Coral Bleaching and its Effects

Coral Reefs are highly endangered and are usually in tropical, shallow, and nutrient poor waters. They are endangered because of predators, overfishing, tourism, and ozone destruction. What follows is the consequence of ozone depletion on coral reefs

Algae and Coral Polyps have a symbiotic relationship that makes the coral reef flourish. A symbiotic relationship is two or more un-relating organisms, often from different kingdoms, living intimately together, generally with an exchange of nutrients. Algae, which is found in the Plantae Kingdom, provides glucose to the coral polyp, found in the Animalia Kingdom. The glucose is formed during photosynthesis.

Due to Ozone depletion, the algae cannot perform photosynthesis. As a result of too much UV light, the chlorophyll degrades and cannot feed the polyps. Consequently, a bleached coral is formed.

The bleached coral affects the biogeochemistry of its environment. Biogeochemistry is the interplay between biotic elements, living things, and abiotic elements (the soil, water and atmosphere). The algae, the biotic element, is interacting with its environment: the sun and the water, which are abiotic elements. If biogeochemistry is threatened, the earth cannot function because of its interdependent nature.

Without the chlorophyll not receiving the specific photon of light it needs to photosynthesize, the coral polyps essentially do not get any nutrients to survive. The death of coral reefs has a negative impact on the saltwater aquatic biome as a whole, which in turn affects the rest of the organisms living in its environment. Coral reefs support wonderful biodiversity, even in nutrient poor waters. A chain reaction results. If diversity is threatened, the complexity of species is limited, and evolution is disrupted.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Team R BioBLOG
• Coral Bleaching
• Coral Reefs

[basketcase2384]

you forgot the depletion of coral reefs from the harvesting of live rock for saltwater aquariums.

[k9dog1000]

you know it illiage for tourist to touch the reef so it not tourist that hurt the coral

[gigantes1966]

there are other causes of coral bleaching, arguably more severe than the ones listed. the biggest is probably global climate change, which manifests as higher water temperatures and higher water acidity, to name two major consequences.

anyway, cool class project. thanks for posting.

[SamuelHammer]

Thanks for that. I'm not sure what you mean by "if biogeochemistry is threatened." I think it goes on no matter what....it's just disrupted.

Interesting that coral reefs have been evolving for millions and millions of years. This is one reason for all their biodiverstiy. But in just a decade or so we have disrupted the evolutionary patterns that established over eons.

Also interesting: the effect of eutrophication on the reefs. As significant as the other perturbations.