How is physical destruction killing coral reefs?
Blast fishing (i.e., using explosives to kill fish) can cause physical damage to corals as well. Coral harvesting for the aquarium trade, jewelry, and curios can lead to over-harvesting of specific species, destruction of reef habitat, and reduced biodiversity.
What is the chemical reaction of coral bleaching?
Bleaching occurs through expulsion of the zooxanthellae or loss of its algal pigmentation. When coral and zooxanthellae cannot maintain their symbiotic relationship, corals may expel the zooxanthellae, leading to a whiter and “bleached” appearance and inability to sustain their symbiosis.
How does physical damage affect coral reefs?
Physical damage to the coral reefs can occur through contact from careless swimmers, divers, and poorly placed boat anchors. Hotels and resorts may also discharge untreated sewage and wastewater into the ocean, polluting the water and encouraging the growth of algae, which competes with corals for space on the reef.
What are some types of physical damage to coral reefs?
The physical damage done to reefs is significant. Blast fishing, cyanide fishing, warming waters, tourism along with a myriad of practices have harmed many reefs to point of no return. 30% of percent of coral reefs are in critical condition and may die within the next decade.
What would happen if coral reefs died?
If coral reefs disappeared, essential food, shelter and spawning grounds for fish and other marine organisms would cease to exist, and biodiversity would greatly suffer as a consequence. Marine food-webs would be altered, and many economically important species would disappear.
What causes coral reef destruction?
Pollution, overfishing, destructive fishing practices using dynamite or cyanide, collecting live corals for the aquarium market, mining coral for building materials, and a warming climate are some of the many ways that people damage reefs all around the world every day.
What happens when coral dies?
A Future Without Corals Without corals and the ocean species that rely on them, the ecosystem crashes, and a seaweed-dominated ecosystem takes its place. Once coral reefs disappear, we will lose everything they provide, including marine biodiversity, productive fisheries and potential source of medicines.
What is the chemical equation for the breakdown of coral?
2HCO3 – + Ca2+ CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O Bicarbonate (HCO3-) combines with calcium ions in the water to make calcium carbonate (CaCO3, limestone). This process can occur both within organisms such as corals or as a simple chemical reaction in the water itself.
Why are the coral reefs dying?
Global warming, climate change, and human activity are all leading factors in what’s negatively impacting coral reefs. From coral bleaching to rising ocean temperatures to an increase in chemical pollution, there are several reasons why coral reefs are struggling to adapt and survive.
What is the cause of coral reef degradation?
Water pollution is perhaps the most obvious cause of coral reef destruction. Reefs are harmed when oil, fertilizer, and human or animal waste are dumped in the area. These elements can end up changing the chemical makeup of the water, but the waste can also block life-giving sunlight to the reef.
What’s killing the coral reefs?
What would happen if all marine life died?
The collapse of ocean bio-diversity and the catastrophic collapse of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations in the sea will cause the collapse of civilization, and most likely the extinction of the human species. And that is why when the ocean dies, we all die!