Coral reefs are considered one of the most important and diverse ecosystems in the world. They provide a home for thousands of species of fish, crustaceans, and a variety of other marine life. Not to mention they are absolutely mesmerizing. The primary species of coral involved with reef building across the globe are called hermatypic or hard corals, due to the durable exoskeletons the corals produce to protect their soft bodies. Each piece of coral contained within a reef is called a polyp and they progressively add to their calcium carbonate exoskeleton, growing into massive structures overtime. Coral reefs are found throughout the entire globe from the coasts of Alaska, to warm and tropical island waters. According to Oceana, scientists state that there are more than 1 million types of coral species living in reefs across the world. However, the reefs are slowly beginning to disappear.

Coral bleaching is a prevalent and increasing issue that has been occurring within our oceans for the past several years. When coral bleaching occurs, the corals in a reef turn white and eventually die. Corals obtain their beautiful, bright colors from a mutualistic relationship they share with a microscopic algae that lives inside of them called zooxanthellae. When environmental changes occur, such as an increase in water temperature, the corals become stressed and as a result, release the algae living within them. If these stressful changes continue, the coral stays stressed and will not allow the algae to re-enter, leading to the bleaching effect and death. Once the corals in a reef become bleached and die, there is a rare chance that the reef will ever return. If this occurs, it can destroy an entire reef ecosystem, dramatically affecting the wildlife that rely on the reef for food and shelter.  

There are several causes of coral bleaching such as pollution in the ocean water and air, dramatic tide changes, slight temperature changes, and other effects resulting from the climate change occurring on our Earth. We must realize the importance of the reef systems, not only for the marine life that benefits from it, but for the people that also rely on the reefs for food security and as a natural safety barrier. We can help prevent coral bleaching and reef deterioration across the world by making simple lifestyle changes, such as limiting the amount of fertilizer runoff that enters the ocean water or decreasing the use of harmful chemicals in our water systems and plant life habitats. Also, when swimming in the ocean, consider using reef safe sunscreen which is produced by brands such as COOLA and Banana Boat. However, if we truly want to prevent this issue, we must inform ourselves about the increasing changes in our climate that are worsening every year. These climate changes not only effect reefs, but every ecosystem on Earth, therefore we must try our very best to decrease the rate at which these changes are occurring.