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://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106279369
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106210643
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106270186
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106237549
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106233843
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106271780
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106227880
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106275667
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106214964
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106256016
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106256018
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106218256
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106210066
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106271172
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106277909
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106683869
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106210278
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106234425
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106238298
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106272423
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106276174
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106699439
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106212395
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106277975
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106686792
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106251288
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106279667
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106278103
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106238450
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106212600
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106235797
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106212607
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106221038
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106238415
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106203835
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106253510
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106230607
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106260051
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4106235798
https://www.passes.com/eliofilmecomplet
https://www.passes.com/omatchperfeitofilmecomplet
https://www.passes.com/liloestitchfilmecomplet
https://www.passes.com/umfilmeminecraftfilmecomplet
https://www.passes.com/umfilmeminecraftfilmehd
https://www.passes.com/umfilmeminecraftfilmedownld
https://www.passes.com/liloestitchfilmehd
https://www.passes.com/liloestitchfilmedownld
https://www.passes.com/omatchperfeitofilmehd
https://www.passes.com/omatchperfeitofilmedownld
https://www.passes.com/eliofilmehd
https://www.passes.com/eliofilmedownld
https://www.passes.com/bolerofilmecomplet
https://www.passes.com/bolerofilmehd
https://www.passes.com/bolerofilmedownld
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122101815104987813&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122101815008987813&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122101814774987813&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122101814300987813&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122101814174987813&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122101813964987813&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122107261346978280&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122107261136978280&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122107260896978280&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122107260698978280&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122107260422978280&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122107260284978280&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122128060688900521&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122128060406900521&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122128060286900521&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122128060172900521&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122128060070900521&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122128059962900521&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104384406981149&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104384310981149&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104384160981149&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104383668981149&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104383494981149&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122104383362981149&type=3
https://subscribepage.io/demon-slayer-filme-gratis
https://subscribepage.io/demon-slayer-filme-online
https://subscribepage.io/demon-slayer-filme-complet
https://subscribepage.io/fantastico-filme-complet
http://subscribepage.io/fantastico-filme-online
https://subscribepage.io/fantastico-filme-gratis
https://subscribepage.io/volta-para-mim-film-gratis
http://subscribepage.io/volta-para-mim-film-online
https://subscribepage.io/volta-para-mim-film-Complet
https://subscribepage.io/superman-filme-complet
https://subscribepage.io/superman-filme-gratis
https://subscribepage.io/superman-filme-online
https://subscribepage.io/F1-filme-completo
https://subscribepage.io/F1-filme-online
https://subscribepage.io/F1-filme-gratis
https://subscribepage.io/elio-filme-complet
https://subscribepage.io/elio-filme-online
https://subscribepage.io/elio-filme-gratis
https://subscribepage.io/weapons-filme-complet
https://subscribepage.io/weapons-filme-gratis
https://subscribepage.io/weapons-filme-online
https://subscribepage.io/DaffyPorky-filme-complet
https://subscribepage.io/DaffyPorky-filme-online
http://subscribepage.io/DaffyPorky-filme-gratis
https://subscribepage.io/alien-planeta-terra-filme-complet
https://subscribepage.io/alien-planeta-terra-filme-online
https://subscribepage.io/alien-planeta-terra-filme-gratis
https://www.passes.com/xemcam
https://www.passes.com/xemmada
https://www.passes.com/xemnatra2
https://www.passes.com/xemdiadao
https://www.passes.com/xemteeyod2
https://www.passes.com/xemlatmat8
https://www.passes.com/xemnuhonbacty
https://www.passes.com/xembietdoisamset
https://www.passes.com/xem404chayngaydi
https://www.passes.com/muado2025motchill
https://www.passes.com/thanhguommotchill
https://www.passes.com/demonslayer2025fullstory
https://subscribepage.io/muadofullhd
https://subscribepage.io/demonslayerfullhd
https://subscribepage.io/gatao-big-brothers
https://subscribepage.io/gatao-big-brothers-tw4k
https://subscribepage.io/xem-mua-do-fullhd-motchill
https://subscribepage.io/demonslayer2025vietsubfullhd
https://baskadia.com/post/8kt5e
https://ceylanovine.graphy.com/courses/Ceylanovine
https://blognews.mybloghunch.com/the-best-movie-reviews-of-2025-what-critics-are-saying
https://reretp.medium.com/exploring-2025s-most-talked-about-movies-8d9e8d164da8
https://blognewsdaily.hashnode.dev/fresh-movie-reviews-2025s-biggest-hits-and-misses
https://multichoicetalentfactory.com/user/76137
https://portfolium.com.au/eichorstgrantrnmf9221
https://blognewsdaily.mystrikingly.com/blog/must-watch-films-of-2025-critical-reactions-and-insights/i/view_as_owner
https://bio.site/ceylanovine
https://muckrack.com/ceyla-novine
https://wakelet.com/wake/O-TA37i5FMnllULnqb9pl
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/zz5oN1
https://protospielsouth.com/user/79571
https://participons.mauges-sur-loire.fr/profiles/ceylanovine/activity
https://findaspring.org/members/ceylanovines/
https://imgur.com/a/p1c7YBf
https://giare24h.net/topic/ceylanovine.html?t=198471
https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/275037-ceylanovine
https://forum.thecodingcolosseum.com/topic/84265/ceylanovine
https://wokwi.com/projects/440184933102410753
https://www.deviantart.com/mikayatensai/journal/Ceylanovine-1233749477
https://linkr.bio/ceylanovine
https://rant.li/ceylanovine/
https://start.me/w/waAEzY
https://papaly.com/categories/share?id=dbb3a877a07b4b82abe0367bf2e48231
https://about.me/ceylanovine
https://www.socialbookmarkssite.com/user/ceylanovine
https://raindrop.io/ceylanovine/ceylanovine-59155373
https://bento.me/ceylanovine
https://snippet.host/azznve
https://pastelink.net/5h6so7du
https://hackmd.io/@mikayatensai/ByaaMROFgl
https://telegra.ph/Ceylanovine-08-24
https://paste.intergen.online/view/124f27ab
https://rentry.co/Ceylanovine
https://paste.myst.rs/1ktnp4i2
Leave a comment