Edwards, K. (2023, August 24). National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Sampling in the U.S. Virgin Islands. National Centers For Coastal Ocean Science. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/coral-reef-monitoring-program-usvi/

NOAA scientists have conducted a survey of coral reef communities on hard bottom habitats in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as part of the Coral Reef Conservation Program’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). The National Park Service, University of the Virgin Islands, and the Department of Natural Resources-Virgin Islands collaborated to conduct this survey. Nearly 40 divers used seven boats to sample a minimum of 250 sites around St. John and St. Thomas, recording the abundance and the size for different fish and coral species. Water samples were collected to support the Climate Team pillar of NCRMP. ArcGIS Field Maps is an online platform that was used to enhance mission efficiency in sampling, communication, and progress tracking. 

This article is related to environmental science because this research and exploration is vital to the health and biodiversity underwater. These surveys and experiments provide important data for coral reef conservation. Not only this, but it informs fish stock assessments, management decisions, and coral disease mitigation in the Caribbean. Without this information, we would not be able to fully assess and help underwater creatures and ecosystems. With climate change and higher amounts of tourists, reefs all over are in danger of destruction. I think that doing these checks are vital. It makes me happy because we can preserve biodiversity underwater, which is so important for the survival of so many different critters and organisms. 

Paxton, A., Steward, D. (2024, January 18). Not All Underwater Reefs Are Made of Coral − The US Has Created Artificial Reefs From Sunken Ships, Radio Towers, Boxcars and Even Voting Machines. The Conversation. Retrieved January 21, 2024, from https://theconversation.com/how-clouds-protect-coral-reefs-but-will-not-be-enough-to-save-them-from-us-211088 

Artificial reefs off the U.S. coast are being used to enhance marine habitat and recreational opportunities. Researchers led a study that estimated that artificial reefs cover about 7 square miles of the ocean floor. Some of these reefs are created with parts from old, used ships and concrete pipes. While artificial reefs benefit fisheries and provide recreational spots, they also hold risks for sea life, such as invasive species colonization and potential habitat shifts. It is important to continue to monitor and understand the impact of artificial reefs, as they are crucial for both marine life and human uses, and as ocean life is changing more and more with climate change. 

This article is related to environmental science because these artificial reefs are a part of a way to help with preservation of ocean life and biodiversity. A large part of life underwater depends on these reefs, and if they don’t, they depend on another organism that depends on the reef. Losing them would cause a detrimental impact on the health of the ocean. If we continue to create these artificial reefs, while finding ways to minimize the negative effects, we will be able to save the biodiversity of the ocean. I think that this is a good start to preserving the biodiversity in the ocean, and I think that it is great that there are many positive outcomes, but we need to be cautious when introducing these to new ecosystems and environments because it could cause a lot of damage.

Espinoza, P., Donner, S. (2023, October 12). How Clouds Protect Coral Reefs, But Will Not Be Enough to Save Them From Us. The Conversation. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://theconversation.com/how-clouds-protect-coral-reefs-but-will-not-be-enough-to-save-them-from-us-211088

Climate change is causing the ocean to warm rapidly, and as a result, coral reefs are in danger. Coral bleaching occurs when the coral releases microalgae, which exposes its white skeleton, making it “bleached.” While coral reefs can recover with time, they cannot recover quick enough, and these reefs are essential for coastal life and biodiversity. Increased cloudiness can provide temporary relief by slowing bleaching conditions. This is because less sun gets to these reefs, and the temperature of the water does not heat as much. However, over 70% of reefs still experience frequent bleaching, so it is very important that we find some other solutions to cool down the ocean, and not further the bleaching of the reefs.

This article relates to environmental science because it is just one of the many possible solutions to try to help reverse the damage done by climate change. Although this “solution” has not made much of an impact because clouds have always been around, it still highlights the importance of actively thinking of ideas to reverse the damage done. Coral bleaching is a visible hint of the warming ocean. I think that climate change and temperature is harming coral reefs and all the life that depends on those reefs as well. There is an urgency for different research and solutions to address coral reef degradation, and I think we need to continue creating these ideas.

Kim, K. (2023, August 22). Record Ocean Heat Impacts: From Hurricanes to Corals. Climate Central. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://www.climatecentral.org/climate -matters/record-ocean-heat-impacts-from-hurricanes-to-corals

This past summer witnessed record-breaking heat across global sea surfaces. Over the last four months, sea surface temperatures have continuously surpassed any April-July period on record, with 48% of the global ocean experiencing marine heat waves, which has been the largest area since 1991. This exceptional ocean heat, due to human-caused carbon pollution and El Nino conditions, poses severe risks. Warmer oceans fuel stronger tropical cyclones, and coral reefs face extreme stress, which leads to bleaching events. Florida’s coral reefs are particularly vulnerable, experiencing unprecedented heat stress. Addressing the root cause—carbon pollution—is crucial to prevent further destruction of ocean ecosystems and coral reefs.

This article is related to environmental science as it ties into climate change and the effect that it has on the ocean. Specifically, the effect it has on coral reefs. The rising temperatures are a parallel to the ongoing impact of carbon-pollution and also different natural causes, such as El Nino. The warming of the oceans disrupts marine life, and overall the ocean biodiversity will decrease. This makes me sad because so much of sea life depends on coral reefs, so if these reefs are bleached by the warming temperatures, many organisms will suffer. I think this situation underscores the urgency of addressing climate change and the overall carbon emissions due to human activities, and most importantly the effect it is having on the ocean.  

(2024, January 19). Largest known deep-sea coral reef mapped off US Atlantic coast. The Guardian. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment /2024/jan/19/deep-sea-coral-reef-atlantic-coast  

Scientists have used new underwater mapping technology that unveiled the largest known deep-sea coral reef off the coast off the US. This coral reef extends approximately 310 miles stretching from Florida to South Carolina, and it reaches widths of up to 68 miles. This reef was found at depths ranging from 655 feet to 3,280 feet, so sun can not penetrate these reefs. Because of this, it must filter food particles out of the water for energy as it is not able to complete photosynthesis. These types of deep water coral reefs are home to sharks, swordfish, sea stars, octopuses, and many other types of fish. Unfortunately, due to climate change and oil and gas drilling, these deep coral reefs are in danger. 

This article is related to environmental science because it touches on the coral reefs and ecosystems under the water. It gives information about the type of life living in these reefs, and just furthers the importance of the discovery of the ocean. Only a small amount of the ocean has been discovered, and with newer and more advanced technology, we are very slowly making new discoveries. Not only is it related to environmental science because it is a part of an ecosystem, but it also is not like other reefs as it does not use photosynthesis, which is very interesting. I think that coral reefs are very biodiverse, and we need to do everything we can in order to preserve them, as they are a home to so many and are beneficial for sealife.

Very famous and important coral reefs, such as The Great Barrier Reef, The Coral Triangle, Florida’s Coral Reef, The Hawaiian Reefs, and The Red Sea Coral Reef, are in great danger due to tourism and climate change, all caused by humans. Specifically to the Great Barrier Reef, overfishing and climate change are leaving it in danger. For the Coral Triangle, it is ocean acidification and cyanide fishing. For Florida and The Red Sea, its high temperatures and, Hawaii, the biggest cause is tourism.

This article is related to environmental science because it shows the danger that a vital part of the ecosystem faces. All of these popular reefs, and honestly many others too, are at a great risk of extinction and death for many reasons. The main cause of all coral reef danger is humans. The burning of fossil fuels, tourism, and different kinds of fishing. These coral reefs are all vital to the environment underwater, and without reefs, so many animals and other organisms will be at risk too. It is so much deeper than just a loss of some coral. I think that it is really sad to know that humans are the cause of almost all of the issues here. I know that we can make a change, but no one is really thinking about it or doing anything, so it makes me really sad. I think we need to collectively make a change together, in order to fix this.

Sunken trees are creating coral reefs that are able to help grow ocean biodiversity. Scientists are creating these artificial reefs created from trees. This is because climate change has caused a loss of half the existing coral reefs. After six months, it was found that these artificial reefs were a new home for algae and more than 15 sessile organisms. They also gave a home for fish- up to 3 times more than in areas without any reefs. Although this is a small start, it still is better than nothing.

This article is related to environmental science because these artificial reefs are a start to solving the problem of coral reefs dying off. Coral reefs are known to be home to a quarter of all ocean life- so half of the reefs dying since the 1950s, has affected ocean life and biodiversity vastly. If these reefs end up working out, all organisms underwater will be affected. Each species depends on one another to survive, so giving some of them a home helps keep things running. I think that this is a great start to a solution to the death of the reefs, as it is giving home to fish, bacteria, and algae. If people are not going to change their actions, such as the burning of fossil fuels, and high levels of tourism, then this is one of the ways we can move forward, so I think it is really important to pursue. 

In Alofi, Niue on July 5, 2023, National Geographic Pristine Seas, with the Governments of Niue and Tofia Niue, embarked on an underwater journey in the R/V Argo to explore the coral reefs and sea life down there. They did this to discover what needs to be done in order to expand the life of sealife, specifically coral reefs.They were able to make 236 dives, 11 deep-water camera deployments, survey more than 300 species of fish, 60 species of algae, and 121 species of coral. Through doing all of this, they are trying to protect the ocean’s biodiversity from different threats.

This article is related to environmental science because it is a good example of how different groups and humans are trying to solve the decreasing ocean biodiversity, and lengthen the lives of Coral Reefs. Alofi has one of the largest elevated coral atolls, and the oceans there are under protection of the Marine Spatial Management Plan. This is what more countries around the world should be doing, as there is a high increase of tourism, climate change, and just less ocean care in general. Ocean biodiversity and coral reef life is at risk, and in the area that is being explored by this group, ocean biodiversity is very high. I think that other countries need to follow in the footsteps of this one, as I think it will really make a difference. If we get enough coverage and protection plans, I think life under the sea has a better and longer chance. 

Coral reefs in Hawaii are currently in danger, and dying quickly. This is happening due to the mass coral bleaching events that ruin the color, but most importantly climate change. The burning of fossil fuels creates a large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is then absorbed into the ocean. This is causing ocean acidification because it lowers the pH of the ocean. If the coral reefs die, so do those who depend on them. 

This article is related to environmental science because the coral reefs are not only being affected by carbon emissions, but also they are an important factor for survival for many of the sea life. The more burning of fossil fuels and increase of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the more the coral reefs are at risk. The ocean is one of the biggest absorbents of carbon dioxide, so if something does not change in the way fossil fuels are burned or in any way carbon is getting into the atmosphere, the coral reefs are headed for extinction. I think that this is incredibly sad to learn, because many people do not seem to think about all of the sea life being affected by fossil fuels. So many animals and other organisms live in these reefs, and have adapted to having them as a vital source, so knowing the path reefs could be on, is very sad. I think there needs to be a big change in order to save the coral reefs, and it needs to happen soon.  

Some researchers were able to discover that coral reefs across the Pacific Ocean host many more bacteria than previously thought. There are up to three million bacteria, revealing to researchers just how truly diverse Coral Reefs and the ocean truly are. In fact, in just a small fraction of the Pacific Ocean, scientists found more than 540,000 bacterial varieties living on just three types of organisms. This was ultimately found to be a relief, as these bacteria help parts of the coral reef and now scientists are able to keep this in mind with research and other experiments that have to do with ocean biodiversity.

This article is related to environmental science, because of the biodiversity that was revealed in the coral reefs. In order to have functioning ecosystems and environments, biodiversity is vital. Each one of the organisms that make up this biodiversity, comes together somehow to what the environment is and how it functions. Each one of these organisms is vital to its survival, so without biodiversity, the environment becomes weaker. I think that it is great that all of this bacteria was revealed, because with so much going on right now in nature- extinctions, natural disasters, etc- the thought of having biodiverse coral reefs is relieving. Coral Reefs are home to many different sea life, so I am happy that the little ecosystem and habitats down there are biodiverse with bacteria.