Author: joahernandez

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Global warming is killing the Great Barrier Reef, study says

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/18/world/great-barrier-reef-coral-dying-climate-change/index.html

According to Terry Hughes, study author and director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University Between March and November of the year 2017 about 30 percent of the corals were lost, a period of nine months in total. AS well as half of the corals on the Great Barrier Reef killed by climate change in just two years. Under the best conditions, the fastest growing corals take about 10 to 15 years to come back. This making it difficult to make up for the damage that has already been done from the past years.

This study demonstrated that the coral reefs that have been least affected by heat stress in the past are more sensitive to heat stress than we realized. It also shows climate change threatens the diversity that is the hallmark of coral reefs. The coral die-off has caused radical changes in the mix of coral species that are being transformed into more degraded systems, with just a few tough species remaining. Coral reefs do in fact get negatively impacted but it also affects other organisms which are the worst part. It causes an increase the risk of part of the marine life to possibly suffer and go extinct as well. The rapid decrease of coral reefs is a sign that humans must change with the way that reefs and ecosystems, in general, are treated throughout each year.

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Why is so much of the world’s coral dying? The Economist

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/03/21/why-is-so-much-of-the-worlds-coral-dying

 

The biggest cause of coral reefs decline is the warm temperature. The heat of the water results for corals to become significantly vulnerable to many other viruses. In a closer look, warming can provoke a damage in the symbiosis between the coral and its main food. The microalgae over produce sugars and toxins, these microalgae live inside the tissue of the coral reef. Also leading for coral polyps to spit them out. But because the polyps need these microalgae in order to survive, without them they turn white, a process knowns as bleaching. The bleaching does not fully kill the coral but it does increase their possibility of soon dying. Finally, the continuous build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also causes an increase in acidity of seawater, which makes it harder for coral to generate the calcium carbonate it needs for its own skeletal structure.

This article relates to environmental science because of the effects that coral reefs have on the entire marine ecosystems. Because of how major the impact of extinct coral reefs is on marine ecosystems it is categorized as a major problem. One of the roles of reefs it is that it builds support for the entire marine ecosystems. In other words, it provides the marine life with homes, food, etc. It can be considered as the main resource for some organisms that are apart of the marine life. Due to the amount of harm that coral reefs are being exposed, humans should make it one of their priorities to put at as many restrictions as possible in order to help them survive and not go extinct. The fact that a fifth of all coral in the world has died in the past three years is upsetting and difficult to process. Knowing that we ourselves are putting these animals in constant danger should be used to motivate humans to help reefs survive and stop the cruelty.

 

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.Billions of pieces of plastic on coral reefs send disease soaring, research reveals

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/25/billions-of-pieces-of-plastic-on-coral-reefs-send-disease-soaring-research-reveals

Coral reefs are being severely affected by small pieces of plastic which result in an increase in global warming as well. The scientist was only able to record items of plastic more than 5 cm in length, so did not assess the impact of microplastics. Not taking in mind the other mutuelle toxins that live in the ocean that affect the coral reefs. Aside from coral reefs being considered a home to multiple creatures many humans also rely on them for food, coastal protection from storms and income from tourism. By constantly damaging coral reefs through plastic they are more damaged by being considered a resource for humans, slowly killing the population of coral reefs around the world. Therefore it is crucial to cut plastic pollution.

Coral reefs are not being taken in mind when it comes to the areas in which humans throw away plastic. Coral reefs support multiple ecosystems, ecosystems that are important to take care of in order to let mother nature work well and efficiently. By not taking in mind the server damage that humans are causing with elastic to coral reefs it’s causing a huge barrier for many ecosystems to function at their fullest potential. Eventually leading for coral reefs to slowly be extinct and cause unintentional harm to other ecosystems. This article made me feel frustrated with how ignorant wear being with the constant damage that coral reefs and many other organisms have to face now in days because of humans. They are the ones suffering the consequences.  

 

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Low Oxygen Levels, Coral Bleaching Getting Worse in Oceans

https://www.usnews.com/news/news/articles/2018-01-04/low-oxygen-levels-coral-bleaching-getting-worse-in-oceans

Global warming has caused the world’s oceans to get sicker, depleting them of oxygen and extremely harming coral reefs. The lack of oxygen which turns the waters into warm waters develops this type of bleaching that targets coral reefs. The bleaching is slowly killing them. Although, the word ‘killing’ isn’t quite right. The bleaching makes the coral reefs sick by breaking down the crucial microscopic algae living inside the coral. In other words, it is ripping out the coral’s guts, according to co-author Mark Eakin, coordinator of the coral reef watch program for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

This article shows a common, yet very unknown issue in environmental science. The decrease of oxygen and increase of temperature in the waters is the most unknown natural climate change. Oxygen loss is a real significant issue in the oceans. The warm waters and loss of oxygen are causing for many sections of multiple oceans to become what are all “dead zones.” Dead Zones are being, more specifically, coral reefs become completely white and no longer have a life. Since it has such a huge impact and treats all coral reefs it results in a total wipeout. If humans have the ability to control this unique climate change, as well as, constantly gather information to know what provokes it, it is significant to be one of the main focuses of the world.

 

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Marine reserves are vital but under pressure.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180621101414.htm

Coral reefs have been on warning of being extinct for multiple years. The struggle of keeping coral reefs alive or at the bare minimum keeping coral reefs from being extinct has been a constant struggle for humans. Thus, leading many scientific teams to arrange many studies of exploring new and improved ways to help improve the population of coral reefs. As a result of multiple studies,  Professor Josh Cinner from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Australia has discovered that 1800 tropical coral reefs around the world have found that marine reserves near heavily populated areas struggle to do their job. Fish stocks were extremely depleted on reefs that were accessible to large human populations. Compared to marine reserves far from these human pressures, reserves near high human pressure had only a quarter of the fish and were a hundred times less likely to have top predators such as sharks

This article relates to environmental science because it demonstrates how humans are affecting their own environment by damaging coral reefs. The constant overfishing, pollution, and invasive species continue to be a risk to coral reefs. Aside from damaging an object that keeps our ecosystem diverse, we are getting rid of protection. One of the many benefits that coral reefs provide for humans and the environment is it protects coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms. As well as it provides habitats and shelter for many marine organisms. Studies that help cooperate with helping find many other reliable ways to help coral reefs should be fully supported. Protecting our environment and ecosystems come first than human necessities. As well as limiting by establishing restrictions is a positive and effective way to help reefs.