ipl-logo

Coral Bleaching Effects

1393 Words6 Pages

Coral reefs are the most diverse communities in the marine environment. Hermatypic-corals help form the structure of coral reefs and a shelter for a variety of organisms. Living coral reefs form land, provide the sand that lines tropical beaches, and the structures which prevent the waves from causing extensive coastal erosion. However, pollution from sewage and agricultural practices damages corals as well as the wide variety of organisms living within them. Stress is a physiological condition which results from adverse or excessive environmental factors and in corals and can be measured by decreased growth rates, metabolic differences, and biochemical changes. There are varying levels of degradation of coral reefs such as mortality to more sublime changes in …show more content…

Corals under stress due to changes in PH levels or temperature of the water will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living within their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. Another cause of coral bleaching is produced formation water, an effluent of offshore oil and gas industries that cause significant bleaching ( White et al .2012) .When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality. Mortality amongst corals has appeared to be the breakdown of the symbiotic association between the zooxanthellae and the coral host. In January 2010, cold water temperatures in the Florida Keys caused a coral bleaching event that resulted in some coral death. Researchers discovered that this cold-stress event will make corals more susceptible to disease in the same way that

Show More
Related
442 Words | 2 Pages

The first Scientific Method step used was observing. In paragraph 2 in"Coral killer on the loose" it states, "“Between 1996 and 2012, more than half of all corals in the Florida Keys alone had died,” says Porter". This means that Scientist observed that the corals were dying because more than half died alone. In paragraph 2 of "Coral killer on the loose" it states,"The species has disappeared from more than 90 percent of its former habitat".

Read More
1851 Words | 8 Pages

Oceans are peaceful, majestic, and filled with amazing and vibrant color. A lot of the prostown beauty in oceans can be credited to coral reefs. Lately though, natural coral reefs have been dying for various reasons, and some people believe that artificial reefs can help not only the natural reefs, but other surrounding ecosystems in their environment. Various articles use rhetorical techniques in hopes of enhancing their articles about whether or not artificial reefs are helping or harming the oceans. The first article, “Concern Lingers on Success of Artificial Reefs”, was written by Charles Q. Choi, and for Live Science, looks at both the pro and con side of artificial reefs.

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

In summer the average water temperature is 80 °F. Coral is not a rock. It is not a plant. It is made up of thousands of tiny animals.

Read More
1196 Words | 5 Pages

When too many trees are cut down the temperature of the environment increase and it also increases the acidity I the ocean. Both increased temperature and increased acidity in the ocean contribute to the damage to the coral

Read More
1918 Words | 8 Pages

1. It is a scientific fact that biodiversity is greatest near coral reefs and estuaries. But because of human influence coral reefs around the world are dying. Human coastal development, pollution, ocean warming, and ocean acidification are all things that threaten them. The World Research Institute estimated that about ¾ of the worlds shallow reefs are threatened by climate change, pollution, and overfishing.

Read More
620 Words | 3 Pages

By allowing the coral to initially grow in altered water pH, it will allow the population to thrive due to being able to adapt to only changing conditions based on OA. Bahr et al., performed a study on the coral species Montipora capitata and came to the conclusion that OW is a more significant threat to coral growth when combined with OA and high irradiance (Bahr et al.,

Read More
1315 Words | 6 Pages

These banks contain coral rubble, seagrass and macroalgae with other invertebrate taxa, which play a key part in the ecosystem. The bank systems contain essential fish habitats, which provide sheltering and foraging grounds. Past studies have indicated these fish assemblages showed a high diversity and biomass of coral reefs. Most of the biomass in the Florida Keys ecosystem is made up of species that stay in channels for most of the day. These signs show that the bank systems are important for the FKNMS for providing a structural support and high productivity for the biodiversity.

Read More
108 Words | 1 Pages

Natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis can have a devastating effect on the coral in that area. The 2004 tsunami in south East Asia completely obliterated everything in its path, destroyed hundreds of ancient coral reefs (anthozoa) in these tropical waters. Many species of coral, such as the stag horn coral; a hard species of coral that branches out to look like deer antlers, are today classed as an endangered species due to the severe decrease in the corals range. How viable are the artificial coral reefs (anthozoa) in replacing the natural reef environment? What are its advantages and disadvantages?

Read More
952 Words | 4 Pages

In Caribbean, 36 percent coral reefs are located within 2 km of the inhabited land thus this area of coral reefs ecology have highly susceptible to pressures arising from coastal populations. The extensive construction and development for roads, housing, ports and other development has been required to support both of the residential and tourist populations. The coastal development was poorly managed therefore put stress on coral reefs through direct damage from dredging, land reclamation and sand and limestone mining for construction as well as through less direct pressures such as runoff from construction sites and removal of coastal habitat. Besides that, the loss of mangrove and sea grass which filter sediment and nutrients coming from the land has been widespread in the Caribbean which lead to add the pressure towards coral reef ecology. Next, the increased sediment in the coastal waters reduces the amount of light reaching the coral and hinders the ability of their symbiotic algae which is zooxanthellae for photosynthesis.

Read More
730 Words | 3 Pages

Are you a first-time homebuyer? Do you think you’re having difficulty finding the ideal and affordable house? A few homebuyers find it challenging to achieve their goals. Perhaps your credit score isn’t so great. Maybe you have no credit at all, which can be worse than having poor credit.

Read More
1024 Words | 5 Pages

When the water of the sea becomes warmer due to higher temperatures which diminishes the oxygen content, the coral expels the algae that exists within their tissues causing it to turn completely white. This results in coral bleaching. Thus, the elevating heat stress which results from high sea temperatures serves as the main factor that induced damage to the coral reefs. If the heat prevails, the reef may even die instead of recovering. Coral reefs provide home to a significant number of sea species and coral bleaching causes their habitats to destroy completely and effect the marine life adversely.

Read More
739 Words | 3 Pages

Tourist disturbance to the environment has a negative impact on species and the ocean. Hawaii has well-known appealing beach sites and tourist flock around these sites. Little do you know Hawaii’s oceans hold coral which is extremely fragile. Scuba diving tourists affect coral reefs since they dive and explore the water encouraging the process of coral bleaching (Jacobo). Even what sunscreen you wear can help the degradation of coral reefs (Maniece).

Read More
800 Words | 4 Pages

Therefore, the impact of overfishing and illegal collecting of coral may destroyed the social and economic well-being of the coastal communities who depend on fish for their way of life. Beside, it is also direct overexploitation of fish, intertebrates, and algae for food and the aquarium trade, removal of a species or group of species impacting multiple trophic levels, bycatch and mortality of nontarget species, and change from coral to algal dominance due to reduction in herbivores (Reef Resilience Organisation,

Read More
1577 Words | 7 Pages

In this research paper we will explore more about coral reefs and their importance. Coral reefs are communities of living organisms. They are made up of fishes, plants, and many other creatures. They have been around for millions of years: less than the 0.1% of the world’s ocean floor Is covered by coral reefs, however they grow very slowly, from 0.3 cm to 10 cm per year.

Read More
936 Words | 4 Pages

Coastal development: The growth of coastal cities and towns generates a range of threats to nearby coral reefs. Degradation of coral reefs — can result in lost tourism income in countries that are dependent on reef-based tourism and also can reduce fish populations Coral Reef Degradation is caused by natural and man-made events. ... Water pollution comes in a variety of different sources, oil, gas, and pesticide, They poison coral and marine life. Coastal construction — can cause chronic sedimentation, sewage effluent, industrial discharge, and changes in water flow and run off, which can directly affects the coral increasing rated and metabolic activities as well as it directly kills all of the corals Removal of reefs — can result

Read More

More about Coral Bleaching Effects

Related Topics

Open Document