I want to revisit a significant ecosystem that has recently created a stir in the news: coral reefs. A little than a week ago, many newspaper articles have highlighted the alarming rate at which coral reefs are being eradicated. With several contributing factors, the decline in the number of coral reefs in the world represents a critical environmental issue for humans to resolve.
Why should we even care about saving coral reefs? Humans tend to nurture loving pets, such as dogs and cats, but we never see an Instagram post of a prickly piece of coral. While coral may not seem to be a fascinating ideal to many people, they are incredibly useful in our daily lives. For example, The Spectator states that coral reefs serve as a viable solution in protecting against storms and tidal waves—more effective than any man-made barrier. Moreover, these coral reefs aid over 4,000 species of fish, including serving as the spawning site for lobsters, sea cucumbers, and even sharks. Even though reefs cover less than one percent of the seabed, over a billion people rely on the organisms located there for food.
But now, coral reefs are threatened by the likes of global climate change. Coral bleaching occurs when bright sunshine and intense temperatures catalyzes and speeds up the metabolism of the algae. By having an incredibly fast metabolism, coral reefs start creating toxins and cause them to expel the symbiotic algae that supply the reef with oxygen and nutrients. Without these essential factors, coral reefs begin to lose their vibrant colors and turn white. As the only living structure visible from space, the Great Barrier Reef serves as an example of numerous reefs susceptible to coral bleaching. The effects are so severe that the effects of coral bleaching are also noticed from space.
In order to put the severity of the issue into perspective, scientists who witnessed the damage felt by the coral reefs have recounted what they saw there. When asked about a recent dive in the Pacific Ocean, Dr. Cobb, a marine scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology, claimed “the entire reef is covered with a red-brown fuzz. It’s otherworldly. It’s algae that has grown over dead coral. It was devastating.” Misaki Takabayashi, a marine scientist at the University of Hawaii, described what he saw when he went surfing as “bleached white ghosts popping up off the ocean floor at me.” Other observations captured the feeble phenomenon taking place in coral reefs, but one thing is certain: coral bleaching has become a chronic disease that needs to be treated.
Many phenomena have occurred over the previous years in oceans to spur such a global response from coral. In 2013, a strong high-pressure cell blocked the southward flow of polar, initiating the first of three warmer winters in the North Atlantic. In 2014, a large underwater heat wave—up to four degree Fahrenheit warmer than surrounding waters— formed in the northeastern Pacific and has reached the West Coast of North America. Then in 2015, the strongest El Niño cycled through with blistering heat across the Pacific, hitting reefs from Indonesia to Kiritimati and Africa’s east coast.
According to an MIT Technology Review article, scientists are devising methods to regenerate and save coral reefs worldwide. A novel and low-tech method exists to help coral survive: blowing bubbles through seawater. This process removes carbon dioxide and assists in lowering levels of ocean acidification. While these aren’t main causes of the dilemma, these certainly play a role in weakening the reefs.
A research project by the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences and the University of Hawaii are seeking ways to accelerate the evolution of more resilient strands of coral. In a sense, genetically modified coral (selectively breeding qualities of more resistant coral) may be a solution to the debilitating state of coral. Healing the coral population serves as a major problem for civilizations. Any environmentally-friendly effort that allow coral reefs to recuperate is worthy of support.
One lasting question in many scientists’ minds is the duration. How long and to what extent will coral bleaching last for? El Niño is waning in strength, the heat wave in the Pacific Ocean has declined in temperature, but scientists claim that they can’t accurately predict the full extent of the damage until coral bleaching ceases. The fact that coral bleaching is occurring at an alarmingly rapid pace, and in back-to-back seasons doesn’t mitigate the condition. If the coral bleaching incidents don’t decline, both in frequency and ferocity, humans will be faced with a limited supply of food, less protection from tropical storms, and a deep loss in global economies.
Works Cited
http://www.pulseheadlines.com/planet-earths-reefs-damaged-risk-disappearing/25378/
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601244/the-race-to-save-coral-reefs/
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/04/the-great-barrier-reef-is-dying-why-does-nobody-seem-to-care/
Takara Richard says
Last semester when taking Bio 110, coral bleaching came about as a resurfacing problem, reading you post I can now see it is serious coming back. It is absurd to think that this issue has not be resolved…usually when problems appear the natural response is to solve them. But it is a possibility that it was not resolved due to the fast rate at which this problem is occurring. This topic makes me very sad– I love the sea so much it is a shame to see beautiful creatures and life be destroyed.
Ishan says
I’ve never realized that coral bleaching was such a significant issue. It seems clear to me that there are devastating consequences that humans will face if coral reefs continue to get hurt by bleaching or even global climate change. Reefs are wonderful, but sadly under appreciated ecosystems that need to be preserved. I personally would love the opportunity to snorkel in and explore one of the coral reefs in the world. However, my time to do this seems limited if they are being damaged at truly alarming rates. This is just another issue that the world needs to address and hopefully initiatives are taken before its too late.
Sarah Magee says
I’ve learned about coral bleaching in my BIOL 110 class this semester and I was one of those people who understood that this is a problem but I didn’t understand why. We learned about how important these coral reefs are for marine life and for companies who make money off of the survival of these reefs.
Erika Yany Veiszlemlein says
Coral bleaching is an issue that I haven’t heard about in years. I don’t think I have heard the two words consecutively since middle school, but I don’t understand why– obviously the issue hasn’t been solved. I also didn’t realize that the issue was occurring at such an alarmingly fast rate. This was a really good read. It definitely put the crisis into perspective.