Losing Coral
Few people get to appreciate the beauty of exuberant and dynamic corals. But all of us will feel the absence once they are gone. Why is that?
Coral
There are two types of corals. Soft corals are colorful and gently sway in underwater currents. Hard corals look like underwater sculptures made by Poseidon himself. They might look like plants, but actually, corals are primitive animals — colonies of polyps.
In deeper waters, they feed on small organisms like plankton or even small fish. But colorful shallow-water corals produce energy from single-cell algae that live inside them. The algae have a symbiotic relationship with the coral in which they live in. Algae provide energy using photosynthesis that is used by the coral. But the coral acts as a host and caretaker for the algae keeping the cells inside their skeletons. Without one or another, the formation of coral reefs would be impossible.
Coral Reef
Vast and stable colonies of coral make a coral reef. It`s made out of the calcium remains from dead corals that support the next generation to grow on. Reefs make an ecosystem that provides healthy conditions for the marine life population. About 25% of the ocean’s fish depend on healthy coral reefs.
The Great Barrier reef is the world's largest coral reef. It is located on the Northeast shores of Australia. The total length is 2300 kilometers (1,430-miles); it contains 2900 coral reefs and 900 islands. Covering 348,000 square kilometers, it is bigger than the United Kingdom, Holland and Switzerland combined.
The reefs are important not only for marine life. They make a physical barrier that protects from storms and floods. By breaking the devastating waves before hitting the shoreline and eroding land. Also, we have to be grateful for the oxygen we receive, and CO2 is absorbed by the living algae in corals. Worldwide, more than 500 million people depend on coral reefs for food, income, coastal protection, and more.
The End Of The Coral
Coral reefs were safely developing for thousands of years. But human activity is putting coral in danger. In recent years we have experienced the most extreme extinction of the corals. According to National Geographic in 2016. and 2017. half of the Great Barrier reef has extinct.
Scientists have found out — the rising water temperature for 1–2°C is responsible for coral bleaching! (Corals are losing the algae living inside them.) Once colorful creatures turn into pale white skeletons. In the short term, they can fully recover, but if the conditions don't improve, they start to die off.
Another factor that endangers corals is air pollution. Huge amounts of CO2 are absorbed by the ocean waters. This lowers the pH level of water and makes it acidic. The acidic water is dissolving calcium-based coral structures and turns them into dust.
There are also direct human interactions that damage the corals. Careless divers and fishers damage the living organisms with nets and boats. Even such a minuscule thing as sunscreen can be harmful to corals.
Should we be worried about it and what to do:
Worrying?
YES! Everything on this beautiful planet is connected. The planet earth seems enormous, but every day we suffer or flourish from things happening on the other side of the globe. Sooner or later, everyone will feel the consequences of losing coral reefs.
What To Do?
Directly it`s hard to help in this situation. Unless you are ready to leave everything behind and volunteer for one of the coral rescue organizations or support them with donations.
The best way to save the corals and any other living creature on this planet is by leaving a smaller ecological footprint. You can start by reading this:
This article was reviewed by Ingrida Purina. The leading researcher of Hydro Ecology Institute of Latvia
