Ocean Temperature rise

Ocean temp rise

Ocean temperature rise affect on coral and what you can do to help

Coral bleaching

Coral bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel algae that live inside their tissues when ocean temperature rises. Coral polyps live in an endosymbiotic relationship with these algae, which are crucial for the health of the coral and the reef. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to all types of coral because ocean temperature rise causes coral bleaching.

Impacts

Bleaching leaves corals vulnerable to disease, stunts their growth, affects their reproduction, and can impact other species that depend on the coral communities. Sea turtles, fish, crabs, shrimp, jellyfish, sea birds, starfish, and more are all affected by bleaching. Reefs damaged by coral bleaching can quickly lose many of the features that underpin the aesthetic appeal that is fundamental to reef tourism. The resultant loss of revenue from reduced tourist activity can threaten the livelihoods of local communities. .

Places such as Australia, Sri lanka, Kenya, Hawaii, Florida, Okinawa, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, Belize, Caribbean have all been impacted by coral bleaching.

How To Stop Coral Bleaching

Global options

Global and local Solutions

Minimize use of fertilizers and pesticides and energy

USA Solutions

Coral reefs are a valuable source of pharmaceutical compounds. Degraded and dead reefs are less likely to serve as a source for important medicinal resources (i.e., drugs to treat heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses).

supporting reef friendly businesses, have more schools teach about the importance of coral reefs, volunteers removing trash from beaches.

Colorado Solutions

Prioritize teaching about coral reefs so more people are aware of the problem, donating to organizations that are trying to save reefs, and ocean friendly lawn treatments

Works Cited

Bleaching impacts. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2021, from https://reefresilience.org/stressors/bleaching/bleaching-impacts/

US Department of Commerce, N. (2013, June 01). What is the Great Barrier Reef? Retrieved April 30, 2021, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/gbrlargeststructure.html#:~:text=Stretching%20for%201%2C429%20miles%20over,Australia%2C%20in%20the%20Coral%20Sea.