University of Hawaii at Manoa. (2018, June 6). Nutrient pollution makes ocean acidification worse for coral reefs. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 13, 2018 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180606093736.htm
Coral reefs are used in the marine ecosystem to provide security, food and shelter for many coastal communities. They grow when corals calcify and expand the reef faster than bioeroding organisms or abiotic factors can destroy it. A recent study done by the Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology showed that human-derived CO2 emissions (which cause phenomena like ocean acidification) causes nutrient pollution, which made it harder for the corals to use the dissolved compounds in the water, slowing calcification rate. The nutrients also change the pH in the water, making it harder for the corals and other organisms to breathe. However, the pollution also promotes seaweed growth, which can overtake and replace coral reefs that are already affected by the effects of ocean acidification. It was found that fertilizer that seeps into the ocean also raises nutrient pollution, contributing to the net loss of coral reef growth.
This article explains that by causing CO2 emissions and letting fertilizer run off into the oceans, we are accelerating the effects of ocean acidification and making it harder for coral reefs to survive, and that to keep them from getting overrun by seaweed and other less-affected organisms emissions and fertilizer runoff need to be reduced. There’s already a global effort to reduce emissions, and some local organizations are working to reduce nutrient runoff, but more could be done. The great barrier reef is a prime example of what will happen to all the coral reefs in the ocean if we cannot get a handle on the effects of ocean acidification.
I see nutrient pollution as a huge problem in the future as we are already learning this in the beginning of the school year. Being one of the many important issues in environmental science, what can we do as individuals or as a community to try our best to find a resolution?
I agree that this issue should be more vocalized as ecosystems such as the coral reefs are being destroyed. There should be more education within the agricultural community to reduce this problem. Is there any other way to fertilize the land without having this problem?
I see the problem, but I have one question. Why doesn’t the seaweed put more oxygen into the water? Wouldn’t that help the fish and in turn the coral reef?
Coral reefs are very important to aquatic ecosystems and it is tragic that this is happening. What do you think the most realistic approach to solving this problem is?
I’ve known about the problems about the coral reefs but I really never knew what caused them until now and I totally agree with what you are saying. And the Great Barrier Reef is a great example because it was such a beautiful reef on this planet and now it is basically ruined. We should all do something about this because I feel like many people don’t know about it.
I completely agree with your statement. It is terrible that this is occurring to the coral, especially since coral reefs themselves are large ecosystems that are homes for many species. If this problem is not fixed there will be a huge loss in species since many are very dependent off of the reefs.
I also agree with your idea andIt seems that a lot of people are aware of this problem but exactly what is being done to solve the coral reef problem to further prevent further damage from fertilizer runoff into the ocean?
I completely agree with this statement. Coral reefs do so much for our ecosystems that we shouldn’t be causing them this amount of harm. Do you think we can help solve this problem or are we too late?