sustainability · 3282 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

3283 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • dgrtjhg

    https://sites.google.com/view/pelisplus-ver-monster-summer-2
    https://sites.google.com/view/pelisplus-ver-megalopolis-2024
    https://sites.google.com/view/pelisplus-ver-deadpool-3-wolve
    https://sites.google.com/view/pelisplusversubservience2024on
    https://sites.google.com/view/pelisplusvertransformersone202
    https://sites.google.com/view/pelisplus-verbeetlejuice22024
    https://sites.google.com/view/pelisplusverbeetlejuicebeetlej
    https://www.wilkinswalk.com/blogs/blogger/nike-air-vapormax?comment=133488050340#comments
    http://www.limesucks.com/thread/wdw/
    https://postheaven.net/o58c8qozjm
    https://forum.woimortal.com
    https://dangtinvantai.com/threads/ddff55.49847/
    https://www.cantiqla.com/blogs/news/cantiq-anniversary-party?comment=132950163565#comments
    https://smartsnack.cl/blogs/news/beneficios-de-dejar-el-azucar-y-tips-para-lograrlo?comment=137150365874#comments
    https://www.allthebabies.co/blogs/news/mom-to-mom-with-valerie?comment=134153666800#comments
    https://chobaolam.vn/threads/hrthtrhrj.553713/
    http://forum.dnpsolpol.ru/threads/gregergr.7017/
    https://socialmphl.com/story19696709/stream-free-movies-tv-shows
    https://prbookmarkingwebsites.com/story20192489/stream-free-movies-tv-shows
    https://smmwebforum.com/threads/hthththtr.21568/
    https://haftahavit.com/blogs/news/so-simple-gifts-for-everyone?comment=134958645546#comments
    https://www.baristaswag.com/blogs/news/free-pour-latte-art-coffee-art?comment=138142875750#comments
    https://tagzfoods.com/blogs/news/tagz-why?comment=134153634032#comments
    http://www.ks-welldental.com/well/bbs/board.php?bo_table=daily&wr_id=5&&page=1&#c_149
    https://www.homerev.com/blogs/home-revolution/how-often-should-i-wash-my-reusable-coffee-mug?comment=135482540285#comments
    https://vietnamtrade-forum.com/threads/gthyhyj.19014/
    https://forum.sweepsflow.com/category/39/promotions/forum/community/discussions/71309-grgtght
    https://pelisplushd.outgrow.us/pelisplus-ver-transformers-one-2024-pelicula-online-en-espanol
    https://pelisplushd.outgrow.us/pelisplus-ver-beetlejuice-2-2024-pel-cula-online-en-espa-ol-y-subtitulad
    https://cuevanahd.outgrow.us/pelisplus-ver-deadpool-3-wolverine-2024-online-en-espa-ol
    https://cuevanahd.outgrow.us/cuevana-3-ver-transformers-one-2024-pelicula-online-en-espa-ol
    https://githubespana.outgrow.us/pelisplus-ver-joker-folie-deux-2024-pel-cula-completa-online-en-espa-ol
    https://veraqui.outgrow.us/ver-transformers-one-2024-pel-cula-completa-online-en-espa-ol-repelis-hd
    https://veraqui.outgrow.us/ver-beetlejuice-2-2024-pel-cula-completa-online-en-espa-ol-repelis-hd
    https://meganfox.outgrow.us/ver-subservience-2024-pel-cula-completa-online-en-espa-ol-repelis-hd
    https://pastelink.net/9cz3avak
    https://www.pastery.net/yrzhvz/
    https://snippet.host/cyyeyu
    https://pastebin.com/
    https://tech.io/snippet/jR1KvOV
    https://glot.io/snippets/h0at1fynaw
    https://paste.toolforge.org/view/494051ca
    https://telegra.ph/scscvs-09-26
    https://paiza.io/projects/CfBrGJSwEXeCxgFR2tdirg
    https://rentry.co/hx66fwxg
    https://etextpad.com/gmrvocreyp
    https://www.taptap.io/post/8231157
    https://yamcode.com/untitled-104119
    https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/bcc3fbd1
    https://paste.myst.rs/itist9kx
    https://paste.thezomg.com/
    https://www.onlinegdb.com/
    https://network.propertyweek.com/
    https://community.thoracic.org/
    https://sloan.ucr.edu/
    https://justpaste.it/gaukt
    https://ctxt.io/2/AAC49klOFg
    https://asmao.hashnode.dev/r32r32rf3r
    https://ourclass.mn.co/posts/dwed
    http://clan-banderos.de/web/index.php?site=profile&id=1&action=guestbook
    https://jsfiddle.net/fuhpsL0k/
    http://www.codyjhughes.com/guestbook/
    https://rextester.com/YZFXI92875
    https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/155001-htht
    https://forum.instube.com/d/145319-htht
    https://matters.town/a/68mxg8pqcb8c
    https://bitbin.it/6G6qGBq6/
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/e72ea6d0
    https://bitbucket.org/santuy213/workspace/snippets/MzB7g4
    https://nodebb.klangknecht.com/category/1/announcements
    https://www.forexagone.com/forum/create
    https://www.selbstbesaiter.com/g%C3%A4stebuch/
    https://cofradesdegranada.ideal.es/
    https://jpn.itlibra.com/article?id=23247
    https://www.lifesshortlivefree.com/community/off-topic/4gerger/
    https://www.dotandlil.com/blogs/blog/77012548-now-in-stock-vintage-honey-tins-maintenant-disponibles-pots-de-miel-vintage?comment=134332186903#comments
    https://ca.gleener.com/blogs/news/how-to-keep-your-workspace-working-for-you?comment=132613799994#comments
    https://bryantsmeat.com/blogs/recipes/sausage-gumbo?comment=127843270841#comments
    https://www.radiowarta.pl/artykul/16063,jak-nie-dac-sie-infekcji
    https://ultrafighteronline.com/topic/8268/frfrfrg
    https://medicine.ju.edu.jo/Lists/ConfReg/AllItems.aspx?
    https://www.lacartuccia.ch/g%C3%A4stebuch/
    https://web3devcommunity.com/topic/15010/scs
    https://forum.thecodingcolosseum.com/topic/11071/sccs
    https://www.bankier.pl/forum/wiadomosc-zapisana?post_id=68346977&obs=&emal=&st=1&thread_id=
    https://issuu.com/amirah123/stacks
    http://paste.jp/712589ad/
    https://bitbin.it/6G6qGBq6/raw/
    https://hackmd.io/1snlF_CtSmuqr9OxpdLJXg
    https://www.lomarfarms.com/blogs/news/people?comment=136548745521#comments
    https://wokwi.com/projects/410105200488938497

  • 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

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://terrifier-2-filme-complet-hd.tumblr.com/
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178678
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178579
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178668
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179496
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/177722
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180635
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/177717
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178648
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/177712
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178559
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178614
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179546
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/177782
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180675
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179541
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/180665
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178713
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178708
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/178703
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/179526
    https://watch-avatar-2-2022-online.tumblr.com/

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/tryit.php/952b926f-70a4-4b03-8c7f-cd74d59c2dd2
    https://paste2.org/mAVpVW1c
    https://pastes.io/0hndweh3pn
    https://yamcode.com/xviqcj2zy6
    https://rextester.com/JDWDC58620
    https://onecompiler.com/html/3ypddn9mp
    https://paste.toolforge.org/view/a65127bb
    https://paste.centos.org/view/1fe22e1e
    https://jsfiddle.net/mize123salajs/c8juxb7g/1/
    https://pasteio.com/xDFdHmYmWQ4W
    https://p.teknik.io/GAUCh
    https://paste.laravel.io/21ed0d40-b88e-40c5-a54d-2b8e032bf968
    https://pastelink.net/9kra7y91
    http://paste.jp/f62e5f28/
    https://www.pastery.net/prcwwj/
    https://justpaste.it/2r6vq
    https://paste.laravel.io/21ed0d40-b88e-40c5-a54d-2b8e032bf968
    https://paste.ec/paste/O8vFLNEk#Cmfam+lVH+zT6Sjj4bpMWvawNyUwtY95h2JBMk8cHCP
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/hfErU6
    https://paste.md-5.net/letabuboti.rb
    https://paste.mozilla.org/PLOmNEf6
    https://privatebin.net/?3d90bb94f17e336a#37W1DiYQscrTVs6RruTYsriRiJYVFxxeMM2dTux6hngq
    https://paste.ec/paste/2CZlWpeK#RKaaneQWKBK1pnNaqO1RnJFP45EXOC6aSIE5SamqMg7
    https://paste.artemix.org/-/X8-TDc
    https://paste.md-5.net/iruyigatuy.rb
    https://paste.mozilla.org/2Khoj1Ai
    https://paste.myst.rs/k1zk8aw7
    https://paste.awesom.eu/raw/dfdfdfsd/Qyqg
    https://paste.imirhil.fr/?4a5f85d23ecbd77d#Zac6rOI3mdpssvmZSnFMEiye4H+Wgiq/wze3E73HhAc=
    https://paste.itefix.net/?888b8b2ba32f9195#Cky6Jtr9W5Qm8reBBTQBJU2LEGTqqC41SNmKoWiGiCW9
    https://paste.enginehub.org/JMiaYJTPn
    https://paste.me/?new=true
    https://paste.chapril.org/?ad8c99622706ab49#BfUuVJ6MrYnbkSQLjU7pAQ2t3Ewtd3Ga8eGdxoytsgvf
    https://paste.offsec.com/?40a92ec9f8540874#WkFLKSOqJrmLHnFb9Pbn6Ly4kmo8m/NN232yICgAzAk=
    https://anotepad.com/note/read/hy7r89fk
    https://sharetext.me/apkgz5jwct
    https://notepad.pw/raw/v7WiUr2wncpAZhKb6DbJ
    https://ideone.com/Qr9N5L
    https://ctxt.io/2/AAAQHX0QEQ
    https://0paste.com/409401
    https://controlc.com/7a75d7e8
    https://paste.rs/jud.php
    https://rentry.co/fdsfsdfdsfdsfsdf
    https://write.geeksforgeeks.org/preview/4603663
    https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/82791cdf-59c0-4eb5-b2d4-02ac685eba0b
    https://terrifier-2-filme-complet-hd.tumblr.com/

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173981
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/175115
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/175105
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173028
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/175090
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/172292
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173956
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/172277
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/175080
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/175075
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173996
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173289
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173284
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/175155
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173279
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/175150
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173269
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173264
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/173259
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/175140
    https://terrifier-2-filme-complet-hd.tumblr.com/

  • alajsdfdfd

    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/169670
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166757
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/168576
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/168566
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/169630
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167318
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167303
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166692
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/169555
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166467
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166973
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167258
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167919
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166712
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166732
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167323
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167343
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166747
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167378
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/168591
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/169335
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/168004
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167994
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167358
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167348
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/168546
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167949
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/169600
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167293
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/168461
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/168596
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166767
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167363
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166737
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/168556
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/167954
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/169605
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/169590
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/166672
    https://new.c.mi.com/ph/post/169340

Leave a comment

BLOG