Description:

• • Often referred to as “rainforests of the ocean”, coral reefs are considered some of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems, supporting an estimated one-quarter of all ocean species with essential resources, like food and shelter. (Smithsonian)

  • Corals, despite their appearance, are not actually plants; these organisms are related to sea anemones and are actually animals! In shallow waters, a special, photosynthetic (light-eating) algae known as zooxanthellae are responsible for providing coral polyps with food; as they live within the tissues of the polyp, processing sunlight to provide the coral with energy. (NOAA)

 

Issues: Rising water temperatures / Ocean acidification / Destructive Fishing

• Ocean temperatures are rising largely due to the absorption of excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere in surface ocean waters. (IUCN)

  • The photosynthetic algae which live within coral polyp tissues are extremely sensitive to changes in temperature and when stressed with warming waters, will eject from their polyp hosts, causing the coral to weaken and pale - an event known as “coral bleaching”. (NOAA)

• Changes in ocean pH levels come from the absorption of fossil fuel emissions that are released into the atmosphere; as much as a quarter of all man made emissions get saturated within ocean surface waters and cause increased acidity. (NRDC)

  • Hard corals depend on calcium carbonate available in the water as their primary building material for rigid structure. Their ability to build is especially critical in the early stages of a polyp’s life, when they establish themselves among a reef system. However with increasing acidity, CaCO3 dissolves, contributing to the fragility and damage of coral skeletons. (Climate Interpreter)

• Destructive fishing techniques, such as dynamite fishing and bottom trawling are prevalent throughout many different coral reef ecosystems found around the world. Both deep, cold water corals and shallow, tropical reefs suffer from destructive fishing, due to little regulation or low conservational consideration. (WWF)

  • Such techniques permanently alter reefs, causing great physical damage to corals and ultimately “deforesting” these extensive and rich ecosystems. With the destruction of coral reefs, species which depend on these environments for food and shelter have no place to go, causing massive decrease in species diversity and lower overall productivity. (WWF)

 

Solutions:

• Take alternative ways to get to where you need to go! Walking, riding a bike, hopping on a bus, or even carpooling with a friend are all easy ways to reduce your overall carbon footprint.

• Buy from reputable and responsible sources that do not participate in fishing malpractice or reduce consumption of fish products entirely.