Coral Reef Damage

Coral Reef Damage

Indu Kancharla- 4B

01

What Is It?

Coral reefs are a type of marine ecosystem consisting of groups of polyps related to sea anemones that are in shallow waters near shorelines. They contain a variety of species and have high biodiversity, but are prone to human activities. Over the last couple decades, human activities have led to coral bleahcing and dead coral reefs.

02

Causes

Pollution

Sedimentation

Nutrients

Pathogens

Toxic Substances

Trash/Micro-Plastics

Substances such as metals, chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides from runoff and industrial discharge can effect reproduction and growth in coral.

Sediment depostion from costal development, urban stormwater runoff, forestry, and agriculture imapcts coral's ability to gorw and reproduce.

Trash such as plastic bags and fishing gear that are not properly disposed can get tangled and kill organisms and snag to coral and block sunlight. Animals in the ecosystem can also consume micor-plastics posionsing or killing them.

Excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, sewage, and animal waste support the growth of algae and other bacteria and fungi in coral ecosytems. This leads to ecosystem imbalances.

Coral can get diseases from parasites and bacteria via sewage, stormwater, and runoff of animal fecal matter.

03

Effects

Enviornemntal

Economic

Coral reefs are a large contributer to ecotourism and their destruction could cost the industry billions of dollars in losses. Coral reefs also contain a quarter of marine life and with them decling, the commercial fishing industry would be hurt.

Coral reefs contain a quarter of marine life, and without them, they could go extinct. Additionally, coral reefs protect coats from flooding and without them, storms could cause damage to cities and the ecosystems around them.

04

Solutions

A long term solution is restoration of coral reefs. This can be done in many ways including, protecting existing coral from destruction, increasing coral resilience, and improving the health or coral. We can protect existing coral by finding high-risk areas with coral damage and create legislations to protect them. We can improve coral resilience by supporting research on coral and we can improve coral health by controlling disease spread.

05

References

13, Renee Cho |June, et al. “Losing Our Coral Reefs.” State of the Planet, 9 Dec. 2019, blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/06/13/losing-our-coral-reefs/. “Dying Coral Reefs Impact Environment and Economy.” Time, Time, time.com/coral/. Fisheries, NOAA. “Restoring Coral Reefs.” NOAA, 9 Dec. 2019, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/restoring-coral-reefs#:~:text=Coral restoration can take on a number of forms.&text=Planting nursery-grown corals back,to threats like climate change. “Threats to Coral Reefs.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 4 May 2018, www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/threats-coral-reefs#:~:text=Coral reefs face many threats,(touching or removing corals).

Protect the reefs!