Coral bleaching

While there are plenty of small ways that everyone can help limit coral bleaching, this includes everything from conserving more water which leads to less oceanic runoff to contacting your local government representative and expressing your concern for the reefs, there stands one major ‘solution’ to the problem of bleaching- preventing climate change. While this may seem like a daunting and near-impossible task at first glance, there are several things that every human being can do on an individual level. The most definitive step everyone can commit to in their daily lives is limiting their carbon dioxide emissions. COTAP (Carbon Offsets to Alleviate Poverty) is an organization that seeks to limit both the glaring issues of global poverty and…

Coral Reef Bleaching Coral reef bleaching, which is the whitening of diverse invertebrate taxa. The cause of the whitening is “from the loss of symbiotic zooxanthellae and/or a reduction in photosynthetic pigment concentrations in zooxanthellae residing within the gastrodermal tissues of host animals.” (P.W.Glynn) The reason why coral reef bleaching is such a concern is because the “consequences of bleaching large numbers of reef-building scleractinian corals and hydrocorals.”(P.W.Glynn) …

Coral reefs are vital to our marine ecosystems and essentially ours as well. They are the foundation of marine life and its diversity as well as a big part of human economics. Since coral reefs are so fragile it’s hard to maintain their beauty and life without ruining them. Lately, fisherman and multiple accounts of human activity have destroyed the coral reefs and the population of reefs all of the worlds is decreasing. While we have already lost 27% of coral reefs, why do we care if more die…

hard and soft corals, shelters one hundred and thirty-three varieties of rays and sharks, and is home to 1,625 species of fish (Pressey, Grech, Brodie, Day). There is only one problem however, the Great Barrier Reef is dying. The…

Introduction Coral reef ecosystems are arguably one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth. (Spalding 2001) Because of the marine life that swarms these areas, the reefs are comparable to those of tropical rainforests. (Spalding 2001) Additionally they play a critical role in the success of coastal communities, providing protection from storms, and drives tourism to these areas. However, due to unfortunate changes that inundates the coral reef ecosystems from increases in human…

Sixty genera of coral have a symbiotic relationship with the algae zooxanthellae. Only some deep water and cold water corals can survive without them. This symbiotic relationship benefits both organisms, the zooxanthellae provides the coral with glycerol, glucose and alanine. The coral provides the zooxanthellae with nitrogen and protection against predators. The degree to which the organisms depend on one another varies between species. (Rupert and Barnes, 1994). Coral bleaching occurs when the…

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…

With the alteration of acidity, saturation states, and increased temperatures coral…

Coral bleaching is put into different categories based on the loss of dinoflagellate symbionts. Large events affect coral reefs with a growing frequency. Recent bleaching has hamed corals throughout the world's oceans. When coral bleaching appears only in a scientific literature after warming of the ocean. In the next 30- to 50 years bleaching will rise rapidly because of the change in sea temperature. Changes in stress on coral communities worldwide. Lots of methods have been used to evaluate…

Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems composed of small animals known as coral polyps, the skeletons of dead corals, and the various plants and animals that take refuge in the rich environment they produce. Sadly, the world 's coral reefs are dying. Ocean acidification, rising water temperatures, and disruption in the balance of sea life combine to form a lethal threat to these beautiful natural wonders. But what is really killing coral reefs? We are. Pollution, physical destruction, and…