Why Is Coral Bleaching Important

The corals that make reefs around the world may look like one giant organism but they’re actually some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, with many small features working together to support a variety of marine life. They are typically found in warm, shallow waters of tropical environments, especially in the Pacific Ocean. Thousands of jellyfish-like animals called polyps, connect together to form colonies. These colonies host algae, that provide corals with food, as well as their vivid color, due to the process of photosynthesis. The combination of environmental disturbances such as global warming, pollution, overfishing, invasive species, overexposure to sunlight, and acidity can cause stress to corals, leading them to expel the symbiotic algae that they need to survive. The process called bleaching, which kills the corals and breaks down the reefs, leaves only a white skeleton. Before the white they had vibrant colors. Restoring cool water temperatures or moving pollutants, can help fragile a coral’s recover. Without proper care, they essentially die. …show more content…
Why is coral bleaching important? About 25% of marine life depends on the habitat created by coral reefs, more than 500 million people in the world rely on reefs for food, tourism, employment, even protection from extreme weather events, and nearly $30-billion in estimated reef values are put at stake. Global bleaching events are happening more often with greater intensity. We’re currently in what scientists say is the worst bleaching event on record, and it could end in a short time unless something is done soon. When a coral bleaches, it does not mean it is dead. They can survive it, but they are under more stress and could reach the point of