Coral Reefs: What once was a wonder of the world may disappear sooner than we think

Welcome to the first action project for my STEAM class, Frontiers. This class is about exploration. During this first unit, my class focused on exploring the ocean. We watched a movie called "Becoming Cousteau", this movie is about a French explorer and sailor. We also went on a field experience to Urban Rivers and learned about riverfront restoration. This trip really helped to inform me about the different threats to bodies of water and different ways of restoration. For my action project, I had to write a research paper about a challenge that the ocean faces. I choose to focus on coral reefs and the threats that they face. 

Coral Reefs: What once was a wonder of the world may disappear sooner than we think

Coral reefs are a lifeline for many coastal communities. They provide a great source of protection from storms and erosion, a great source of income by providing jobs to local communities, and offer opportunities for research and recreation. Over half a billion people depend on coral reefs for their food, income, and protection. Sadly, over the past 50 years, the health of coral reefs around the world has been on the decline, many affected by greenhouse gas emissions, fishing and shipping, and pollution. Restoration methods have been put in place around the world to combat the decline in healthy reefs. The future of our coral reefs depends on what we choose to do next. By deciding to expand our research and think about how we can directly help restore the coral reefs, we can impact the ecosystem services in the ocean and combat climate change.

Coral polyps[1], the animal primarily responsible for building reefs, come in many species. Some have been discovered living in shallow, warm, tropical waters, and others on the cold, dark floor of the ocean. Shallow water reef-building corals have a symbiotic relationship[2] with photosynthetic[3] algae called zooxanthellae[4], which live in their tissues. The coral provides protection for the zooxanthellae and the mixture the zooxanthellae need for photosynthesis. In return, the zooxanthellae produce carbohydrates that the coral uses for food, as well as oxygen. The zooxanthellae also help the coral remove waste and give the coral its color. This type of symbiotic relationship between the coral and zooxanthellae is called mutualism[5]. Deep-sea corals that live in much colder and darker waters do not share that same relationship with zooxanthellae as their shallow-water counterparts. Instead, deep-sea corals take in plankton and organic matter as a way of collecting nutrients and energy. Not all corals on the reef are stony corals. Some soft corals contain zooxanthellae to obtain food and energy, but others, such as black corals, exist without this symbiotic relationship. Coral reefs are some of the most beautiful and diverse life forms on the planet.

Why is any of this important to the average land-dweller?

 According to the EPA, “Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth.” Because of the diversity of life found in the habitats created by corals, reefs are often called the "rainforests of the sea." About 25% of all marine life depends on coral reefs at some point in their lifetimes[6]. More than 450 million people across more than 100 countries live close to coral reefs and rely on them for their livelihoods[7]. They generate an estimated $375 billion per year through the goods and services they provide[8]. “Coral reefs also protect shorelines and infrastructure – meaning their death could threaten the safety and sustainability of coastal societies”, according to Mark Eakin, coordinator for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch. Sadly over 50% of the ocean's coral reefs have been destroyed and died in the past 50 years. Scientists predict that the current rate of climate change and human destruction will destroy all the earth's coral reefs by 2100[9].

The graph shows a decline of more than 50% in coral reef numbers at 10-20m depth. The main disturbances of coral reefs are greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and fishing and shipping. Greenhouse gas emissions create warmer waters, which can cause coral bleaching, extreme ocean acidification from the abundance of CO2, which can cause dissolution of corals and reduced growth rates, and an increase in intensity and frequency of storms, this can cause physical damage to the structure of coral reefs. Pollution includes sewage and nutrient runoff from land which can cause the replacement of coral with algae. Increase the risk of coral disease and impair growth, specifically from toxins or heavy metals. It also includes sediment from coastal developments, this can cause particle clouds in the water that block sunlight and reduce the growth of coral. Another big part of pollution in coral reefs is invasive species. Invasive species introduce new diseases to existing coral and compete against coral and other marine life in the area in order to take over. Overfishing and destructive fishing with explosives are also big threats to coral reefs. These can cause the loss of coral and the ecosystems they support. Another big threat to coral reefs is shipping lanes, anchors, and boat groundings, these threats can cause physical damage to the coral reef and its structure. 

The simple solution to the problem of coral reefs would be to reduce the number of greenhouse gasses humans produce on a global scale and create regulations surrounding sewage dumping and construction near coastal lines. One of the most important things is to create Marine Protected Areas (MPA), these areas would have special rules to help protect and reduce the negative impact humans have on the coral reefs. If governments do not take action on a global level to protect coral reefs. Scientists predict that by 2040, 70-90% of existing coral reefs will disappear due to these major threats. Actions must be taken toward preserving and restoring the reefs before it is too late. 

  

[1] Coral polyps are tiny, soft-bodied organisms related to sea anemones and jellyfish. At their base is a hard, protective limestone skeleton called a calicle, which forms the structure of coral reefs. Reefs begin when a polyp attaches itself to a rock on the seafloor, then divides, or buds, into thousands of clones. National Geographic

[2] Symbiosis is a term describing any relationship or interaction between two dissimilar organisms. The specific kind of symbiosis depends on whether either or both organisms benefit from the relationship. National Geographic

[3] Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Nature.com

[4] Zooxanthellae are unicellular, golden-brown algae that live either in the water column as plankton or symbiotically inside the tissue of other organisms. Eatlas.org

[5] symbiosis that is beneficial to both organisms involved. Google dictionary

[6] U.S. Department of Commerce. "Coral Reef Ecosystems". Noaa.Gov, 2022,  https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems#:~:text=Coral%20reefs%20protect%20coastlines%20from,food%2C%20income%2C%20and%20protection.

[7] Morrison, Tiffany et al. "Save Reefs To Rescue All Ecosystems". Nature.Com, 2019, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02737-8.

[8] Burke, L. et al. “Reefs at risk revisited”. World Resources Institute, 2011, https://digitalarchive.worldfishcenter.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12348/1107/Reefs-At-Risk-Revisited.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

[9] Yeung, Jessie. "Climate Change Could Kill All Of Earth's Coral Reefs By 2100, Scientists Warn". CNN, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/20/world/coral-reefs-2100-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.html.

Overall, I am disappointed in the work I produced. I believe I could have done better. I had trouble managing my time and had a big case of writer's block. If I could do this project over again, I would. This class made me more aware of the impact my actions have on the ocean. I can't wait to learn about space in the next unit!