Common Misconception about Coral Reefs

Most people say that coral reefs are just plants or rocks. However, they are wrong. They are actually a composed of fragile animals called coral polyps,each no larger than a pinhead. Other people also say that coral reefs grow very fast, actually coral reefs will only grow in a range of 0.8 millimetres to 80 millimetres per year!

Here is a conversation between A and B.

A:Coral reefs are not important to us, just who cares about them?

B:NO, A, you are wrong.Coral reefs are important to us as they give many fishes shelter.They also provide medicines for doctors and it can prevent flood and tsunamis to happen.

A:Does global warming affects the coral reef's health?

B:Of course!Coral reefs are only able to live in a temperature of 18-30 degree Celsius.Any higher than that,bleaching will take place.

A:What is bleaching, is it a serious case?

B:Bleaching happens when temperature is higher or lower than its suitable temperature to live in.What will happen is that the zooxanthellae(which that gives it its nutrients and colors) will be lost and hence, the coral reefs will turn white.

A:It only makes the coral reefs less attractive, so why care?

B:Not only it makes the coral reefs ugly, they commonly lose 60-90% of their zooxanthellae and each zooxanthellae may lose 50-80% of its photosynthetic pigments when it is bleached. Hence, they will soon die.

A:I got it now! So to prevent global warming to happen, what must we do?

B:There are many things we can do. We can start off by collecting rubbish and throwing it into the rubbish bin, to reducing use of oil, gasoline. We can also reduce the use of electricity like switching of lights when not in use. Taking a public transport can help too.

A:That's easy.Thank you B for letting me know why must we save coral reefs.

An Interesting Video on Coral Reef

5 easy Steps We can do to save Coral Reefs

1. Conserve water. As the lesser water we use, the lesser runoff and wastewater will pollute our oceans
2. Help reduce pollution. Walk, ride a bike or take a bus because fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs
3. Dispose of our trash properly. Do not leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water can harm the reef and the fish.
4. Plant a tree. Trees can reduce runoff into the oceans. It will also contribute to reversing the warming of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans.
5. Spread the word. Remember your own excitement at learning how important the planet's coral reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem. Share this excitement and encourage others to get involved

Effects Of Global Warming in Coral Reefs

Global Warming is the increase in the earth's temperature caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and methane) in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases prevent infrared radiation from escaping into space, and this greenhouse effect maintains the earth's warm temperature. Causing levels of greenhouse gases, this result in industry burning.

Global warming is 1 of coral reef biggest threats.. They can only live in waters between 18 C and 30 C. Therefore, with the increase in temperature of the surrounding water, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of coral bleaching events during the past 2 decades.When ocean temperatures get too high, coral polyps lose the symbiotic algae inside them, causing them to turn white, or "bleach," and eventually die.

Coral bleaching is the whitening of coral colonies due to the loss of symbiotic zooxanthellae from the tissues of polyps. This loss exposes the white calcium carbonate skeletons of the coral colony.

Effects of Overfishing in Coral Reefs

Around the world, coral reefs are under assault from a multitude of sources, depending on their location. Coral reefs have been damaged directly through harmful pesticides such as coral mining, fishing with dynamite and overfishing.In 1992, Australian reef Ecologist Clive Wilkinson estimated that approximately 10% of the world were already severely degraded, he predicted the figure would rise from 10% to 30% within the next two decades.
Research shows overfishing of sharks are a key factor in coral reefs decline, when sharks are over fished, a cascade of effects can lead into a depletion of important fish such as groupers - causing an increase in their numbers and their ability to prey parrot fishes. The removal of plant eating animals such as parrot fishes has been partly responsible for the shift of Caribbean reefs from coral to algae dominated. This overfishing of sharks may contribute further to the loss of resistance of coral reefs to multiply human disturbance.

Effects of Pollution in Coral Reefs

Pollution is a primary cause of coral reefs. In the Caribbean, 80% of the ocean pollutes originate from activities on land. When pollution increases, the expand in coastal areas increase, resulting an increase of runoff from land.

Runoff often carries large quantities of sediment from land clearing. High level of nutrients from agricultural areas and sewage out flows. Pollutants such as petroleum products and pesticides these pollution will threaten the coral reefs health. Excess nutrients result in poor water quality, leading to decrease oxygen and increase nutrients in the water and it is known as euthrophication.

Euthrophication leads to enhanced algae growth on reefs, leading the corals to be overcrowded and significantly degrading the Ecosystem. Sediment deposited onto reefs may choke corals and interfere their ability to feed and reproduce. On the other hand, pesticides interfere with corals reproduction and growth. Sewage discharge and runoff may also introduce pathogens, an agent that causes diseases, especially a living micro - organism such as bacterium or fungus.

Examples of the pathogens introduced into the coral reefs Ecosystem. ie, aspergillus sydowii and serratia marcescens. Aspergillus sydowii has been associated with a disease in sea fans. Serratia marcescens has been associated with white pox, another coral disease.