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 COinto 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

4565 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • devanshi verma

    Spider Sense Gummies: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Benefits and Uses
    In today’s fast-paced world, finding the right supplement to support overall health and wellness can be challenging. Spider Sense Gummies have gained popularity due to their unique formulation designed to enhance focus, energy, and well-being. But what exactly are these gummies, and how do they work? This article provides an in-depth look at Spider Sense Gummies, their ingredients, benefits, and why they may be a valuable addition to your daily routine.
    What Are Spider Sense Gummies?
    Spider Sense Gummies are a dietary supplement formulated to support cognitive function, energy levels, and overall vitality. Inspired by the heightened senses of the iconic superhero Spider-Man, these gummies claim to help individuals stay alert, focused, and energized throughout the day. They come in a tasty, chewable form, making them an easy and enjoyable alternative to pills and capsules.
    https://www.facebook.com/SpiderSenseGummies
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/spidersensegummies/
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1C9Ig8Fevg9Q8P2u5O5reK9J2LQxozxAz?usp=sharing
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1oDGfqUgR-acvoM2ttYRVvCVuYL7uNqFm?usp=sharing
    https://1drv.ms/x/c/77ae07b4429dd4fc/EfzUnUK0B64ggHeNIAAAAAABlAPiOqsobWD2GsEcQLZvpA?e=xBoMU6
    https://www.facebook.com/ProvigorMaleEnhancementShop /
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/provigormaleenhancement/
    https://www.italki.com/en/post/kYS3RK9S6jAwE8S4g9Pk2k
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/10G4PMmcPeFeSsXYHI5E-Rhl4D5wc0cq-?usp=sharing
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1YG-HgGGm-WXcxu4KgrHbngWrTwZlXM-T?usp=sharing
    https://www.facebook.com/DuremaxMalePerformanceGummies/
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/duremaxmaleperformancegummies/
    https://www.italki.com/en/post/wITwxrrFcFDvK9uWL5dEal
    https://www.italki.com/en/post/yA5HN8PBrAyvXTFKAXBHyU
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1L4gC5eYXjJ5Ufs0dkilA0M_KkD3nWLHi?usp=sharing
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1zU5EZQLxjbKCpOAFBy1cCijUA3Xh4QI-?usp=sharing
    https://portalcliente.grupofagron.com/pt-BR/forums/support-forum/28493d61-44dd-ef11-95f5-6045bd3a603e
    https://portalcliente.grupofagron.com/pt-BR/forums/support-forum/4d997f8c-44dd-ef11-95f5-6045bd3a603e
    https://github.com/divyarajput3737/Duremax-Male-Performance-Gummies
    https://www.facebook.com/SpiderSensePills/
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/spidersensepills/
    https://www.italki.com/en/post/piwHxr0P3hDe6cj46PcL3O
    https://www.italki.com/en/post/lz7rdxb4MAkdQ8ybn7R2nq
    https://portalcliente.grupofagron.com/pt-BR/forums/support-forum/fdea3f71-a4db-ef11-95f5-6045bd3a603e
    https://portalcliente.grupofagron.com/pt-BR/forums/support-forum/0d1efba4-a4db-ef11-95f5-6045bd3a603e
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1jejh6eVMO4_ESZXBw4e9ZlNC28c2rh5N?usp=sharing
    https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1ow-QfhqBeNu7zrmGwVirzC3FbT65_BRa?usp=sharing

  • PARFUM

    https://tinhte.vn/profile/zlatovlaska-cely-film-cz-dabing-a-zdarma-hd1080p.3292652/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/cely-film-zlatovlaska-cesky-dabing-filmy-cz.3292653/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/zlatovlaska-cely-film-cesky-dabing-filmy-zdarma.3292657/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/sledujte-zlatovlaska-2025-cely-film-cz-dabing-sk.3292659/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/zlatovlaska-2025-cely-film-online-zdarma-cz-sk.3292660/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/dog-man-2025-cely-film-cz-dabing-a-zdarma-hd1080p.3292663/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/cely-film-dog-man-cesky-dabing-filmy-zdarma.3292671/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/dog-man-cely-film-cesky-dabing-filmy-online-cz.3292678/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/sledujte-dog-man-2025-cely-film-online-zdarma-cz.3292689/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/dog-man-2025-cely-film-online-zdarma-cz-sk-hd.3292695/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/paddington-v-dzungli-cely-film-online-cz-dabing.3292700/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/paddington-v-dzungli-cesky-dabing-a-zdarma-hd1080p.3292702/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/paddington-v-dzungli-2025-cely-film-cesky-dabing.3292709/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/sledujte-paddington-v-dzungli-cely-film-zdarma.3292714/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/paddington-v-dzungli-2025-cely-film-online-cz-sk.3292718/
    https://www.bankier.pl/forum/wiadomosc-zapisana?post_id=69719785&obs=&emal=&st=1&thread_id=
    https://matters.town/a/ax9bltiapv9r
    https://www.nehannn.com/artist-detail/18.html
    https://www.asteriskguru.com/tutorials/comment_add.php
    https://peoplefirst-hamburg.de/index.php/guestbook/index/index
    https://pastelink.net/m5str3kq
    https://snippet.host/owstbm
    https://jsitor.com/hudYVevgqW
    https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/484a8519
    https://jsfiddle.net/6cxkszfo/
    https://yamcode.com/

  • PARFUM

    https://www.resume.id/works/932e3338c0a4bfef
    https://www.resume.id/works/535c4f319d4a70c7
    https://www.resume.id/works/086b665b22b13eb0
    https://www.resume.id/works/97ef31d88e74ec44
    https://www.resume.id/works/929fba7c27986b2e
    https://www.resume.id/works/6245db2e9bf80e39
    https://www.resume.id/works/5705d227d2fb0827
    https://www.resume.id/works/f34265ae1beab463
    https://www.resume.id/works/a6a1e5ec9315ac86
    https://www.resume.id/works/00a865b1cfaa5891
    https://www.resume.id/works/945794533ba6a7f4
    https://www.resume.id/works/a5c58893f97503bc
    https://www.resume.id/works/dbfd45b8765f52d2
    https://www.resume.id/works/1dcf6cf6048c1c2d
    https://www.resume.id/works/bb1c53717696ff98
    https://www.resume.id/works/817a72f2012e453a
    https://www.resume.id/works/b8f2a077fbc01c91
    https://www.resume.id/works/42463c698243816b
    https://www.resume.id/works/c13ca9213183b201
    https://www.resume.id/works/7f8322b57707974b
    https://www.resume.id/works/09d24be9c929ff09
    https://www.resume.id/works/420be93037d9f2c9
    https://www.resume.id/works/fb0af824195cc2f1
    https://www.resume.id/works/bcd988f701c85cd9
    https://www.resume.id/works/eae6eff16510995f
    https://www.resume.id/works/0c4125dbdd695863
    https://www.resume.id/works/c07db8990f7244c7
    https://www.resume.id/works/7abcab63909511eb
    https://www.resume.id/works/7c536f4f825d8df2
    https://www.resume.id/works/daef0fc9c3401de2
    https://www.resume.id/works/bed98dad3e2bf001
    https://www.resume.id/works/34793ae1272bf4f7
    https://www.resume.id/works/e0af2c358d8a57cc
    https://www.resume.id/works/779ab9ad4b507001
    https://www.resume.id/works/f81d5f329487292c
    https://www.resume.id/works/9375192202db26d2
    https://www.resume.id/works/d741ab76915624df
    https://www.resume.id/works/7e3d811fec1920d2
    https://www.resume.id/works/d7e22378df675210
    https://www.resume.id/works/e8faff22b51b7610
    https://www.resume.id/works/d601017ee66dd2c5
    https://www.resume.id/works/19550aaf59c2b8aa
    https://www.resume.id/works/2b4a478e6b9fbede
    https://www.resume.id/works/c838659679476efe
    https://www.resume.id/works/f490ec8ee4ae7256
    https://www.resume.id/works/6f4e8c6d0141aae7
    https://www.resume.id/works/b2536b2b7e7fc4d3
    https://www.resume.id/works/6a55d75ccd042e89
    https://www.resume.id/works/baf5a83ee17761d2
    https://www.resume.id/works/454ae8eebac999b8
    https://www.resume.id/works/c49c4dafb1546c91
    https://www.resume.id/works/a657eb596166563b
    https://www.resume.id/works/10450bd4a77b66cf
    https://www.resume.id/works/4c8e1695b894d3d8
    https://www.resume.id/works/caf92ba5a1faa136
    https://www.resume.id/works/81a7b07680af098f

  • PARFUM

    https://www.facebook.com/events/906770831648684/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/1126366405814255/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/1742415542968271/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/1320840422274694/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/951326653246291/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/598771292797735/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/931949635669685/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/993026342734196/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/966461688763172/
    https://www.facebook.com/events/930616985872623/
    https://github.com/Flight-Risk-CZ-Filmy
    https://github.com/Na-plech-Filmy-cz
    https://github.com/Babygirl-Filmy-cz
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/odvazna-vaiana-2-cely-film-cz-dabing-hd1080p.3289538/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/cely-film-odvazna-vaiana-2-cesky-dabing-cz.3289547/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/odvazna-vaiana-2-cely-film-cesky-dabing-filmy-cz.3289552/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/sledujte-odvazna-vaiana-2-cely-film-cz-dabing-sk.3289556/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/odvazna-vaiana-2-2025-cely-film-cz-sk-dabing-hd.3289562/
    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KeigAyyZsavM8fqH7s1fE
    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dfYjTvuckM65oOAHCUBPi
    https://open.spotify.com/episode/1yk37eeg28r2JrGzfiVEhT
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/velky-pan-cely-film-cz-dabing-a-zdarma-hd1080p.3289761/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/cely-film-velky-pan-cesky-dabing-filmy-cz.3289764/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/velky-pan-2025-cely-film-cesky-dabing-filmy-cz.3289770/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/sledujte-velky-pan-2025-cely-film-online-zdarma-cz.3289775/
    https://tinhte.vn/profile/velky-pan-2025-cely-film-online-zdarma-cz-sk.3289779/

  • PARFUM

    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-1
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-2
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-3
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-4
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-5
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/JezekSonic3-6
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-1
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-2
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-3
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-4
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-5
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LovecKraven-6
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-1
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-2
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-3
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-4
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-5
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Naplech-6
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-1
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-2
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-3
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-4
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-5
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Zlatovlaska-6
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-1
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-2
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-3
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-4
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-5
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/TransformersJedna-6
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-1
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-2
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-3
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-4
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-5
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/LetosEvzenem-6
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-1
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-2
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-3
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-4
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-5
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Kalamita-6
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-1
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-2
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-3
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-4
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-5
    https://cubecobra.com/cube/overview/Vlcimuz-6

  • PARFUM

    https://m.facebook.com/events/906770831648684/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/1126366405814255/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/1742415542968271/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/1320840422274694/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/951326653246291/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/598771292797735/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/931949635669685/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/993026342734196/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/966461688763172/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/930616985872623/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/432110796650539/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/1139731004410673/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/1298113874564436/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/1147139120146069/
    https://m.facebook.com/events/966581608189933/


Leave a comment