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…

the atmosphere, has had multiple effects on coral reefs. (Lesser, 2010) Terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems are all affected by climate change. Coral is a vital part of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, without it there would be cascading effects. Coral bleaching is primarily caused by ocean temperature increase, but can also be caused by increased sunlight exposure and pollution from runoff. In order to prevent coral bleaching, there are many actions individuals can take. Coral plays a…

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…

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

Although bleaching and other impacts of climate change can make a coral reef vulnerable and damaged, not all hope is lost. Most coral reef ecosystems can recover over time, some taking as little as 20 years and others taking more than 100 years. This does not mean that we should turn our heads on coral reefs and the damage we inflict on them, simply because they will “recover”. This recovery can only work if humans take great care in preserving them. This can be done by assisting the coral with…

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…

When coral gets stressed, they expel all the algae that provides it with about 90% of its energy, in a state of near death. Instead of the bright pink or yellow, or whatever bright color the coral originally was, it turns to a pale chalky white. If whatever is causing the coral to stress out continues, like the water is still too warm, it starts to starve and dies. If whatever is causing them stress goes away after a little while, it is possible for the coral to come back and regain their…