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
https://soundcloud.com/arer-ahmad/1212-the-day-hd2023
https://soundcloud.com/arer-ahmad/1212-the-day-2023-1080p
https://soundcloud.com/fs322444/2023-kr1080p
https://soundcloud.com/fs322444/1212-the-day-korean-hd
https://soundcloud.com/milki-nasdi/2023-hd1080
https://soundcloud.com/milki-nasdi/20234k1080pfull-hd
https://soundcloud.com/gerasguuyy/2023-1080p
https://soundcloud.com/gerasguuyy/across-the-furious-sea
https://soundcloud.com/dodasobip30/napoleon-2023-1080p
https://soundcloud.com/dodasobip30/2023-korean-hd-bd
https://jovian.com/ahmadarer741
https://jovian.com/12-12-the-day-hd-ko-1080p
https://jovian.com/film-across-the-furious-sea-hd-fullversion-tw
https://jovian.com/across-the-furious-sea-hd-2023-tw-hk
https://jovian.com/napoleon-hd-2023
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.text.tex/c/5b6uCl1bvRI
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/F98m33MjRD8
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.text.tex/c/d89YybCSmDs
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/RVhs0uK9O1I
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.text.tex/c/AH6KBcw3uK0
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/NdJ1Wr7DFZc
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.text.tex/c/FHEC2I1Kyik
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/wr8NiPtLqOY
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.text.tex/c/Bfewf-AkvHA
https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/CYM5ZW7
https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/B6NVDTY
https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/HVNXNQ3
https://www.taskade.com/p/2023-1080-uhd-01HG5ZRA7222G4S7KT98E5J09Z
https://eventsframe.com/e/uVm3y1DYA/bod-obnovy-2023-online-cely-film-cesky-dabing/
https://eventsframe.com/e/pIYXQYd3i/sledujte-bod-obnovy-2023-cely-film-online-zdarma-ceskym-titulky/
https://groups.google.com/g/hd-bod-obnovy-cely-film-2023-cz-a-zdarma-dabing-online/c/6HKQmL8wE7A
https://gamma.app/public/-Bod-obnovy-2023Cely-Film-Online-a-Zdarma-CZSK-Dabing-1080p-e01bfnh8coia7ki
https://www.taskade.com/p/sleduj-bod-obnovy-2023-sleduj-filmy-vsetky-filmy-online-zadarmo-01HG64VRKX4T178Y1EG3GW45ZK
https://baskadia.com/post/11s70
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/0763f90a-e310-478d-a1c6-7871019ad204
https://github.com/apps/sledujtebodobnovy2023celyfilm
https://gamma.app/public/Bod-obnovy-CELY-FILM-ONLINE-ZDARMA-2023-CZ-DABING-u2031oqyt9nn1q4
https://www.taskade.com/p/sledujte-bod-obnovy-2023-cely-film-online-cz-dabing-01HG671HD91XNT73B33PV331SH
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/XImzRSaK4_c
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/J-aI_7Z0SGk
https://groups.google.com/g/across-the-furious-sea-2023-hd/c/sCNcCBFvUa8
https://vk.com/shanshanmov-20231080p https://vk.com/wordmoviesonline-across-the-furious-sea
https://linkbio.co/5112714bQD3fw
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/20632ef8-17d7-4eaa-b8d2-516320ef8436
https://www.taskade.com/p/tw-2023-hd-1080p-01HG9JCJ2GRMN1F1AAEFJE421V
https://player.soundon.fm/p/cd0dffca-70c7-40a8-9eb5-dbab7f4a5720
https://player.soundon.fm/p/58469931-c088-4d6d-a834-8fbf4b35a1ad
https://seriesmy4u.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-good-day-to-be-dog-2023-ep1-14.html
https://seriesmy4u.blogspot.com/2023/11/miss-mystery-2023-ep1-24.html
https://seriesmy4u.blogspot.com/2023/11/my-demon-2023.html
https://seriesmy4u.blogspot.com/2023/11/moon-in-day-2023-ep-1-8.html
https://seriesmy4u.blogspot.com/2023/11/dear-contract-boyfriend-2023.html
https://seriesmy4u.blogspot.com/2023/11/kingmaker-change-of-destiny-2020-1-21.html
https://seriesmy4u.blogspot.com/2023/11/castaway-diva-2023-1-9.html
https://seriesmy4u.blogspot.com/2023/11/cold-blooded-intern-2023-1-6.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/sasuke-and-naruto.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/anime-naruto-hd-wallpaper.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/obito-and-madara-uchiha-sage-of-six.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/wallpaper-uciha-obito.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/wallpaper-uciha-obito-4k.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/itachi-uchiha-wallpapers.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/wallpaper-uciha-itachi-4k.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/mitsuki-naruto-wallpapers.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/naruto-chidori-naruto-naruto-uzumaki.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/sakura-haruno-wallpapers-free-download.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/wallpaper-haruno-sakura-4k-free-download.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/kurama-naruto-wallpapers.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/wallpaper-kurama-4k-hd-free-download.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/wallpaper-shisui-uciha-4k-free-download.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/shisui-uchiha-wallpapers-free-download.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/free-download-wallpaper-hidan-akatsuki.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/wallpaper-4k-hidan-free-download.html
https://narutowallpaper4khd.blogspot.com/2023/11/wallpaper-uzumaki-boruto-free-download.html
https://pastelink.net/eofo82sg
https://eventsframe.com/e/nY3rV70SQ/assistir-napoleao-2023-filme-completo-em-portugues/
https://eventsframe.com/e/oSKw1yVri/assistir-filme-napoleao-2023-filme-completo-dublado-em-portugues/
https://groups.google.com/g/assistir-napoleo-online-dublado-e-legendado-2023-pt/c/0vfHnmHkeQg
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1RQtMU4JzGT4Cganno_FVud_e-GmpJLZU?usp=sharing
https://gamma.app/public/Assistir-Napoleao-Filme-Completo-Dublado-e-Legendado-em-Portugues-oeohpxodyxdauay
https://www.taskade.com/p/720p-as-sisti-r-napoleao-2023-dublado-online-hd-1080-p-gratis-01HG30TPATJNNFCX9TATX59MW0
https://baskadia.com/post/10tfq
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/b68a6cf4-b059-4ace-969c-1ac22b5dd416
https://github.com/apps/assistirnapoleaofilmecompleto
https://gamma.app/public/Napoleao-2023-Filme-Completo-E-Legendado-Online-q3torky6zm2yd9s
https://gamma.app/public/Assistir-Napoleao-2023-Filme-Completo-Dublado-em-Portugues-iylanhh2op065n3
https://groups.google.com/g/videa-leo—-teljes-film-magyarul-online/c/jicobZMNJO0
https://gamma.app/public/Leo-teljes-film-MAGYARUL-VIDEA-HD-2023-gh57d0757ctwnxk
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/cd1ce116-f922-491b-b684-c9d4470b73b9
https://baskadia.com/post/10w19
https://github.com/apps/leoteljesfilm2023indavideomagyarul
https://gamma.app/public/HD-Leo-Teljes-Film-Magyarul-ingyen-HU-2023-shgnaswlaqxt1vy
https://groups.google.com/g/mizle/c/Pi1lSmdsK50
https://groups.google.com/g/fullversion-hd1080p/c/bShI8BQ4-Tg
https://baskadia.com/post/yxkn
https://github.com/apps/beyondthecloudshd2023tw
https://gamma.app/public/TW-2023—4K-1080p-kztsgze9rxmirpz
https://www.taskade.com/p/2023-hd-1080-p-01HFXJHGPXMY08XEQAAAC9RDM9
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/2ed1a5f7-7651-4d3a-9689-4483c4406ced
https://groups.google.com/g/-beyond-the-clouds—2023-/c/RZbPVG4TcnY
https://baskadia.com/post/yz3d
https://github.com/apps/beyond-the-clouds-2023-hd
https://gamma.app/public/2023-1080P-g0dm5j6nrdlj7yf
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/1923ad27-dbff-4204-ae76-d0e3b64bd4d6
https://www.taskade.com/p/2023-1080-p-01HFYDHT7DCB86BW2EZTS8Z94M
Leave a comment