Corals are large animals that live under the sea that provides homes to many of the oceans sea life. These corals work with the algae in the sea provide the coral nutrients for it to live. This formas a mutualistic relationship between the coral and surround sea creatures. However, an issue has arised in the ocean. Coral bleaching is when zooxanthellae leaves the coral because of high temperatures, pollution, and other irritants.
These coral reefs provide nutrients and homes to countless fish and sea life across the ocean. Coral reefs protect the coasts from natural disasters like erosion and storms. They also store carbon dioxide allowing for climate regulation. These animals play a crucial role in our environment. Losing them could lead to mass extinction especially in the larger reef barriers.
The biggest and most popular coral reef is The Great Barrier Reef located off the shore of Australia. In 2020, The Great Barrier Reef faced it’s third mass coral bleaching event. Then to the fourth only a year later. This reef was home to many fish in the South Pacific ocean. The 2017 coral bleaching event lead to around 20% of all the coral dying. With even more dying off ever since.
While coral bleach is an emergent issue that we face it can be prevented. We as individual people could lessen our fossil fuel use to decrease the pollution’s effect on the coral reef. Our plastic straws could be turned to paper, we can use electronic copies instead of overly printing, we can try to carpool more often to decrease gas emissions. We could dispose of our trash properly instead of sending it into the ocean.
Many feel like coral bleaching isn’t a prominent issue however, if the ocean’s temperature doesn’t decrease, the coral could die out entirely.
Coral reefs don’t only hold a practical use but also has sentimental value to travelers, marine biologists, and tourists. They show a vibrant pattern of beauty that many people enjoy. They serve as a sight to see in Australia that brings in tourism to the area. Many people have created jobs surrounding the coral reefs boosting the shorelines economy.
Coral reefs can be cleaned and restored to their healthy state. This is done by providing nutrients to the reef and cleaning any pollution that is harming it. This option allows for coral reefs to restore their algae and return to their natural vibrant colors. Many organizations work hard to fund and send teams out to clean the coral reefs and restore them to their former glory. Many scientists are also using IVF as a means of recreating corals and replanting them in the ocean. This allows for the dead coral to be replaced with new coral alongside restoring the natural coral that haven’t died off. They are also attempting to use cross-breeding to create heat resistant coral. However, time is not on our side. It can take only days to weeks to fully bleach a coral and only a few more weeks to die entirely.
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First of all, I really like your title. At first, I wasn’t sure what hair salons had to do with coral reefs, but now I get it and am a big fan of the pun.
I also think you choose a really good topic to write about, seeing as this is an important issue that people should be made aware of. I liked that you started by introducing the importance of coral reefs and then transitioned into discussing why they are dying off. I also think the solutions you mentioned are good, not only for the coral reefs, but also for global warming in general. Our planet is currently going through changes because of global warming and multiple things are being affected as a result, including the reefs. I think you took an important topic and presented it in a very dignified way.
Hi! I’m so glad you chose to write about this issue. I had heard about it in passing, but never fully realized the threat this issue posed to the environment. I like how accessible many of your solutions are, and how they’re very easy for the average person to apply to their daily lives.