This was an assignment for my environmental science class. For this assignment we chose an environmental issue to research and write about. The issue I chose was the destruction of coral reefs caused by anthropogenic factors. I discussed the causes of coral reef degradation as well as the importance of coral reefs and possibilities for restoration. Before this paper we first had to write an annotated bibliography using five scientific, peer reviewed articles about our chosen topic. This process helped to develop my research skills as well as my knowledge on the science surrounding coral reefs. We were meant to write about the topic in a way that could be put in a pamphlet to inform the public, with little scientific background, about the issue. My communication skills developed through explaining my scientific sources and knowledge on coral reefs in a way that was concise and that the general public would be able to understand. The main thing I took away from my research was that humans are causing coral reef degradation and steps, specifically relating to the reduction of CO2 emissions, need to be taken in order to prevent this from progressing.
CORAL REEFS
Coral reefs are some of the world’s most productive and diverse ecosystems, but they are declining worldwide (Kittinger, 2011).
Causes of Coral Degradation:
- Unregulated, destructive fishing practices
- Pollution from agricultural run off, oil spills, improperly treated sewage etc.
- Ocean acidification due to increase in CO2 emissions
- Climate change causing rising sea temperature
Effects of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs:
The amount of carbon dioxide emissions is very high due to human activities. Carbon dioxide enters the ocean where it reacts with water to form carbonic acid. The carbonic acid forms bicarbonate ions which decreases the amount of carbonate in the water. Decreasing the amount of carbonate reduces the corals rate of calcification. Lower rates of calcification cause the construction rate of coral reefs to decrease (Hoegh-Guldberg, 2007).
Coral Bleaching:
Occurs when conditions such as nutrients, light and temperature change in the coral’s environment. This causes the coral to be stressed and expel zooxanthellae (symbiotic algae), which provides vital nutrients, from their tissue. The ejecting of zooxanthellae leads to the loss of the pigmentation in the coral. If the factors causing the stress are not severe and continuous the coral can often recover, if not it will eventually die (Hoegh- Guldberg, 1999).
Importance of Coral Reefs:
- Provide food and shelter for fish and many other organisms
- Protect coastlines from erosion
- Provide humans with chemical compounds used for medicine
- Human communities depend on coral reefs for their livelihood ex) fishing and tourism
Restoration:
- Gardening in situ (in it’s natural environment) coral then transplanting it into degraded reef sites
– Conserve coral colonies
– The benefits of using in situ coral is that it causes minimal harm to existing coral because it has already adapted to the natural reef conditions (Epstein, 2001).
- Prohibit Recreational Diving
– Divers damage coral reefs, by contact or by raising sediment onto thecorals (Zakai, 2002)
- If anthropogenic stressors, such as greenhouse gas emissions aresignificantly reduced over a long period of time reef recovery may be possible (Kittinger, 2011).