Jane Luo - Coral Bleaching

Homes to more than 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of other animal and plant species, coral reefs play significant roles in the life cycles of at least a quarter of the world’s marine life. Coral reefs can be found in warm, clear, and shallow waters in oceans all around the world, and they are commonly known for their vibrant coloration and capacity to support diverse ecosystems.



Corals have a mutualistic relationship with zooxanthellae, which are microscopic algae that live in their tissues. The coral provides for a protected environment for the algae to photosynthesize in, and the algae provides the coral with essential nutrients and gives the coral its bright color. However, if the relationship between the two species becomes stressed due to external factors-increased ocean temperatures or pollution- the algae is expelled from the coral’s tissue. The coral loses its primary source of nutrients, becomes more vulnerable to disease, and turns white as a result of a process known as coral bleaching.



Coral bleaching has become a critical issue in the past few years due to rising ocean temperatures and the increasing acidification of ocean water. The extraction and burning of fossil fuels by humans has significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, leading global warming and heating of the world’s oceans; these temperatures are placing external heat stress on the coral in reefs, leading to bleaching. Additionally, some carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by the ocean and forms a mild acid when dissolved in water, contributing to a slight increase in the acidity of the ocean and devastating thermally sensitive coral reefs.


The most prominent example of coral bleaching is the extensive damage inflicted on the Great Barrier Reef, which extends for more than 1,400 miles off the northeastern coast of Australia. Thirty percent of the coral in the Great Barrier Reef perished in 2016, and an additional twenty percent followed in 2017 as a consequence of severe consecutive coral bleachings. If we do not take measures to minimize the impact of additional coral bleaching events on coral reefs, our reefs may never recover and continue to support future marine life.
What are other causes contributing to declining coral reefs?
Why is coral reef preservation important?
What can we do to minimize the risk of future bleaching events?
References:

Comments

Anonymous said…
This blog post was very interesting, creating an understanding of the coral reef loss many of us hear about. If we lose coral reefs we also lose a vast number of fish and other animals that rely on them. This will have consequences for the marine food chain impacting even larger creatures, like dolphins and sharks, that rely on reef fish for their diet. In some instances, coral can recover from bleaching; however, this is uncommon, indicating that it is vital that these events do not occur frequently. To curb these potentially disastrous events, people can limit runaway carbon pollution and allow coral reefs to recover and rebuild. To do this, people must reduce their reliance on harmful fossil fuels, and transition to renewable energy today. By taking leadership of the climate, the coral reefs, and the thousands of species that rely on them, can rebuild and thrive for generations to come.
February 21, 2019 at 7:01 PM
Anonymous said…
It was actually kind of alarming to read about coral bleaching: the fact that 30% of the Great Barrier Reef perished in a single year is difficult to comprehend. As we learned, coral reefs are extremely diverse ecosystems that are vital to the survival of marine life: they protect coast lines from natural disasters, provide homes for marine life, and provide shelter. If coral bleaching continues, the biodiversity of our oceans would be greatly threatened. To prevent the issue of coral bleaching from progressing even further, we can take small steps to preserve reefs, such as practicing safe diving practices and using reef-friendly sunscreens.
February 21, 2019 at 7:59 PM
Anonymous said…
This was a great post! The effects of bleaching on coral reefs are horrendous. When left bleached, the coral is vulnerable without any food source and it soon becomes starved and deceased. While some coral reefs may recover from bleaching if temperatures revert back to normal, others may still continue to suffer under poor water quality and the absence of algae. However, at the rate we are consuming fossil fuels, it is unlikely that reefs will see any regrowth. To see change change come about, this would require humans all over the world to stop using coal, and instead switch to renewable forms of energy, safe for our aquatic habitats.
February 22, 2019 at 5:13 AM
Anonymous said…
Your blog was very insightful about the problems involved with coral bleaching. I looked up information about coral bleaching and I found that it can take decades to recover from the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. Some solutions to this problem would include the government putting laws into place that limit the amount of fossil fuels burned and people using less coal and switching to renewable resources that will help decrease the amount of pollution in the oceans.
February 22, 2019 at 10:03 AM
Anonymous said…
Coral bleaching is yet another side effect of the burning of fossil fuels; after all, it is is expected that coral bleaching will become a yearly problem. Like this article explains, coral bleaching doesn’t just affect the coral itself — it affects all the other species that live within the reef. In addition to preserving coral reefs for the environmental importance, they also play a key economic role as well. Revenue from reef tourism alone is $36 billion per year globally. Other ways to prevent further damage to coral reefs, in addition to reducing carbon emissions, is managing intensive tourism and appropriately managing runoff and other pollution in areas near coral reefs.
February 23, 2019 at 12:49 PM
Anonymous said…
This is an informative post! Although I knew about coral bleaching, I never knew that the relationship between coral and algae is what causes the coral to turn white and loose nutrients. Upon further research, I found that coral reefs are important in many ways other than providing a diverse ecosystem. Coral reeds provide protection to coastlines from waves and tropical storms, provide habitats, are a source of nitrogen for marine life, assist in carbon and nitrogen fixing, and help with nutrient recycling. One way to prevent the degradation of these corals Is to use less water. The less water we use the less wastewater finds its way back into the ocean and pollutes the ocean and harms the coral reefs.
February 24, 2019 at 9:54 AM
Anonymous said…
I had never heard about coral bleaching until this post! As you said in your post, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is currently experiencing an unprecedented loss in coral. Fortunately, Australia is actively taking action to preserve the reef and help fight the effects of rising ocean temperatures on coral. Australia is investing $379 million in an effort to save the reef which includes funds for improving water quality by reducing pollution from runoff and encouraging reef restoration by experimenting with coral grown in laboratories which could potentially survive in higher temperatures. Hopefully, Australia can keep up with the fast acting effects of climate change and make up for the losses the reef has already experienced.
February 24, 2019 at 12:14 PM
Anonymous said…
This is a very informative post! Although I’ve heard of coral bleaching before, I didn’t know algae were the cause of the corals’ vibrant colors. It’s disheartening to hear that the corals are dying because of anthropogenic causes, especially since they are super beneficial to their ecosystem and provide environmental services for humans. They help break up waves that could damage coastlines and provide homes for a plethora of organisms. Corals and the animals and plants they house can also provide medicinal benefits. They are essential for the stability of the marine ecosystem. We need corals, yet we are destroying them.
February 24, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Anonymous said…
I think this issue represents how interconnected the earth’s systems really are. While many people can look to the immeadiate impacts of greenhouse gas emission (pollution/climate change/whatever) one could easily look below the surface of the water and find literally thousands of organisms effected. Before reading this post, I was not aware that coral was in a mutualistic relationship with the microorganisms that lived upon it. It is sad that we see the true impact of that relationship once it is gone. Kinda like the saying “you never know what you got until you throw it away.”
February 24, 2019 at 5:34 PM
Anonymous said…
Although quite unfamaliar with the notion of it, coral bleaching can be seen as one of the largest examples that simply show how humans have been and are harming the nature by depleting and destroying the nature itself. Coral bleaching not only demolishes the living conditions for most of oceanic creatures that revolve around the ecosystem near the corals, but also slowly results in harmful effects towards humans. Before we are unable to prevent further disastrous issues or events, humans have to start seeking viable solutions, in terms of how to maintain the conditions of corals and to reduce the risk of receiving the backfires of our actions.
February 24, 2019 at 9:17 PM
Anonymous said…
It’s very striking how extensive and severe coral bleaching can be. The fact that in one year, 30% of the Great Barrier Reef succumbed to this phenomenon just shows why we immediately need to begin pushing for a change, and push towards real solutions on a global scale. After all, as you said, coral reefs are one of the world’s biggest places in terms of biodiversity, and the fall of life there spells a bad omen for other marine and terrestrial ecosystems. We need to improve our waste management and lower the emissions that cause ocean acidification as much as possible.
February 25, 2019 at 6:19 AM
Anonymous said…
This post was very insightful, educating me on something I never realized. I figured an adverse effect would come out of acid rain, but I didn’t expect for coral reefs to begin to die. Not only this, but the fact that 30% can die in 1 year? We are really in trouble. If 30% can die in 1 year, and it provides so much life to so many animals, then marine life is beginning to lose their environment. As if we didn’t need to take greater action already, this is another perfect reason to do so.
February 25, 2019 at 6:39 AM
Anonymous said…
I didn’t even know what coral bleaching was before reading this, but I acknowledge the dangerous effects it has on the coral reef ecosystem. It is quite disappointing to find out that human activity and rising greenhouse gas emissions has the potential to completely ruin another natrual process of the Earth. The destructive power of coral bleaching is quite alarming, damaging 30 percent of the insanely large Great Barrier Reef is a testament to just how devastating coral bleaching is. I do not know a way, besides the obvious solution of reducing greenhouse gas emission, to reduce coral bleaching and it’s effects, but I do know that a solution must be found. Protecting the coral reefs around the world is essential to keeping the equilibrium in the aquatic ecosystems stable.
February 25, 2019 at 3:32 PM
Anonymous said…
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lays out simple solutions to coral reef protection. One solution is, quite evidently, reducing carbon emissions by utilizing greener modes of transportation, such as biking or walking. Another solution is reducing stormwater runoff to help reduce water pollution. An overabundance of fertilizer also causes the same issue. Preserving coral reefs are vital, as they are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems, providing habitat for countless species.
February 25, 2019 at 7:20 PM
Anonymous said…
The mutualistic relationship between Coral and Zooxanthellae that you described is only one of many bonds that is put in danger due to human activity. Coral bleaching is a seldom talked about issue... But the impacts that we make on it (like excessive use of fossil fuels) can impact the coral for decades. If we want any change to come about, it would take drastic measures, like never burning coal again. I hope that our generation can come together to find a solution to this heartbreaking phenomena.
February 26, 2019 at 7:25 AM
Anonymous said…
It is sad to see hear that such wonderfully beautiful parts of our world are being destroyed by the effects of more misuse of the world by humans. We have too remember that these areas not only have the cultural instrumental value that we have learned to love but it also has great intrinsic value to the systems around it and the organisms that depend on it. Some simpler ways to conserve this precious biome is using less water, being careful not to distrust the organisms when diving and keeping shorelines clean.
February 26, 2019 at 9:53 AM
Anonymous said…
I think it is extremely important not only to be educated about coral bleaching, but to also understand its consequences. Coral bleaching has a wide variety of impacts to marine life and its ecosystems. Coral bleaching/the dying of coral reefs such as the Great Barrier reef can lead to a change in ocean currents, which relates to changes in phytoplankton and zooplankton populations, as well the number of other nutrients present in the water. These effects can be potentially detrimental to sea life.
February 26, 2019 at 10:44 AM
Anonymous said…
I knew coral reef extinction was an issue but I never quite understood the processes behind it. This blog post did an excellent job of explaining it. I think it is vital to the preservation of the planet to save the coral reef. Not only does it support a substaintial amount of ocean life, but it also has value in itself. Coral reefs are a wonder of nature and I would love for them to be around for the rest of the world to see their beauty.
February 26, 2019 at 6:44 PM
Anonymous said…
This post is very interesting and a little upsetting. Coral reefs are typically the trademarks of vibrant ocean life, to think that the process of coral bleaching could eradicate all this diversity is surpassing. Anthropogenic activity often neglects to follow up on the several systems and organisms that it negatively impacts. I did some further research to determine the extent of the importance of coral reefs in the aqauatic ecosystem and found that not only do they provide habitats and shelter for many marine organisms, but they also protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms. Their significance isnn’t exclusive to just marine organisms.
February 26, 2019 at 8:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Coral bleaching is a terrifying reality. In addition to increased global temperatures and increased pH killing off the necessary algae for coral survival, ocean acidification also results in a decreased amount of carbonate ions (CO3^2-) and an increase in the concentration of bicarbonate (HCO3^-) ions. Corals use carbonate ions to produce calcium carbonate, which constitutes the hard shell that protects the squishy organism inside. While coral can convert bicarbonate ions to carbonate ions, the process has a high energy cost and is therefore limited in its utilization for living coral, much less bleached or partially bleached coral. Without adequate carbonate ions, the corals are unable to build proper shells for themselves and cannot restore themselves in the event of strong waves, storms, or floods. Coral are delicate creatures and we need to take strong and immediate action to preserve them and the plethora of life they support.
February 27, 2019 at 9:12 AM
Anonymous said…
For the past several years, coral bleaching in our world's oceans, especially in the Great Barrier Reef, has been popping up more frequently, however little has been done to prevent it. From your post, a great amount of marine life depend on these coral reefs, providing shelter and food. I don't think people fully understand how much the reefs affect our marine life and if they were disappear, it would have a devastating effect on not just life in the oceans but affect humans as well. Moreover, it was quite frustrating to read that carbon emissions are again the main culprit behind the bleaching.
February 27, 2019 at 10:54 AM
Anonymous said…
I did further research on this interesting topic of coral bleaching and found that one contributor to the disappearing reefs is global warming. The increased carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has led to the ocean waters to be more acidic. The increased acidity in our oceans has led to slow growth of corals. I also found that 93% of individual reefs in the Great Barrier Reef have suffered some degree of bleaching, and the northernmost reefs were the ones that were most affected.
February 27, 2019 at 4:18 PM
Anonymous said…
I found your blog post fascinating. I had never heard of coral bleaching before. Coral reefs are very important and we as humans should work toward preserving what is left of them. Coral reefs protect coastlines from the damaging effects of waves and storms. They also provide habitat and shelter for many marine organisms. Reefs are a source of nitrogen and other essential nutrients for these organisms and also assist in carbon and nitrogen fixing. They also help with nutrient recycling.
February 27, 2019 at 7:56 PM
Anonymous said…
This is the first time I have actually heard about such an issue. To think that the beautiful coral and color in our vast oceans are being deplenished by the minute is truly sad. Many of our ocean life depends on the simple plants such as coral to have an even and healthy ecosystem. I had done some research on the hidden effects they have on the ocean and they actually provide many essential nutrients to many life forms in the ocean. Along with that, they provide shelter, and circulate the nutrients in the water. I hope that one day the world can come together to finally fix and try to replenish these kinds of problems in our ecosystems.
February 28, 2019 at 8:23 AM
Anonymous said…
This was a very informative blog post! I have not heard of a coral bleaching a lot but I know that it is a serious issue with several consequences. The loss of important nutrients and minerals, which is responsible for this bleaching, impacts the important relationship between the coral and algae. I think coral reef preservation is important as they are not only one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, but they also protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms. Along with this, they are also an important habitat for many organisms.
February 28, 2019 at 4:40 PM
Anonymous said…
Water pollution and ocean acidification contribute greatly to the decline of coral reefs. These reefs provide homes to many marine animals and create entire ecosystems of other organisms. The decline of coral reefs will have extremely drastic effects on the marine ecosystem. I didn't realize that coral bleaching was such a large problem until I read this post, and I understand more clearly the importance of lowering water pollution. Global warming and ocean acidification are both caused by increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, so decreasing carbon emissions can help to reduce both of the causes of coral reef bleaching.
February 28, 2019 at 8:26 PM
Anonymous said…
This was a great blog post, I was not aware of coral bleaching until reading this post. The loss of nutrients inside of these coral reefs can have very disastrous consequences, and we need to make sure that we decrease or alleviate these negative consequences in the future. This can be done with greater coral reef preservation. These coral reefs preserve much of the world's biodiversity and marine life. We can help protect these reefs by decreasing ocean pollution and acidification. Moreover, we can also try to protect our coastlines.
February 28, 2019 at 9:47 PM
Anonymous said…
I’ve always heard how our coral reefs are under danger but I’ve never really known how coral bleaching happens. In addition, I’ve never really known how much of a problem coral reef bleaching is.Your blog did a fantastic job a explaining the process. Coral reefs are huge, amazing ecosystems that need our help to be maintained. I believe it is our civic duty to protect marine life.
March 1, 2019 at 5:44 AM
Anonymous said…
This is a very interesting post! I did some outside research and found that coral reefs are also significant because they protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms and help with nutrient cycling, as they facilitate nitrogen fixation and are a source of nitrogen and other essential nutrients for marine food chains. Due to the important role that they play in marine ecosystems, we have a responsibility to protect them.
March 1, 2019 at 6:46 AM
Anonymous said…
The topic of coral bleaching has been very popular in the last couple years. I had read little about the problems and consequences of this issue, but didn’t know and understand the full scope. It was sad and terrifying to read that 30% of the Great Barrier Reef perished in a single year. I also had no idea how important these coral reefs are. They play a role in th life cycles of 1/4 of the world’s marine life. Without these reefs, 1/4 of marine life would suffer. In fact, more than 1/4 would, as the complex food web of marine life would be disturbed. Coral reefs are beautiful with their vibrant colors, but coral bleaching has caused these beautiful organisms to lose their unique color. In order to prevent this and protect and valuable and critical life form in the ocean, we must lower our greenhouse gas emissions. Once we get climate change under control, these coral reefs will be able to flourish once more.
March 4, 2019 at 6:32 PM
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