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.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
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/
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
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/
https://www.resume.id/works/ee0c8085d192b4ba
https://www.resume.id/works/654f88271d72afe3
https://www.resume.id/works/22c60f11d977cd80
https://www.resume.id/works/b49a5def105f172f
https://www.resume.id/works/e95c492a4054570f
https://www.resume.id/works/738c108670054999
https://www.resume.id/works/0f4c3010e4c6da85
https://www.resume.id/works/e694116ddde66083
https://www.resume.id/works/213df7ccc5e49854
https://www.resume.id/works/14cdba63cff9c902
https://www.resume.id/works/0302819c9c4edc23
https://www.resume.id/works/76184795e8ceeb4e
https://www.resume.id/works/d0376bd5e13065df
https://www.resume.id/works/c0541df9866e7cc9
https://www.resume.id/works/5bcecf1b69c4dff2
https://www.resume.id/works/a2f2351705cada99
https://www.resume.id/works/e1a5a4cd4f4ac411
https://www.resume.id/works/e92b1109373ba050
https://github.com/Nosferatu-f-i-l-m-y-cz-sk
https://github.com/Better-Man-2024-film-cz
https://www.resume.id/works/9e61f755dde8cf8f
https://www.resume.id/works/46646e942ea2049c
https://www.resume.id/works/a39a1269ac6649f9
https://www.resume.id/works/25c5afba3da6789f
https://www.resume.id/works/374445e8ab6e3b22
https://www.resume.id/works/35bd70b21c998623
https://www.resume.id/works/0e1f29a91426bd07
https://www.resume.id/works/d59792d0a3cec233
https://www.resume.id/works/0539c9cf7c425b58
https://www.resume.id/works/53c0680c2649e8b7
https://www.resume.id/works/98cead19ffe9d000
https://www.resume.id/works/d324238c7301ba98
https://www.facebook.com/events/432110796650539/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1139731004410673/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1298113874564436/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1147139120146069/
https://www.facebook.com/events/966581608189933/
Leave a comment