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Free Report: Coral Bleaching |
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by Ilsiya Khalikova | 03-05-2021 04:25
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Everything you need to know about coral bleaching - and how we can stop it Coral bleaching occurs when corals lose their vibrant color and turn white. Corals have a special relationship with the yellow-brown algae called zooxanthellae. Algae live inside the coral and receive protection. Zooxanthellae provide food and nutrients to corals and they also give corals their color. One of the notable consequences of global climate change on Earth is an increase in the average temperature of the world's oceans. This process has a fairly significant impact on marine ecosystems, and corals were among the first to be affected. Coral reefs grow best in waters with temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. When the ocean temperature rises by only one or two degrees, zooxanthellae leave the coral or die. Corals can discolor for other reasons, such as high tide, pollution, or too much sunlight. In 2005, the U.S. lost half of its coral reefs in the Caribbean in one year due to a massive bleaching event. The warm waters centered around the northern Antilles near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico expanded southward. A comparison of satellite data from the previous 20 years confirmed that thermal stress from the 2005 event was greater than the previous 20 years combined. Not all bleaching events are due to warm water. In January 2010, cold water temperatures in the Florida Keys caused a coral bleaching event that resulted in some coral death. Water temperatures dropped 12.06 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the typical temperatures observed at this time of year. Researchers will evaluate if this cold-stress event will make corals more susceptible to disease in the same way that warmer waters impact corals. What you can do to protect your coral reefs: - Recycle and dispose of trash properly. Marine debris can be harmful to coral reefs. Recycle your trash at home and on the go (especially plastic), and remember the three R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle). When disposing of trash, do it properly in bins, to avoid trash being blown or washed away into waterways and oceans. On beaches, make sure you leave no trash behind, and never throw or leave any cigarette butts in the sand. - Minimize the use of fertilizers. EPA diver swimming over a coral reef outcrop showing stony corals and soft corals (sea fans). EPA diver swimming over a coral reef outcrop showing stony corals and soft corals (sea fans). The overuse of fertilizers on lawns harms water quality because nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from the fertilizer are washed into waterways and eventually end up in oceans. - Use environmentally-friendly modes of transportation. Instead of driving a car, try to walk, bike, or use public transport (like buses and trains) more often. - Reduce stormwater runoff. Reducing stormwater runoff can help prevent water pollution, reduce flooding, and protect our water resources. - Be conscious when buying aquarium fish. Avoid purchasing living coral and if you buy a marine aquarium fish, make sure that it has been collected in a sustainable manner. Resources used: https://www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/what-you-can-do-help-protect-coral-reefs https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html#:~:text=Warmer%20water%20temperatures%20can%20result,coral%20to%20turn%20completely%20white.&text=Corals%20can%20survive%20a%20bleaching,and%20are%20subject%20to%20mortality. |
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2 Comments
Hi Ilsiya,
This is your mentor Debbie.
Thank you for sharing with us about coral bleaching. Since corals are all deep under the sea, we tend to forget about this issue. But now that you have reminded us of it, we should again keep in mind that many of the actions we take on the Earth WILL affect the living organisms under water as well!
With that said, we should definitely try to protect the earth by practices like recycling and being conscious of our activities for the sake of other living organisms apart from human beings as well.
Best,

Debbie
Posted 17-05-2021 08:22
Hi Ilsiya,
This is your mentor Yuseon:D
Corals are actually an essential factor in the marine ecosystem. It's sad that many of them are losing their color, which would mean it is not getting enough food and nutrients from zooxanthellae.
Thanks for sharing specific ways to protect coral reefs. It seems to be part of the big picture of preserving our environment, rather than just for coral reefs. Hope are corals could get their color back:)
Keep writing,
Yuseon
Posted 14-05-2021 00:35