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://www.strava.com/athletes/147416991/posts/32502323
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147416991/posts/32502367
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147416991/posts/32502386
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147416991/posts/32502428
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147416991/posts/32502468
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147416991/posts/32502490
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147416991/posts/32502510
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147416991/posts/32502537
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147211394/posts/32502618
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147211394/posts/32502657
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147211394/posts/32502692
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147211394/posts/32502747
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147211394/posts/32502773
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147211394/posts/32502799
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147211394/posts/32502825
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147211394/posts/32502853
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32500842
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32500880
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32500916
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32500951
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32501046
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32501082
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32501128
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32501147
https://www.strava.com/athletes/147417333/posts/32501176
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302359/posts/32501366
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32500306
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32500564
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32500585
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32500604
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32498097
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32499134
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32500091
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32500184
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32500220
https://www.strava.com/clubs/1302244/posts/32500274
https://paste.gg/p/awwahsans/d3ec6423f2754c179db554b2f50240db
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/X8WbSX
https://solo.to/myshowflikxz
https://hackmd.io/@megacinemaxhd/BJkntGkCA
https://jsitor.com/LbZcr0VLC5
https://wokwi.com/projects/409837229528934401
https://jsfiddle.net/cindyyuvia/02ne4xdz/
https://jsbin.com/weworey/edit?html,output
https://yamcode.com/uyiyuiyuiii
https://pastebin.com/rbvsSUk3
https://pastelink.net/9pgz3yyg
https://www.etextpad.com/gt8ajdkghr
https://paiza.io/projects/0mVwllj75vwg9iAFvYRxEQ
https://bitbin.it/QTYp355Q/
https://paste.intergen.online/view/eb363000
https://paste.ee/p/Ph9DO
https://rentry.co/mdnhufbo
https://onlinegdb.com/WG5V5dJzrK
https://dictanote.co/n/1072012/
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/f923ae59
https://rextester.com/ERKJF75171
https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/213c6a47
https://wow.curseforge.com/paste/cd404f46
https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/ca886172
https://www.wowace.com/paste/b0a67c55
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/80dec69e
https://rom.curseforge.com/paste/46a739e3
https://topmate.io/biawaaaaaakwajhjwsh_biawa/1229085
https://topmate.io/biawaaaaaakwajhjwsh_biawa/1229092
https://topmate.io/biawaaaaaakwajhjwsh_biawa/1229094
https://topmate.io/biawaaaaaakwajhjwsh_biawa/1229099
https://topmate.io/biawaaaaaakwajhjwsh_biawa/1229100
https://topmate.io/bhangbanganvbnghg_bhangba/1229103
https://topmate.io/bhangbanganvbnghg_bhangba/1229105
https://topmate.io/bhangbanganvbnghg_bhangba/1229107
https://topmate.io/bhangbanganvbnghg_bhangba/1229112
https://topmate.io/bhangbanganvbnghg_bhangba/1229113
https://zealy.io/cw/espanol2024transformersonepelisflixfulgthd/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/transformersoneengtgtespanolylatinopeliculacompleta4k-8691/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/jokerfoliedeuxfulgthd1080ponlinegratis/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/jokerfoliedeuxespanol2024pelicula/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/emmanuelleespaolylatinoverlapelculas/questboard
https://basketball727.outgrow.us/basketball727-2
https://basketball383.outgrow.us/basketball383-2
https://basketball383.outgrow.us/basketball383-2
https://ucm819.outgrow.us/ucm819-2
https://ucm8982.outgrow.us/ucm8982-2
https://qna.habr.com/user/mamok
https://qna.habr.com/user/mevev
https://qna.habr.com/user/leginsad
https://qna.habr.com/user/yesoja
https://qna.habr.com/user/nepafer
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508831
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508847
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508896
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508901
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508973
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508987
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32509211
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32509225
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32509261
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32509267
https://paste.ee/p/2NDWk
https://jsfiddle.net/wjtg06md/
https://rextester.com/IEO23423
https://pastelink.net/zy82bb87
https://telegra.ph/WEHWEHRJFGHFGHF-09-23
https://yamcode.com/gryhrueryegter
https://www.wowace.com/paste/006b8322
https://pastecode.io/s/thycsibo
https://wow.curseforge.com/paste/7478e2ab
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/66cb6c05
https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/80d010a1
https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/85df20de
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/19e87ee1
https://wokwi.com/projects/409796722846264321
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508831
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508847
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508896
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508901
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508973
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32508987
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32509211
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32509225
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32509261
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146901225/posts/32509267
https://paste.ee/p/2NDWk
https://jsfiddle.net/wjtg06md/
https://rextester.com/IEO23423
https://pastelink.net/zy82bb87
https://telegra.ph/WEHWEHRJFGHFGHF-09-23
https://yamcode.com/gryhrueryegter
https://www.wowace.com/paste/006b8322
https://pastecode.io/s/thycsibo
https://wow.curseforge.com/paste/7478e2ab
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/66cb6c05
https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/80d010a1
https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/85df20de
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/19e87ee1
https://wokwi.com/projects/409796722846264321
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621925866340353/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/free-monopoly-go-dice-links-no-verification/topicid-3621925866340353/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621926654869504/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/how-to-get-free-dice-on-monopoly-go-unveil-secrets/topicid-3621926654869504/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3621927711768577/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/unlock-epic-rolls-monopoly-go-free-dice-hack-links-october-2024/topicid-3621927711768577/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unlock-epic-rolls-monopoly-go-free-1000-dice-october-2024-98qcc
https://github.com/Ketonn/gom/discussions/14
https://github.com/Ketonn/gom/discussions/15
https://ucm8203748.outgrow.us/ucm8203748-2
https://ucm8975.outgrow.us/ucm8975-2
https://ucm8878.outgrow.us/ucm8878-2
https://ucm8166123.outgrow.us/ucm8166123-2
https://ucm8412630.outgrow.us/ucm8412630-2
https://ucm8529.outgrow.us/ucm8529-2
https://ucm8236.outgrow.us/ucm8236-2
https://ucm8227894.outgrow.us/ucm8227894-2
https://ucm8206.outgrow.us/ucm8206-2
https://ucm8357.outgrow.us/ucm8357-2
https://zealy.io/cw/transformersoneengtgtespanolylatinopeliculacompleta4k/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/transformersoneengtgtespanolylatino2024/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/puntossuspensivos2024subesphd4kver/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/puntossuspensivos2024espaolylatinofulgthd/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/juegaomuerepeliculacompleta4kesp/questboard
https://qna.habr.com/user/foneror
https://qna.habr.com/user/tepoliv
https://qna.habr.com/user/rahexad
https://qna.habr.com/user/vikere
https://qna.habr.com/user/picana
https://qna.habr.com/user/hamiv
https://qna.habr.com/user/netog
https://qna.habr.com/user/xacaji
https://qna.habr.com/user/vekepi
https://qna.habr.com/user/jetiy
https://zealy.io/cw/megalpolispelisflixfulgthdespanolmp4/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/megalpolisespaol20241080phdcompleta4k/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/elhombredelsacobagmanespaolpeliculacompleta4k/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/elhombredelsacopelisflixespaolylatino/questboard
https://zealy.io/cw/jokerfoliedeuxengtgtespanolylatinopelisflixfulgthd/questboard
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32507912
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32507933
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32507963
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32508020
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32508069
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32508124
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32508148
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32508178
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32508257
https://www.strava.com/athletes/145437836/posts/32508284
https://bento.me/-transformers-one—cuevana—ver-mp4—linea-pelicula-
https://bento.me/—no-hables-con-extranos—espanol-y—latino—-pelicula-ver-
https://bento.me/-juega-o-muere—pelisflix-espanol-y-latino-
https://bento.me/—the-concierge——pelisflix—ful-hd—ver-mp4-
https://bento.me/—alice-subservience-espanol-2024-ver-pelicula-completa-4k-
https://bento.me/—emmanuelle——peliculacompleta-4k—-en-espanol-y-latino
https://bento.me/-megalopolis-online-gratis-ful-hd-mp4-subtitulado-
https://bento.me/—joker-folie-a-deux—-espanol-2024—pelicula—completa-4k-
https://billetto.co.uk/users/transformers-one-espanol-2024-pelicula-completa-4k/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/transformers-one-full-hd-v-e-r-mp4-pelisflix/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/joker-folie-a-deux-pelisflix-full-hd-espanol-y-latino/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/joker-folie-a-deux-online-gratis-ver-la-peliculas/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/emmanuelle-espanol-2024-pelicula-online-gratis/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/alice-subservience-4k-ful-hd-pelicula-completa-mp4/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/alice-subservience-espanol-y-latino-pelisflix-ful-hd/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/megalopolis-espanol-2024-ful-hd-sub-espanol/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/megalopolis-pelisflix-completa-4k-hd/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/puntos-suspensivos-pelisflix-completa-4k-hd-online-gratis/details
Leave a comment