Awareness Through the Coral Ruins

The effects of human pollution towards the environment are best witnessed through the study of coral reef devastation. The wonders of the coral reef lie in their ability to sustain an ecosystem with a varied array of species and the ability to construct aesthetic structures that no other sea creature can erect. There are many factors which lay a hand at endangering the marine life of corals and their existence as a species. Pollution, excessive fishing practices, global warming, and human direct as well as indirect intervention are just a few causes to the disruption of the coral ecological systems. Within the past few decades the amount of coral reefs around the world has depreciated. Although anthropogenic [man-made] dangers have severely disrupted the strength of the beautiful coral reefs in the world’s oceans, there remains hope to save and preserve the coral reefs and also to resolve our human error.

Primarily, in order to understand the extreme disaster that comes from damaging the coral reef, there needs to be an understanding on how a coral reef functions and what it contains. In appearance, the reefs can be seen as brightly colored, and may also appear in various shades. Colors include variations of blues, turquoise, and greens. Another distinction is the diverse structure of the coral that grow into complex arrangements. Coral live in all the oceans of the world and are found at any depth with near ideal temperature and well lighting conditions. Coral reefs are at an estimated 284,300 square kilometers worldwide. This figure only represents 0.089 % of our oceans and 1.2 % of the world’s continental shelf area. “Thus, at the global scale, coral reefs are a rare habitat” (Spalding, 18).

The rarity of coral reefs increases their importance.

The organisms of coral reefs are actually the coral polyps. These small creatures have cylindrical bodies and tentacles that they use to capture food for a source of their energy. Coral polyps eat algae called zooxanthellae (zo-zan-THEL-ee) for nutrients. The polyps and algae share a symbiotic relationship: the algae providing the nutrients, oxygen, and carbohydrates required to produce their skeletons and the polyps providing the algae with a home for carbon dioxide photosynthesis. This relationship produces the reason for a sunlit environment so that photosynthesis may occur. The zooxanthellae are responsible for the coral’s color. So when the algae start to disappear from the coral it appears to whiten or “bleach”. This happens when the algae are killed or leave the coral. The coral reefs lose their beauty within this process. If there are no zooxanthellae the coral polyps may also die. When coral polyps die then the coral reef eventually ceases to exist.

More significantly, there has been an increase in the amount of coral bleaching that coral reefs have sustained within current years. The more recent reason for bleaching cataracts in due to global warming and the climate change. The climate change has resulted in warmer waters around the globe. Unfortunately the coral polyps are tremendously sensitive to temperature. When the coral polyps exceed their maximum summer temperature, by even one degree Celsius, they will start to turn pale or bleach. If the high temperature lasts for extended periods of time then the coral will die. Luckily the coral are able to recover from severe bleaching yet with slowed reproductive and growth rates. Scientists believe that coral bleaching will continue and that eventually “unless drastic measures are taken, the remaining reefs may be dead in twenty years” (Upadhyay, 1).

The possibility remains that coral reefs may be wiped out within our lifetime.

Furthermore, some species of coral have adapted to forming colonies together which craft a large ecosystem for many species of fish, seaweed, mollusks, sponge and algae to coexist. Worldwide this consists of 25 % of all marine species. The coral reefs have been described as similar to a rain forest “As University of Illinois geologist Bruce Fouke says, ’Like a tropical rain forest, a coral reef system is a cradle of biodiversity’” (Riverdeep, 1).

This simile also describes the relationship between two endangered habitats: that of the threat to the rain forest ecosystem and the ecosystem of coral reefs. Humans have also contributed to destroying the rain forests and endangering many species of animals that live there similar to the way we have endangered the coral reefs. We also endanger the product of new possibilities that can be found within coral reef ecosystems. Similar to the rainforest, with rare plants and animals, the coral reef ecosystems also contain rare plants and animals that may be valuable for research and lead to advances in medicine.

When the coral polyps die, they leave behind skeleton made up of calcium carbonate which builds on top of the coral reef and, the new coral grows above the old. The coral reefs appear to be stony-like yet in actuality the coral reefs are fragile. The growth and long time it takes for the coral reefs are contributed by this process of decay and may take centuries or even millennia to form. Coral can only grow in warm and well lit waters. The rate that coral grow can be very tedious and extensive taking decades to grow only a centimeter. If the temperature and lighting varies there may be a result of change in the manner of growth. The manners in which these structures form have come to define different types of reef formations. These include: fringing, patch, barrier, atoll, and bank or platform reefs. Fringing reefs form from a growth upward in the calcium carbonate platform and from a shelving coastline. These reefs can be found in the shallow water, to steep shelf, and to the sea floor. Coral reefs help protect the coast from turbulent waves caused by severe storms or other natural disasters. They help prevent coastal erosion, flooding, and property damage along the shore. Just to think, if many coral reefs were to disappear over time, there would be serious problems for coasts in the future and events similar to the late tsunami disaster of 2004 would be more common.

Moreover, the threat of human direct and indirect intervention has damaged the existence of coral reefs. Within the recent decades more than a quarter of the coral reefs around the world have been destroyed. “What has happened to destroy all the reefs? Humans have happened” (Oceanworld, 1).

An indirect result of coral reef destruction comes from water pollution. Water pollution harms not only the coral reefs but marine life as well. Gas, oil, pesticides, and other chemicals poison the ecosystem. Human waste, animal waste, and fertilizer harm coral reefs when they are dumped or flow downstream from a river into the waters of coral. The nitrogen in the water increases by the pollutants and an overgrowth of algae takes place which cuts off sunlight to the reefs and kills them. The population of coastal areas has increased which also increases “the pressures on coastal resources” (“Coral Reefs are Threatened”, 1).

Construction of piers and other artificial structures along coasts have completely destroyed coral reefs by being built over coral structures. This coral deprivation still continues near other coastal communities. Humans directly destroy coral reefs by certain methods of fishing. Cyanide fishing, overfishing and blast fishing have contributed to coral destruction. In the Philippines, 70% of their coral reefs have been destroyed by impractical fishing methods. Not only are the fishing practices harsh to coral but they also reduce the quality of the fish caught. Cyanide fishing results in live reef fish for the tropical aquarium market, which are sold in restaurants, and sold for their freshness. The chemicals within cyanide are poisonous and large intake might result in food poisoning. Overfishing contributes to a decline in fish population along with damage to the coral ecosystem as too many fish are taken to maintain a populace. Blastfishing, another cruel fishing practice, happens when explosives are tucked inside of the coral and then blown apart in order to catch the fish inside. Tourism also contributes to coral damage. Careless boating, diving, or snorkeling can result in a damaged coral reef. Hotels, tourist shops, and similar places near coral formations enjoy collecting coral in order to sell to tourists as souvenirs. Yet these practices damage coral reef constructions.

Additionally, the value that coral reefs play in the balance of economics and nature is crucial. Many countries rely on their magnificent coral reef displays to bring in revenue. The economics of these countries such as South Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Bahamas mainly rely on the attraction of tourists that come to visit the beauty of the coral reefs and their ecosystems to fund their economies. Also the species existing within the reefs, such as seaweed and mollusks, contribute protein diets for people living along the coast. Disrupting the ecosystems of coral also disrupts economies and a manner of life for some cultures. With the eradication of coral reefs, many species of marine creatures will fall to extinction. Non-native creatures, like barnacles, worms, algae, and seaweed, will become more abundant and a disruption of the food chain will take place. A disturbance in the food chain will result in seafood shortages for humans globally. With a lack of seafood for coastal areas there would be a higher demand on land produce. The food demand would make the prices fluctuate and contribute to instability in the economic market.

Finally, helping to save and preserve these ancient watermarks remains a possibility. Many organizations have been created to study and educate people on the value of coral reef preservation. Such organizations include the Coral Reef Alliance, Reef Relief, and the Planetary Coral Reef. These institutions lobby governments of many nations to not buy food or products that were caught by destroying coral reefs. They also encourage governments to improve their pollution problems. Air pollution and ocean pollution contribute to global warming. These organizations are a good step into environment protection yet these can not make a difference in the world alone. Large-scale methods must be developed by the world community in order to protect and establish the safety of coral reefs. No fishing zones where coral are present takes a good step in multiple ways. The population of fish spawns extensively and pours into the surrounding waters in a non-protected zone which increases fish produce. Tourists, divers, and fishermen could protect coral by being cautious near their formations and by not disturbing their ecosystem.

In addition, having the knowledge and understanding can help protect not only coral reefs, but our entire planet. Although the government could help by redesigning the infrastructure of cities to be more ecologically friendly, citizens could help by making sure their garbage disposes correctly, by recycling (glass, plastic, and paper), by avoiding using toxic chemicals or by disposing of them properly, by using energy efficient appliances at home, by driving a fuel efficient or electric vehicle, by car pooling more often, and possibly by bicycling or walking, Basically by following the three “R’s” of reduce, reuse, and recycle can improve the quality of the environment; Reduce-Reducing the amount of consumption, Reuse-Reusing your resources, and Recycle-Recycling your waste. This philosophy can improve the pollution and global warming situations in our world nowadays and for the future of our planet.

Ultimately, with the ability to start a new trend of an eco-friendly attitude and adapting to our surroundings, instead of adapting our surroundings to us, we might be able to educate ourselves into reversing the pollution and environmental problems of today for a better tomorrow. The true fact that exists, and which many people ignore, associates that our planet remains dying unless we can start taking action now for improvement. Ecologists and environmental aids will be seen as heroes to the generations of the future. If the decline of Earth’s well being can be hindered, and improved upon, then there will actually be a future for generations to enjoy.

-Richard J. Canfield

(Jan. 4th, 2005)

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WORKS CITED

1. “Coral Reef Destruction and Conservation” Oceanworld. 2004. Jason Education Project. 22. Dec. 2004. .

2. “Coral Reefs are Threatened” International Coral Reef Information Network. 2002. The Coral Reef Alliance. 22. Dec. 2004. .

3. Documenting the Collapse of a Dying Planet. “Global Warming: Oceans”. Earth Crash Earth Spirit. 24 Apr. 2002. Movable Type Publishing Platform. 22. Dec. 2004. .

4. Kolb, Barbara. “The Decline of the Coral Reef—Coral Bleaching and Diseases with Dr. Garriet W. Smith”. Access Excellence. 1999. The National Health Museum. 22 Dec. 2004. .

5. Marelli, Dan. “Human Impact on Coral Reefs” 1998. YMCA SCUBA. 22 Dec. 2004 .

6. “Reefs in Danger” .Riverdeep. 12 Nov. 2001. Riverdeep Interactive Learning Limited. 29 Dec. 2004. .

7. Spalding, Mark D., Corinna Ravilious, and Edmund P. Green. World Atlas of Coral Reefs. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2001.

8. Upadhyay, Ritu. “Can We Rescue the Reefs?” Time For Kids Online. 6. 2000: 9. 22 Dec. 2004. .