Coral Bleaching Research Papers

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 zooxanthellae 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 bleaching usually occurs when the surface of a sea with coral in it becomes too warm for the coral. When the water heats to as little as one degree higher than normal, coral expels the algae living in its tissue, which causes it to turn completely white. The rise in temperature of the sea surface has been linked mainly to global warming. Other causes of coral bleaching include oxygen starvation caused by an increase in zooplankton, increased solar irradiance, increased sedimentation, bacterial infections, changes in salinity, herbicides, low tide and exposure, cyanide fishing and elevated sea levels. Bleaching events in 2016 were unprecedented, nearly 90% of the coral in the Great

First, I am going to talk about the importance of coral reefs. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. They are home to 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard coral, and hundreds of other species. Scientists believe that there are another 1 to 8 million unidentified species (NOAA). According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, new drugs are being developed from

    Coral reef destruction is a big deal. There are many environmental threats on coral reefs which means they are slowly dying. Coral reefs play a very important part in marine ecosystems. Sea creatures depend on them for protection, camouflage, as a home, and also for food. Scientists believe this could be from natural causes like erosion, and global warming as reasons that coral reefs die off but one of the main reasons is pollution. There are many different ways pollution can affect coral reefs. There is a chemical in sunscreen called oxybenzone that may be contributing to the destruction of coral reefs as swimmers are trying to protect their skin. This chemical has toxic effects on young coral that can damage their DNA,

Located in tropical ocean waters, coral reefs provide priceless resources to both human and marine life. The leading natural cause of destruction among the coral reefs is global warming. Other natural causes are earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons. The destruction to the coral reefs from these natural disasters is minimal compared to the dangers caused by man. Man-made destruction has a much wider impact on the health of the coral reefs. This destruction includes over-fishing, damage from anchors, aquarium industry, overgrowth of seaweed, and being smothered by sediments.

(Andrew, Glynn, & Riegl, 2008) This loss of zooxanthellae or the reduction in their pigment concentration from the host is referred to as coral bleaching. Bleaching turns the host coral white, as the skeleton becomes visible through the coral’s transparent tissue. Bleached corals can survive without their counterparts for weeks or months. However, as this symbiosis is vital for reef building, the absence of it significantly reduces coral growth and reproductive ability, eventually leading to reef mortality. (Knowlton, 2001)

However coral reefs are in endangered by several threats. One of the biggest has been coral bleaching. The corals are becoming stress and turning this pale white color (known as bleaching) due to the temperatures of the water increasing. (C. Mark 2010). It has been studied that the bleaching is caused by the corals expelling the

Coral reefs are generally called the rainforests of the sea, both due to the extensive amount of species they shelter, and to the significant productivity they generate (ICRI 2012). In addition to contributing to a valued habitat, coral reefs provide spawning, nursery, refuge and feeding areas, and provide nearly $30 billion (US) in net benefits in goods and services to world economies, including, tourism, fisheries, and coastal protection (ICRI 2012). Coral reefs are deteriorating all over the world due to untreated sewage and chemical agriculture run-off and unregulated coastal construction, both of which increases sedimentation, but they are also affected by over fishing and destructive fishing practices, scuba diving, and increased tourism (Spalding et al. 2001).

This phenomenon is known as coral reef bleaching. This makes corals unattractive and lifeless. The biodiversity of a reef is important to the ecosystem. There are different organizations that have

Humans tendency to live near the ocean can have substantial negative consequences on the reef. Water quality decreases due to sewage leakage, agricultural run-off and other types of groundwater pollution.

In this paper, I will describe the complex nature of the causes, environmentally and mechanically, of bleaching and their effects on the ecosystem they inhabit. First, the main environmental causes of the effects of coral reef bleaching will be described, namely changes in water conditions. The specific damage to the coral reef will then be explored, looking deeply into the underlying biochemistry of the symbiotic relationship. Finally, the consequence

There remains a plethora of work to be done in order to combat the global issues threatening coral reefs, such as climate change, terrestrial runoff, and unsustainable fishing practices (Mulhall 2009). The belief that coral reef conservation is best accomplished at localized level needs to be challenged by international organizations’ (IOs), non-governmental organizations’ (NGOs), and state government programs’ reports that examine the importance of global initiatives in addressing threats to the world’s reefs (Mulhall 2009). It is also crucial that more international funding is provided to coral reef host countries in order to help them end the degradation to their reefs (Mulhall 2009). Lastly, an international coral reef-specific agreement that focuses on the conservation of these ecosystems and includes sanctions for noncompliance must be implemented to better address reef degradation (Mulhall

Coral reefs are a crucial part of the world, socially, economically, and environmentally. All over the world, coral reefs are being damaged beyond repair and are possibly facing extinction in the future because of natural reasons, such as weather, climate change, tidal changes, predation, and various diseases. Humans are also causing catastrophic damage through pollution, overfishing, and coral mining. Despite the numerous efforts being made to restore the reefs to how they used to be, there is not enough being done, and chances are they will never be the same. Coral reef degradation is manageable, if not almost completely avoidable, at least for the damage that is caused by people. The coral reefs provide crucial resources to us as humans and to the animals living in and around them that is why they should be protected no matter what the cost may be.

Coral reefs also play a big part in other sea animals lives.Coral reefs make up about 1% of the ocean floor, that may seem small but, that about the size of France! One third of all marine animals live in a coral reef for some of their life. For

However, many fisherman are unable to catch as many fish as they used to, so they are increasingly using cyanide and dynamite in fishing, which further degrades the coral reef ecosystem.[6] This perpetuation of bad habits simply leads to the further decline of coral reefs and therefore perpetuating the problem. One solution to stopping this cycle is to educate the local community about why conservation of marine spaces that include coral reefs is important.[7] Once the local communities understand the personal stakes at risk then they will actually fight to preserve the reefs. Conserving coral reefs has many economic, social, and ecological benefits, not only for the people who live on these islands, but for people throughout the world as well.