Chandler, Carmen Ramos. “Groundwater Runoff Is Changing the Metabolism of the Coral Reef Ecosystem.” CSUN Today, 25 Jan. 2021, csunshinetoday.csun.edu/media-releases/groundwater-runoff-is-changing-the-metabolism-of-the-coral-reef-ecosystem/.
The metabolism of the coral reefs is changing rapidly due to “submarine groundwater discharge”. This discharge is caused from the flow of freshwater from land to the coastal seafloor. A marine biologist from California State University Northridge has discovered that the changing of the metabolism is causing implications for researchers. Because of the submarine groundwater discharge, researchers are able to study and understand how humans affect marine life and how it might affect sea-level rising.
This article was very interesting to read because it really brought into perspective how the smallest of actions can affect the environments around us. It’s really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the decisions I make can affect marine ecosystems, even though they are so far from me geographically. We also have to realize that the health of the marine ecosystems around us affects us all. The article mentioned that our country’s reefs contribute a large sum of money to the U.S. economy. If we don’t take action, our economy could fall greatly. It is very important to make sure that our ecosystems and coral reefs remain healthy.
I think it is very ironic that people who are usually against environmental policies maintain their position because it supports the economy, but in this case, being in favor of any policies that protect coral reefs is beneficial for the economy. It is also a lesson to people who put little thought into the environmental effects of their actions because their actions can follow the butterfly effect and cause much bigger disruptions.