Coral Bleaching Effects

Superior Essays
Since the beginning of the industrial era, carbon dioxide or CO2 concentrations have been dramatically increasing. Today we are facing the highest amounts of anthropogenic CO2 in our atmosphere in over 650,000 years. Increased CO2 concentrations will have many negative effects on this planet. Our plants and oceans play a crucial role in carbon recycle on our planet and our oceans absorb one quarter of CO2 that is emitted into our atmosphere. When the ocean absorbs CO2, chemical reactions occur that eventually reduces their pH, carbonate ion concentration and saturation states of important calcium carbonate (CaCO3) minerals. This is known as ocean acidification. With the alteration of acidity, saturation states, and increased temperatures coral …show more content…
Douglas describes coral bleaching by sating, “Bleaching is not restricted to corals, but displayed by all animals in symbiosis with dinoflagellate algae of the genus Symbiodinium, also known as zooxanthellae because of their yellow–brown color” (Douglas A.E, 2003). Coral communities that have been devastated by coral bleaching are left looking gray and white with very minimal signs of life. Where coral reefs harbor millions of different species and are one of the most majestic ecosystems in oceans. Corals and Symbiodinium species have a symbiotic relationship. Symbiodium possess different types of chlorophyll and carotenoids which provide nutrients and color to corals. There are many causes of coral bleaching not just one direct cause. Because they are so sensitive coral bleaching can be caused by temperature flux and influxes, darkness, introduction to a large amount of CO2, and pathogenic micro-organisms. With so many possible causes of coral collapses it is an easy observe to make that these symbiotic relationships ecologically risky but offer a great reward if maintained for both species. Corals are made out of carbonate ions in particularly calcium carbonate or CaCO3, and with the influx of CO2 coral structures have been degrading over …show more content…
Which also decreases the saturation of aragonite, the main mineral deposits for coral reefs. Reefs are highly sensitive to temperature, light, and carbonate minerals concentrations. This creates a very tight geological boundary for coral reefs to thrive in. Maoz’s study demonstrates the relationship between aragonite concentration and coral reefs by stating, “Reef communities thrive where Ω-aragonite is 3.1 to 4.1, but under CO2 doubling Ω-arag is projected to drop below 3.0. Experiments have shown that CO2 doubling results in reduced coral calcification (by 44 to 80%)” (Fine and Tchernov, 2007). Coral reefs use aragonite to create a bony and hard exterior. Coral’s need to maintain the 3.1-4.1 aragonite concentration to thrive, but can preserver with lower or slightly higher concentrations. Kleypas gives a more detail evaluation by stating, “Fragile coral skeletons have been reported from high-latitude, low Ω-aragonite reefs and coral communities, and reefs in well-mixed, highly supersaturated waters such as the Red Sea tend to have abundant internal carbonate cements, whereas those in low saturation waters such as the eastern Pacific have none” (Kleypas et all., 1999). This shows that corals can still grow in different aragonite concentrations but will have very different exteriors. Research is still being conducted on coral reefs as effects of ocean

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    Scientific Validity of “Study links altered brain chemistry, behavioral impairments in fish exposed to elevated CO2” Coral reefs are having a problem with pH levels and they are dying some places around the world right now, because of it. This is not only affecting the coral reefs, but the animals that live in them and survive with them. There is a Scientific Study called “Study links altered brain chemistry, behavioral impairments in fish exposed to elevated CO2” which discusses the behavior and neurological impairments of coral reef fish due to more CO2 and acidic levels of pH. More CO2 causes lower levels of pH and makes it more acidic and very dangerous for fish. Overall this is a poor scientific article, because it has only one good source…

    • 1738 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Growing up in the Florida Keys, I have been surrounded by the ocean my entire life and have personally witnessed it gradually get destroyed over the years. Because of tourism playing a huge role in the Florida keys, our beaches and oceans are left polluted and leaving our reefs to extinction. Not only in the Keys, but throughout Florida our waters are heavily polluted by the great amount of tourism in our state. In the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, there has been a vast decline in staghorn and elkhorn corals leaving the reefs scattered since the 70’s. As I continued to observe and research this topic, I noticed that humans overlook the effects that they cause and focus on the benefits they receive.…

    • 1378 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Ocean Acidification Effect

    • 1820 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Ocean Acidification-Effect on Squid Ocean acidification is a direct result of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide CO2 concentration due different type of human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation (Halpern). The world’s ocean surfaces have gradually become more acidic due to absorption of excess anthropological carbon emissions throughout history. Since the Industrial Revolution during 19th century, the carbon dioxide level has been dramatically increasing. In addition, the CO2 concentration level has reached a constant of 280 ppm during Pre-Industrial and will reach 700ppm by the year of 2060 under the projections (Cooley). Figure 1 shows that as the carbon dioxide levels increase in ocean, the pH level decrease.…

    • 1820 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For years this planet has been undergoing vast changes in its environment, wildlife, and mostly our oceans. The acidifying of our oceans is because of all the Carbon Dioxide that is absorbed by seawater. A chemical reaction that occur which reduces seawater's pH. All of the Carbon Dioxide is being put into our atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels. Calcium carbonate minerals are the building blocks for the skeletons of shells of many marine organisms. In certain areas where life now congregates in the ocean, the seawater, is supersaturated with calcium carbonate mineral.…

    • 429 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    However, about 40 percent of the 16 percent of the reefs in the world that were seriously damaged in 1998, due to coral bleaching from El Niño, are either recovering well or have fully recovered. Despite that, since 1998 coral bleaching has become even more severe. Every region has now experienced severe coral bleaching, causing much bleach-induced mortality (see figure 3) (Shah). Zooanthellae, which are what give coral their beautiful colors, live on corals and provide them with 95 percent of their energy for growth, reproduction, and feeding, making them key in coral’s survival. With climate change, this causes the water to warm up, making corals go into stress, which causes the zooxanthellae to desert the coral, which in turn causes the bleached appearance (Cesar, et al.).…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Another impact on deteriorating coral reefs is the effect on the eco-tourism industry that receives its revenue from showcasing coral…

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Mass Ocean Extinction Extinction has occurred naturally throughout the history of earth, but something more sinister is brewing in our oceans. There have been five natural extinction events, and each event had a drastic on the ocean and marine life, especially coral reefs (Veron, 2008). Human impact is creating an extinction level event, an extinction rates of species in and out of the ocean have never been higher. This paper will focus on the causes of mass extinction, human impact, and effects on marine life. This paper will also draw on three separate experiments that show extinction rates in our oceans on a smaller scale.…

    • 1153 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Between 1800 and 1994, the oceans had absorbed around 48 percent of the total amount of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels (IPCC, 2014). Therefore, the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the ocean would have increased considerably since then, and with the increased production of carbonic acid which releases bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, the amount of carbonate ions which are necessary in the creation of coral shells and skeletons decrease significantly. (Australian Government, n.d.) Therefore, more acidic seawater impacts coral significantly, dissolving their shells and skeletons, and hindering their ability to absorb calcium carbonate. Ocean acidification not only impacts coral and the animals that rely on coral as their main food source, but the animals that make calcium carbonate shells such as snails and clams (How does climate change affect the reefs?,…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    At least 35% of corals in the northern and central parts of Australia's Great Barrier Reef have been destroyed by bleaching, Australian scientists say. The experts from James Cook University (JCU) say it is the most extreme case of mass bleaching they have ever measured at the World Heritage Site. Bleaching occurs when warmer water causes coral to weaken and lose the colourful algae that provide oxygen and nutrients. It has been linked to climate…

    • 76 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Coral Bleaching Essay

    • 1472 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Pollution, physical destruction, and rising global temperatures are all ways that humans are contributing to the worldwide destruction of coral reefs. One major way that humans are indirectly causing coral reef change is through global warming. As humans continue to contribute to this…

    • 1472 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    They stated that the corals have the possibility of dying if exposed to temperatures above normal. These abnormal temperatures cause the coral to release their zooxanthellae, which is known as coral bleaching. This bleaching can decrease the growth of the coral, but it also takes a long time for the coral to recover if it can. Data were taken on the Curacao coral reef, the results showed the temperature was rising too high for the coral to grow, but it was not high enough for the reef to bleach. In addition to bleaching, another major aspect of reefs is the calcification.…

    • 1960 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Sixty genera of coral have a symbiotic relationship with the algae zooxanthellae. Only some deepwater and cold water corals can survive without them. This symbiotic relationship benefits both organisms,the zooxanthellae provides the coral with glycerol, glucose and alanine and the coral provides the zooxanthellae with nitrogen and protection against predators. The degree to which the organisms depend on one another vary between species. The zooxanthellae algae gives the coral a yellow-brown or dark brown colour.…

    • 262 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Another big problem to consider is that ocean acidification is an error in the carbon cycle. Carbon cycle refers to the biogeochemical cycle where circulation of carbon in the atmosphere occurs and in order to maintain the level of carbon in the atmosphere the ocean must take in any access remaining onto themselves. The carbon cycle procedure is quite essential for certain marine life-forms survival and creation. However, when the levels of carbon concentration increases, the H in pH also increases causing the pH values to decline. As the level of carbon starts to increase, it creates an acid called H2CO3 which inhibits calcification procedures on oysters and crustaceans (Kantharia 2015).…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Ocean Acidification Essay

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 5 Works Cited

    Increased ocean acidification isn’t the only thing affecting the ocean, but it is very problematic because it erodes aragonite which is a mineral of calcium carbonate. In other words it kills corals and causes the hard exoskeleton to erode. Action needs to be taken to ensure the survival of corals and the creatures that rely on coral reefs to survive. Coral reefs are sources of food for millions of people, but also are sources of medicines. As coral reefs disappear so do the organisms that are mutualistic to it.…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    • 5 Works Cited
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    (Gain attention) President Barack Obama once said “There’s one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other, and that is the urgent threat of a changing climate.” (Reveal Topic) This statement by President Obama on climate change conveys how important the fight against climate change is. (Establish Credibility) I became interested in this topic after getting into a disagreement regarding climate change with my grandfather and how he doesn’t “buy into that liberal bullshit,” so I set out on a mission to prove him wrong by conducting research with the goal of fully understanding the climate change debate. (Preview the Body)…

    • 1384 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays