"Cora Reef i Crisi : Understandin th

reat " ___

By Anumeha Kinsu, IPM 08-23

INTRODUCTION
More than 25% of marine life is found on coral reefs, which make up less than 1% of the ocean floor. As
the "rainforests of the sea," coral reefs are among the planet's most diverse and productive ecosystems.
These vibrant marine ecosystems provide a home for a surprising variety of marine life. The coral-like
skeletons of colonial marine invertebrates make up these underwater structures known as coral reefs. The
coral species that make up reefs are known as hermatypic, or "hard," corals because they use calcium
carbonate that they extract from seawater to create an exoskeleton that protects their supple, sac-like
bodies. Different species of coral referred to as "soft" corals don't help reefs form. Many of the species of
these flexible corals, which also include sea fans and sea whips, resemble plants and trees. Polyps are the
individual corals that make up a coral. Coral polyps add their own exoskeleton to the existing coral
structure by living off the calcium carbonate exoskeletons of their ancestors. The coral reef gradually
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expands over the centuries, gaining one tiny exoskeleton at a time, until they are enormous components of
the marine environment.Not only from an ecological standpoint, but also from an economic and cultural
one, coral reefs are significant.In this thorough investigation, we examine the numerous problems coral
reefs face, the reasons for their decline, and the pressing need for conservation efforts to ensure their
survival.

HOW DIVERSE CORAL REEFS ARE?

Thousands of species can be found livin' on one coral reef. For example the great barrier reef
contains over 400 species of coral, 1500 species of fish , 4000 species of mollusc and 6 species of
turtle.
And
because of
this
amazing

biodiversity, we're starting to discover that there is a lot we can learn from coral

WHY CORAL REEFS ARE IMPORTANT?

Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for underwater world, protect coastal areas by reducing the
power of waves hitting the coast, and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people.Coral reefs
have an estimated global value of £6 trillion each year, due in part to their contribution to fishing and
tourism industries and the coastal protection they provide.
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More than 500 million people worldwide

depend on reefs for food, jobs and
coastal defense. The ridges in coral reefs
act as barriers and can reduce wave
energy by up to 97%, providing crucial
protection from threats such as tsunamis.
They help protect areas such as
mangrove forests and seagrass beds that
act as nurseries for marine animals, as
well as human coastal populations.

Animals and plants that have been living

on reefs, their extracts are used for
asthma, arthritis, cancer and heart
diseases.

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECT CORAL

REEFS?
Climate change is the greatest global threat to coral reef ecosystems. Scientific evidence now clearly
indicates that the Earth's atmosphere and ocean are warming, and that these changes are primarily due to
greenhouse gasses derived from human activities.One of the most immediate and well-documented
threats to coral reefs is climate change, particularly the phenomenon of coral bleaching. Coral bleaching
occurs when corals expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living within their tissues. These algae not
only provide corals with essential nutrients through photosynthesis but also give them their vibrant colors.
When corals become stressed due to elevated sea temperatures, they expel these vital algae, resulting in a
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loss of color and a stark white appearance.

The primary driver of coral bleaching is rising sea temperatures, which are a consequence of climate

change and global warming. Even small increases in sea temperatures can cause coral polyps to expel

their symbiotic algae. While some coral reefs can recover from mild bleaching events when the stress is

alleviated, prolonged or severe bleaching can lead to coral mortality. As climate change continues to drive

up sea temperatures, coral reefs are experiencing more frequent and severe bleaching events, leaving little

time for recovery The consequences of coral bleaching extend beyond the corals themselves. When coral

colonies bleach and die, the entire reef ecosystem is affected. Fish that rely on coral structures for habitat

lose their homes, and the intricate web of predation and symbiosis is disrupted. This has cascading effects

throughout the ecosystem, impacting not only marine life but also the millions of people who depend on

coral reefs for their livelihoods and food security.

WHAT HAPPENS TO CORAL IN HOT WATER?

Corals are creatures that coexist in harmony with zooxanthellae, a type of microalga. The majority of the

corals' nutrients and beautiful colors come from this algae, which lives in the coral's skeleton in exchange

for protection. Corals become white when stressed by environmental changes, such as a few degrees of
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warming, and kick out their house visitors. Corals are capable of withstanding minor or temporary

bleaching, but if they go too long without their zooxanthellae, they will starve. After bleaching, corals are

more prone to disease, may have difficulty reproducing, and fish populations may depart or disappear.

People all over the world are affected by all these changes under the sea. Fish populations suffer and it

becomes more difficult for fishermen to support their communities without coral reefs to provide secure

nurseries where juvenile fish can find shelter and food.

El Niño—weaker winds, warming waters

El Niños occur every two to seven years when the winds running across the equator weaken
which results in increase in pacific surface water temperatures.

Currently, the world has warmed by 1.2°C, but this year’s El Niño could cause the average
global temperature to tip over the 1.5°C global warming threshold for the first time, exceeding a
threshold scientists say will expose the world to serious environmental consequences. Even if the
world limits warming to 1.5°C, 70–90 percent of tropical coral reefs could be lost.
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OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

Apart from the direct threat posed by rising sea temperatures, coral reefs are also vulnerable to the effects
of ocean acidification, other effects of increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from human activities.
When CO2 is released into the atmosphere, a significant portion of it is absorbed by the world's oceans.
This absorption causes the ocean's pH level to decrease, resulting in increased acidity. Ocean acidification
makes it more difficult for corals to build their calcium carbonate skeletons, which are necessary for their
growth and survival.

Like the other calcifying organisms, corals rely entirely on a delicate balance between calcium carbonate
(CaCO3) deposition and dissolution. The rate of dissolution increases while the rate of deposition
decreases under more acidic conditions. This interferes with the coral's capacity to care for and repair its
skeleton, making it prone to harm from physical contact and other pressures

Ocean acidification in itself is alarming because it clashes with the ability of new coral generations to
establish and grow in addition to its effects on the coral reefs that are pre-existing. The coral skeleton's
weakened state makes it more vulnerable to erosion by natural forces like waves and storms. As a result,
in an ocean that is already changing and warming, ocean acidification makes it even harder for coral reefs
to survive.

POLLUTION AND WATER QUALITY:

Pollution from various sources poses a significant threat to coral reefs. Coastal areas adjacent to coral
reefs often experience pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, sewage, and other sources.
Some of the key pollutants that negatively impact coral reefs include excess nutrients, chemicals, and
plastic debris.

Excess Nutrients: Agricultural runoff carries high levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus,
into coastal waters. These nutrients can promote the rapid growth of microscopic algae, leading to algal
blooms. While these algae may seem harmless, they can outcompete corals for space and resources. When
these algae die and decompose, they consume oxygen in the water, leading to localized areas of low
oxygen, known as hypoxic or dead zones. The combination of algal competition and low oxygen
conditions can be detrimental to coral reefs and other marine life (D'Angelo and Wiedenmann, 2014).

Chemical Pollutants: Chemical pollutants, including pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals, can directly
harm coral health. These pollutants may interfere with the coral's physiological processes, disrupt their
symbiotic relationships with zooxanthellae, and weaken their
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CARELESS TOURISM:
One of the main reasons why coral reefs are being destroyed is increased tourism. The following elements
collectively cause harm to coral reefs:
● Uncontrolled construction and careless business practises
● Increased wastewater discharge
● Inconsiderate tourist behavior

Water vessels used for

recreational activities can damage coral reefs with carelessly dropped anchors or unintentional grounding.
Meanwhile, divers, snorkelers, and other sea lovers often unintentionally damage the reef by playing on
them, stepping or sitting on them to rest, or simply by touching them and exposing them to their skins’
oils. Tourist activities have a direct impact on the marine ecosystem. Much of the tourism coral reef
destruction is preventable with just a bit of education for those who want to explore these interesting
natural creations.

What Happens If Coral Reefs Become Extinct?

The world's remaining coral reefs are crucial to the planet's continued health, so scientists are working
feverishly to ensure their survival. However, the prognoses are gloomy: Over 90% of corals are predicted
to die by 2050, even if global warming were to completely stop today. Without immediate action, we run
the risk of losing them all, and because we rely on coral reefs for so many things, their total destruction
could result in a very different world for future generations. What can we do about it, though? Even
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though it might seem like what one person does is just a drop in the ocean, that drop will undoubtedly be
noticed.By giving your time to neighborhood conservation programmes, patronizing reef-friendly
companies, conserving water to lower your wastewater production, using less plastic, being a more
responsible traveler, and, most importantly, by raising awareness and educating others, you can contribute
to the preservation of coral reefs.

HOW TO RESTORE REEFS?

Similar to efforts to plant trees in land ecosystems like forests and bushland, reef restoration
practitioners around the world have developed a number of strategies to grow and plant new
corals.A lot of the time, the methods rely on how corals naturally reproduce. Asexual
reproduction is a method used by some coral species to produce tiny buds that can be saved
and "replanted." In a widespread spawning event, others reproduce sexually. The sperm and
eggs can be obtained here, and they can be used to create many more children than would
otherwise be able to live.

CORAL GARDENING:
Similar to how you would gather and regrow cuttings or seedlings in a pot before planting them
in your garden, fragments of broken corals or small buds are collected and regrown in
land-based or underwater nurseries before being planted onto reefs.These corals can be
reattached to the Reef in a variety of ways, such as with glue or ties.
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The Coral clip is one method for attaching corals to the reef so they can attach and grow without
the use of chemical adhesives. It has helped to achieve an impressive coral survival rate of 85%
and is quicker and less expensive than conventional out-planting techniques.

CORAL IVF:

Our researchers collect coral eggs and sperm from healthy reefs during annual coral spawning
events in order to raise millions of baby corals in tanks and specially constructed pools on the
reef.

They use the pools to promote fertilization before repopulating small sections of damaged reefs
with the resulting larvae. The coral larvae settle on those reefs, and over time, they will spawn
and give birth to their own coral offspring, restoring the breeding population of harmed reefs.

CORAL AQUACULTURE AND DEPLOYMENT

Aquaculture, the practice of growing large numbers of healthy corals in tanks on land, has the potential to
transform reef conservation by accelerating restoration efforts on the Great Barrier Reef.

Designing and upgrading coral aquaculture systems and production pipelines is the goal in order to
guarantee coral survival from spawning to settlement and adulthood. The procedure includes:
Collect coral fragments and bring them into an aquaculture facility for spawning (reproduction)
The coral spawn (eggs & sperm) are collected and fertilized, the larvae are reared in nurseries, and then
settled onto specially designed surfaces
Settled corals, or fragments made from the adults, are placed onto devices and placed onto the reef
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Divers revisit the devices to understand where and why they do or don’t survive.