Reasons why reefs are in danger:
There are a multitude of reasons but the most detrimental of those are pollution and global warming. Coral reefs need clean, clear water to survive and pollution doesn't allow that. When sediment and other pollutants enter the water, they smother coral reefs, speed the growth of damaging algae, and lower water quality. Pollution can also make corals more susceptible to disease, impede coral growth and reproduction, and cause changes in food structures on the reef. Global warming however is even worse. It has caused the oceans temperatures to rise which is bad news for coral. Changes water temperatures as little as 1 degree Fahrenheit can result in coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is when coral expels algae, zooxanthellae, which lives in the tissues and causes the coral to turn completely white. Also, the excess carbon dioxide in the air due to greenhouse gases interact with the ocean water. This then makes the water have a lower pH, which means that the water becomes acidified. This is called ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is harmful to the coral because it causes the skeletons of the coral to decompose and prevent the coral to absorb calcium carbonate. This can cause the coral reefs to become weak to diseases and physical forces.
History:
-Coral reefs were formed about 500 million years ago. They started as simple organisms but evolved into coral reefs due to changes in their environment.
-Over the course of time, coral reefs have experienced many events that threatened their survival. Most of these threats were due to extreme environment changes, such as climate change. Now, there are many other factors that threaten the coral reefs.
-As Pangaea was beginning to form (435 million years ago), the world began to experience an ice age. Because the sea levels and ocean temperatures dropped, all coral reefs disappeared and more than 60% of all marine life vanished.
-410 million years ago, coral reefs began to re-emerge.
-But 350 million years ago, corals started to disappear. The reason for this is unclear, but scientists think that the decrease is due to rapid changes in sea levels and a reduction in CO2 in the air.
-260 million years ago, coral reefs came back, but their resurgence was short lived because a mere 9 million years later (during the Permian-Triassic Extinction Event) the reefs were wiped out, as well as 96% of all marine species. This is the greatest extinction the world has ever seen, and the explanations for this event is hotly debated. Evidence shows that this period had a reduction in oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide in the oceans. The explanation could be meteor impacts, reduced sea-levels, or increased volcanic activity.
Current State: At this point in time, coral reefs are diminishing rapidly. They are considered to be endangered at this point and there is no sign of recovery for these incredible life sustaining organisms.
Predicted Future: It is believed that at the current rate of coral destruction, that by 2050 as much as 70% of the world's coral reefs will be gone. Although the future doesn't look bright, it doesn't mean that we cant try to preserve reefs for as long as we can. With the coral reefs gone, it also means 25% of all marine fish species don't have a home anymore. This can lead to changes in ecosystems and food webs, causing a drastic change in niches and possibly altering the populations of species that were steady before. Also, the elimination of coral reefs could result in the bays of many parts of the world to be sunk. Without the existence of coral reefs, parts of Florida would be under water. In several decades, it is likely that those parts will.
Globally: adj. pertaining to the whole world; worldwide; universal
There are a multitude of reasons but the most detrimental of those are pollution and global warming. Coral reefs need clean, clear water to survive and pollution doesn't allow that. When sediment and other pollutants enter the water, they smother coral reefs, speed the growth of damaging algae, and lower water quality. Pollution can also make corals more susceptible to disease, impede coral growth and reproduction, and cause changes in food structures on the reef. Global warming however is even worse. It has caused the oceans temperatures to rise which is bad news for coral. Changes water temperatures as little as 1 degree Fahrenheit can result in coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is when coral expels algae, zooxanthellae, which lives in the tissues and causes the coral to turn completely white. Also, the excess carbon dioxide in the air due to greenhouse gases interact with the ocean water. This then makes the water have a lower pH, which means that the water becomes acidified. This is called ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is harmful to the coral because it causes the skeletons of the coral to decompose and prevent the coral to absorb calcium carbonate. This can cause the coral reefs to become weak to diseases and physical forces.
History:
-Coral reefs were formed about 500 million years ago. They started as simple organisms but evolved into coral reefs due to changes in their environment.
-Over the course of time, coral reefs have experienced many events that threatened their survival. Most of these threats were due to extreme environment changes, such as climate change. Now, there are many other factors that threaten the coral reefs.
-As Pangaea was beginning to form (435 million years ago), the world began to experience an ice age. Because the sea levels and ocean temperatures dropped, all coral reefs disappeared and more than 60% of all marine life vanished.
-410 million years ago, coral reefs began to re-emerge.
-But 350 million years ago, corals started to disappear. The reason for this is unclear, but scientists think that the decrease is due to rapid changes in sea levels and a reduction in CO2 in the air.
-260 million years ago, coral reefs came back, but their resurgence was short lived because a mere 9 million years later (during the Permian-Triassic Extinction Event) the reefs were wiped out, as well as 96% of all marine species. This is the greatest extinction the world has ever seen, and the explanations for this event is hotly debated. Evidence shows that this period had a reduction in oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide in the oceans. The explanation could be meteor impacts, reduced sea-levels, or increased volcanic activity.
Current State: At this point in time, coral reefs are diminishing rapidly. They are considered to be endangered at this point and there is no sign of recovery for these incredible life sustaining organisms.
Predicted Future: It is believed that at the current rate of coral destruction, that by 2050 as much as 70% of the world's coral reefs will be gone. Although the future doesn't look bright, it doesn't mean that we cant try to preserve reefs for as long as we can. With the coral reefs gone, it also means 25% of all marine fish species don't have a home anymore. This can lead to changes in ecosystems and food webs, causing a drastic change in niches and possibly altering the populations of species that were steady before. Also, the elimination of coral reefs could result in the bays of many parts of the world to be sunk. Without the existence of coral reefs, parts of Florida would be under water. In several decades, it is likely that those parts will.
Globally: adj. pertaining to the whole world; worldwide; universal