Coral Bleaching Essay - 1019 Words

Coral Bleaching Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystem on the planet. There are more than 25,000 known species of organisms and countless others that have yet to be identified (Helvarg, 2000). Reefs thrive on the shallow edge of tropical seas, most often on the eastern edge of continents along warm water currents that brush the coasts. Reefs cannot live in cold waters and are limited by ocean depth and available sunlight. Coral is the foundation of the reef community, providing a three-dimensional structure where thousands of species of vertebrates and invertebrates live and feed. Some species of coral are hard, while others soft. Some are branched, yet others are compact and rounded. Coral is made up of large†¦show more content†¦Coral bleaching is normally characterized by the expulsion of the zooxanthellae algae, loss of algal pigmentation, or both. Coral bleaching events have had serious effects on corals and reefs worldwide. What is crucial to the understanding of zooxa nthellae expulsion and bleaching is how the density of zooxanthellae within the coral is changing, if at all, under the prevailing range of environmental conditions (Gates and Edmunds, 1999). Over the last twenty years, there has been a dramatic increase in both the frequency and intensity of coral bleaching events. Sixty major bleaching events have been reported between 1960 and 1979, whereas only nine were reported prior to 1979 (Huppert and Stone, 1998). Given the dependence of the coral on this symbiotic algae, it is important to determine the cause of these bleaching events. According to Helvarg (2000, p.12): Coral reefs†¦ are fragile structures living within a narrow range of temperature, clarity, salinity and chemistry. Even a slight increase in ocean temperature, or increased CO2†¦ can cause stresses such as bleaching†¦ These stresses slow the rate of growth of the corrals†¦ With some 60 percent of the world’s coral reefs now losing productivi ty, it’s becoming a global crisis and a scientific mystery. Scientists have been trying to solve this scientific mystery by evaluating each environmental conditionShow MoreRelated Coral Bleaching793 Words   |  4 PagesCoral Bleaching Abstract Coral reefs have been called the rainforests of the ocean and are one of the most diverse and important ecosystems on the planet. This paper will explore how global warming has effected these fragile ecosystems. It will focus on the impact of increasing ocean temperatures on coral reefs. Coral Reefs Coral reefs exist globally from 30N to 30S latitude and have existed in some form on Earth for over 200 million years. Over 2500 species of coral have been identifiedRead MoreThe Effects Of Bleaching On Coral Reefs1612 Words   |  7 Pagesmarvelous selection of coral reefs all of which house copious species of coral. Many of these coral are the key element in a marine ecosystem by providing food, shelter and protection for the underwater community. However, this ecosystem is threatened due to the events of coral bleaching, as this event kills the coral and the creatures dependent on them. Without coral, these creatures will become more vulnerable and may be at risk of endangerment or extinction. Bleaching doesn’t just affect theRead More Coral Reefs And Bleaching Phenomenon Essay1452 Words   |  6 Pageswe will find an equally dynamic environment in the depths of our world’s coral reefs. As a Zoology major, I quickly decided to explore this biological component of the ocean environment. In the following paper, I will provide a general overview of coral reefs and examine the alarming depletion of coral and their ecological symbionts in a process known as coral bleaching. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As mentioned earlier, coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive of all communities on EarthRead MoreCoral Bleaching And Its Impact On Coral Reef Ecosystems1698 Words   |  7 Pagescurrently know about coral bleaching and its impact on coral reef ecosystems. It analyses the scientific evidence linking coral bleaching to climate change and other anthropogenic activities. It also focuses on the importance of ecosystem services provided by coral reefs, and the socio-economic and environmental impacts of coral bleaching. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations and mitigation strategies to slow down the rate of coral bleaching, thus allowing coral reefs to adapt and developRead More Bleaching Away the Beauty of Coral Reefs Essay2308 Words   |  10 Pagesstart surveying the coral reefs around you, something catches your eye. The coral has turned white, and no longer moves with life. This whiteness seems to have spread over a large area of t he reef. You no longer see the colorful branches swaying in the current, or the schools of tropical fish swimming through the leaves. This death-ridden reef will never have the same life it once had. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This phenomenon is known as coral reef bleaching. This makes corals unattractive andRead MoreCoral Reef Bleaching : A Serious Problem That Should Be Addressed Immediately844 Words   |  4 PagesArgumentative Paper Coral reef bleaching is a serious problem that should be addressed immediately. Coral reef bleaching is an issue because of the damage done to the coral, and the damage done to the ecosystem associated with coral reefs. Some proposed solutions are that more areas of coral reefs should be protected, and sunscreens should be banned in and near the reefs. Coral reefs are living structures comprised of the exoskeletons of a marine organism known as polyps. Polyps are animals thatRead MoreThe Bleaching Of Coral And Its Effects On Human Activities976 Words   |  4 PagesCorals are greatly complex organisms that help buffer the ocean and provided an ecosystem for many other marine organisms but the coral and therefore these ecosystems are in immense threat. The decrease of coral cover is increasing with a 50% decrease seen from the years 1985-2012 (1). This is not just due to the natural threats of predators like COTS and large scale weather events like cyclones but also due to human activities such as overfishing, pollution, disturbance in the reef and global warmingRead MoreEssay about Bleaching of Coral is Harming the Environment2094 Words   |  9 PagesMETHODS Bleaching occurrences have happened before the 1980s; however detailed information could not be gathered due to lack of reporting (Berkelmans, De’ath and Kininmonth). In 1911, the first bleaching event was reported at Bird Key Reef in the Florida Keys, in which unfamiliar warm weathers caused â€Å"injury† upon the corals and the death of many fishes (Berkelmans, De’ath and Kininmonth). In 1998, the worst bleaching event was recorded. In some parts of the world, live corals were completely harmedRead MoreBleaching Away the Beauty of Coral Reefs2340 Words   |  10 PagesBleaching Away the Beauty of Coral Reefs Pretend you are about to go scuba diving in the ocean. You jump in the water and begin to sink down. As you start surveying the coral reefs around you, something catches your eye. The coral has turned white, and no longer moves with life. This whiteness seems to have spread over a large area of the reef. You no longer see the colorful branches swaying in the current, or the schools of tropical fish swimming through the leaves. This death-ridden reefRead More The Effects of Global Warming On Coral Reefs Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effects of Global Warming On Coral Reefs Graphs Missing Introduction: The effects of global warming touch every human, animal, plant, ocean, landmass, and atmosphere level on this planet. The numerous effects of global warming are mixes of good and bad results, depending on how your definition of good results and bad results are. A good effect, a person could say, would be for regions with normally cold temperatures to receive warmer temperatures for their normal. Yet, there are