sustainability · 2656 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

2657 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • ktektketku

    https://wokwi.com/projects/402378302917229569
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402378524110200833
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402378697256340481
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402378894640346113
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402378970541536257
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379067142668289
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379147671225345
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379261160726529
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379339750467585
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379403165214721
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379468800843777
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379608320210945
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379703578114049
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379772431830017
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379864803010561
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379930214250497
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402379999087882241
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380066140141569
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380195672868865
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380254545182721
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380312877478913
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380382002769921
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380445797104641
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380501498525697
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380607521118209
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380669854783489
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380737252021249
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380800062784513
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380859785495553
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380919707431937
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402380987257762817
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381048017504257
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381107954120705
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381164017301505
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381234988085249
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381312458993665
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381395463246849
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381453472585729
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381510125069313
    https://wokwi.com/projects/402381570526208001

  • jalop

    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/137786
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/137797
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/137937
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/137925
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/136479
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/136549
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/138247
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/137258
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/138265
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/136909
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50209
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50938
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50665
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50635
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50898
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50630
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50241
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50236
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50893
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/50615
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41105
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41263
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41100
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41095
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41090
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41258
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41162
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41157
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/41253
    https://new.c.mi.com/my/post/40721

    https://www.bulnewstime.com/2022/11/blog-post_41.html
    https://www.bulnewstime.com/p/ver-pantera-negra-wakanda-por-siempre.html
    https://konkurents.blogspot.com/2022/11/blog-post_21.html
    https://plazanewstime.blogspot.com/2022/11/indonesia-java-quake-kills-scores-and.html
    https://brothersline.site/wife-of-colorado-veteran-who-tackled-gunman-at-lgbtq-club-describes-the-last-harrowing-moments-of-the-shooting/
    https://endezo-nz.com/what-we-know-about-the-victims-of-the-colorado-springs-club-q-shooting/

    https://yamcode.com/pn5iowzui8
    https://graph.org/kwoqkdopkqwpodkpqowdqwd-11-22
    https://telegra.ph/qpdkwefewfjojewiofjewfwef-11-22
    https://backlinktool.io/p/XP6XsyUShUvJ79AZMkLT.html
    https://www.posteezy.com/qowkdopkwqopdkqwdwd
    https://paste.toolforge.org/view/67d8b835
    https://pastelink.net/xtcekzk1
    https://justpaste.it/6w0qn
    https://bitbin.it/Hv5aSa8O/
    https://justpaste.me/xJin1
    https://rentry.co/qk867
    https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQq4-FEg
    https://pastebin.com/ntVFJVvX
    https://rextester.com/ZBA15927

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://paste2.org/JzN9WLJ5
    https://pastes.io/zdqj4hvh9c
    https://yamcode.com/hvq4efsmpy#comment-14283
    https://rextester.com/l/php_online_compiler
    https://onecompiler.com/php/3ypna4thc
    https://paste.toolforge.org/view/92f03ae3
    https://jsfiddle.net/mize123salajs/5k9bztsv/
    https://paiza.io/projects/Yv_UJTOrNHs6iKwTnCxrFA?language=php
    https://paste.centos.org/view/ed3f6c66
    https://pasteio.com/xebftMyArvBw
    https://p.teknik.io/h3C9j
    https://pastelink.net/x4dd6o2p
    http://paste.jp/0ee682c5/
    https://www.pastery.net/wfsgac/
    https://justpaste.it/anemb
    http://pastebin.falz.net/2459678
    https://paste.laravel.io/a778eaca-e0f2-4696-8e55-24bce22703d2
    https://privatebin.net/?44028b2afdc2d095#FESke7eMtnV2BBWmqXUXLMJX9BzPWXMhqos5buCgPUDT
    https://paste.gg/p/anonymous/45e30918b0c64e97b1bc67bfc9c82394
    https://paste.ec/paste/j3IYLUmV#KVH1IwY8dqKqGxMS+SlcOhY2r-vj9qtAIC7UwPhtkJE
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/Tu~avw
    https://paste.md-5.net/quwapukucu.rb
    https://paste.mozilla.org/dzGpp51G
    https://paste.myst.rs/xjwga85w
    https://paste.awesom.eu/dfdsfdsf/KcMU
    https://paste.enginehub.org/zYxH1wFqR
    https://paste.imirhil.fr/?80bb2399eea9eb41#naKJwsH3RU2J20u9d10jYRTPRTS69JYZ1H/LC+ZJ0ts=
    https://paste.itefix.net/?0dbba51cd5e07d4a#J3753bHz4dGEyRYaXeKGsub4iVYeC18rrNcKG5Yb8Aq7
    https://paste.me/?new=true
    https://paste.offsec.com/?0eff2d4418ddfb97#1ZMbFCR7C1grM/cNYe7HPRAKf3XFt1hBYTy7DVYUnbQ=
    https://paste.chapril.org/?19ea24c393282566#73y1yCP7Mjng9WKtTWh3KZhDsf1YF6Ex9M2LWpFm9GKp
    https://anotepad.com/notes/bbcdwy89
    https://sharetext.me/iqk18odmry
    https://notepad.pw/raw/VV6gL2yCo0AUuaD2n5dU
    https://ideone.com/v3w5WZ
    https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQxXASEg
    https://0paste.com/410903
    https://controlc.com/7e0ce8a1
    https://paste.rs/eMB.php
    https://rentry.co/dfsdfdfdsfds
    https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/008461d6-8bec-433c-8070-e67f3ec0dd12
    https://mzmovies4k.com/en/movie/76600/avatar-the-way-of-water

  • alajs

    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246090
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/244176
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243423
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246070
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246060
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/244166
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243393
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/244156
    https://paste2.org/dYw2F7Ap
    https://pastes.io/myvwgywdcx
    https://yamcode.com/lbsxfegr6i
    https://rextester.com/WELU89680
    https://onecompiler.com/php/3ypkczuj8
    https://paste.toolforge.org/view/de1dbc5c
    https://paiza.io/projects/H9YP1EmR93u5l5_LvQB9Zw?language=php
    https://paste.centos.org/view/1430aff0
    https://pasteio.com/xdpGWWaPEtwI
    https://p.teknik.io/2ysuY
    https://pastelink.net/k9hkhwrl
    http://paste.jp/a7b4ff5d/
    https://www.pastery.net/cszsbz/
    https://pasteio.com/xdpGWWaPEtwI
    https://justpaste.it/7asah
    https://jsfiddle.net/mize123salajs/6bnadzpy/
    http://pastebin.falz.net/2459174
    https://paste.laravel.io/1d257548-5609-4133-8b6d-94010cd44c23
    https://privatebin.net/?c9747053aa6d5b18#J5LaV6DTvyACuLCjiWkTqttaASiRuu62WSjDwooCMf34
    https://paste.ec/paste/-JbjJ+Tz#uNlJCsAcJTqWL0Jp2lrFAJMPRLtfX0zvk-/KCcmsNXU
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/_jPChk
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/C+k~$K
    https://paste.md-5.net/uboyezuboc.rb
    https://paste.mozilla.org/W3RL8KKJ
    https://paste.myst.rs/9qepyht3
    https://paste.awesom.eu/dfdfdsfdfdf/59ho
    https://paste.enginehub.org/lXu0xqreb
    https://paste.imirhil.fr/?30804298c9922762#j2lqTMDLHWMp0Lbiro3QFtK1WVAa4tIWKP37hIpWD1E=
    https://paste.itefix.net/?d3eb5ba76c58d36d#C9g8xLVb1tnk4HAGbhGfWtd1USRmdL35BtmvzEREDdmA
    https://paste.me/?new=true
    https://paste.chapril.org/?bea9c603edb2cc48#FV5CaLU2NHtVq3NyBaNE3prq544nCm54ECRopPieAxwQ
    https://paste.offsec.com/?110f961958c375e8#p8l9Ya+eqAYLR8qtzkoIsK3+8iZ15X1yb3pw9GpwcAk=
    https://anotepad.com/note/read/ph6aykbf
    https://notepad.pw/raw/aPNOl5AcurVRBQTZWJ0l
    https://ideone.com/i2czhY
    https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQZfn6Eg
    https://0paste.com/410480
    https://controlc.com/83b770bd
    https://paste.rs/dm2.php
    https://rentry.co/DSFDFDFD
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243378
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243363
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243172
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243167
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/244171
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246080
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243408
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243403
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/246050
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243388
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243127
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/243122

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/185596
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186390
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184818
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184042
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184813
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/185591
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184808
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184779
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184774
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186385
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184037
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186380
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184803
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186375
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184032
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184798
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186370
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/185576
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/186365
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/184769
    https://mzmovies4k.com/es/movie/505642/black-panther-wakanda-forever

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://watch-avatar-2-2022-online.tumblr.com/
    https://terrifier-2-filme-complet-hd.tumblr.com/
    https://terrifier-2-pelicula-completa.tumblr.com/
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180339
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179607
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/182325
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180329
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/182315
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179592
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/182310
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179577
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180309
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/181171
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180374
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180543
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179647
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180533
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180364
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180359
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179632
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180349
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179617
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/182330
    https://mzmovies4k.com/es/movie/663712/terrifier-2

Leave a comment

BLOG