Monday, October 4, 2021

The Effects of Climate Change on Coral Reefs

 Climate change has shown to have a clearly negative affect on the ocean and its organisms due to the increase in ocean temperatures. Coral reefs are of the organisms that are negatively affected by the rise in sea temperature. As described in an article by Live Science, Coral reefs are essentially made up of the remnants of ancient organisms, known as corals. The hard exoskeleton of coral reefs is created when the corals extract calcium carbonate from the ocean water in order to protect its soft bodies. Over time, the individual corals, known as polyps, attach themselves to the surface of a dead coral where they construct their own exoskeleton, ultimately creating a massive structure that is home to many organisms.

Many organisms rely on the corals for nutrients, a home, and for protection. One organism in particular has a symbiotic relationship with the corals, known as zooxanthellae. Their mutually beneficial relationship protects and provides carbon dioxide for the zooxanthellae, and energy as well as their lively colors for the coral polyps. Though, the recent rise in carbon dioxide and other greenhouses gases as well as the rise in ocean water temperatures has threatened this relationship. The rising temperatures are causing the corals to expel the zooxanthellae losing their main energy source and bright colors, leaving behind the bland, white exoskeleton, a process called bleaching.

 

The bleaching of corals is detrimental to the survival of many ocean organisms from algae to schools of fish. As stated in an article by TIME magazine, “Reefs occupy just 1% of the world’s marine environment, but they provide a home to a quarter of marine species—including a unique set of fish, turtles and algae. Many of these species could be lost permanently, but with temperatures only expected to rise in the coming decades chances are slim that reefs will be able to rebuild from scratch”. The loss of corals and the species they provide for essentially creates a domino effect in the food chain and furthermore the survival of many other species, even us humans. Further explained in the TIME article, “The death of coral also represents a huge loss—as much as $375 billion annually—for the local economies along the globe they support. Reefs support local tourism and the commercial fishing industry. They also protect coastlines from flooding during extreme storms”. 

 

Scientists predict that the bleaching and loss of marine life will only get worse in the future as climate change shows to be on the path to mass extinction if we humans don’t fix the damage that we essentially caused. The mass bleaching of coral reefs is a clear sign of what’s to come in the future if we don’t take action.

 

Sources 

What Are Coral Reefs?

https://www.livescience.com/40276-coral-reefs.html

A Most Beautiful Death: An underwater investigation of coral bleaching in the south pacific

https://time.com/coral/


Posted by Brianna Bailey (1)

 

7 comments:

  1. I was learning about this in my Ecology class. It's so sad to think that some of these ancient lifeforms can be taken away from us. It isn't only a climate issue, it's a financial and well-being issue for humans as well, so hopefully that will kick us into gear to find a solution to this mess.

    -Hannah K

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    1. Exactly. I feel as though humans don't understand the urgency of climate change because the changes we see don't necessarily effect us directly. But, what we do tend to neglect is the indirect repercussions that these changes cause us.
      - Brianna Bailey

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  2. Hi there, this is a recent topic we covered in my ecology class. I am aware of the devastation of our coral reefs and I think your article is a well-thought source for raising awareness.

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    1. Thank you! Raising awareness for climate change is definitely important for the survival of Earth's species as well as Earth herself.
      - Brianna Bailey

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  3. I've always heard that climate change causes coral reefs to become bleached and die off, but I never knew how the actual process happens. It's mind blowing to think that a collection of organisms that occupy only 1% of the marine environment can have such a detrimental effect on other marine life if it were to die out.
    - David Miropolsky

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  4. This is exactly why climate change is continuing to get worse while humans don't seem to find the urgency in it. Imagine if the species that is going extinct due to climate change made up a bigger percentage of life on earth. Detrimental effects would follow for all species, and eventually the planet.
    - Brianna Bailey

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