-bd95-e37936010896
    https://www.bcbrewerymd.com/group/bc-brewery-group/discussion/2452f408-eae0-456f-af78-5a90ea58dc62

  • arbsetebt

    https://vk.com/mopieboxoffice-cuevana-ver-titanic-pelicula-completa-espanol-en-linea-grati https://vk.com/piscesarya-ver-titanic-25th-anniversary-pelicula-completa-online-gratis
    https://vk.com/veralebedeva12-cuevana-ver-titanic-25-aniversario-pelicula-completa-2023-on https://vk.com/watchstylleronline-pelisplusver-titanic-25-aniversario-pelicula-completa-online
    https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/mega-verhdtitanic25aniversario/home
    https://sites.google.com/jonin888.com/pelisplus-ver-titanic-25th-ann/home
    https://player.soundon.fm/p/73701a54-ce96-4568-95c3-f3f4c1c87f60
    https://www.apawla.com/group/apawla-group/discussion/23cc030f-08ea-4baa-833a-83a4ad326160
    https://www.volunteenleo.com/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/6c92b48c-e43a-4e7b-8e99-123d1ca66c05
    https://johncp765.itch.io/ver-ruby-gillman-teenage-kraken-pelicula-2023-completa-gratis-en-hd
    https://johncp765.itch.io/cuevana3-ver-ruby-aventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente-pelicula-completa-espanol
    https://vk.com/watchstylleronline-cuevana-3-ver-ruby-aventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente-2023 https://vk.com/mopieboxoffice-pelisplus-ruby-aventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente-completa
    https://vk.com/@movphdchinemark-pelisplus-ver-ruby-aventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente-onlin
    https://www.apawla.com/group/apawla-group/discussion/3e968a7c-e000-4314-a7f9-b4caeeb42c23
    https://www.volunteenleo.com/group/mysite-200-group/discussion/3fd7f7ef-095d-43e4-a9a0-5cdfb0cd7fed
    https://www.bcbrewerymd.com/group/bc-brewery-group/discussion/d214f05d-c65e-4961-8ed5-b8581033b734
    https://duyungsiren637.itch.io/ver-ruby-adventuras-de-una-kraken-adolescente2023-pelcula-completa-online-y-gr
    https://itch.io/jam/ver-ruby-pelicula-completa-gratis-cuevana-3-online-en-espanol-latino
    https://itch.io/jam/veronline-ruby-gillman-teenage-kraken-2023-pelcula-completa-espaol-y-latino
    https://itch.io/jam/ver-the-flash-pelcula-completa-online-latino-cuevana
    https://itch.io/jam/cuevana-3ver-the-flash-pelcula-completa-onlne-en-espaol
    https://itch.io/jam/pelisplus-the-flash-completa-2023-en-espaol-y-latino-online

  • kjhgfgjhfgj

    https://megalodonlafosacuevanahd.statuspage.io/
    https://cuevanavermeg2online.statuspage.io/
    https://repelisspidermancruzandoelmultiverso.statuspage.io/
    https://barbievercuevanaonline.statuspage.io/
    https://verindianajonesyeldialdeldestino1.statuspage.io/
    https://verpeliaelementallapeliculaonlinegratis.statuspage.io/
    https://verguardianesdelagalaxia3onlinehd.statuspage.io/
    https://verculpamiapeliculaonline.statuspage.io/
    https://community.oneplus.com/thread/1367675258726776837
    https://github.com/mariamerces107/exang/issues/6
    https://medium.com/@mariamercez127/over-300-salvadorans-celebrate-u…
    http://snaplant.com/question/over-300-salvadorans-celebrate-u-s-ind…
    https://stoneforce.copiny.com/question/details/id/760719
    https://open.firstory.me/story/cljo2kro201dk01y8cck26t4h
    https://tautaruna.nra.lv/forums/tema/50385-indiana-jones-and-the-di…
    https://app.lookbook.nu/look/9507050-Gita-Youbi

Leave a comment

BLOG