Letter to editor
ByTo the editor;
Human life and Global warming are rapidly decreasing the population of coral reefs. Around 2009-2018, about 14% (11,700 square kilometers) of the coral reef have been lost due to large scale bleaching events on the coral. There is more bleaching and algae rate which is an immediate sign of the health of the coral decreasing, due to these unfortunate circumstances of global warming.
This amazing coral can go back to health quickly if not disturbed by many threats. These corals also serve as homes and protection to 25% of our marine life. Most of the animals that live in coral reefs are about 10% of the world’s diet. Meaning that fewer coral reefs, means less population of the 10% of the phyla that is use in the world’s diet.
Our coral reefs are made of shells of aragonite, one of the naturally occurring crystalline forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). The main reason for coral bleaching is due to the symbiotic relationship of zooxanthellae and coral. When the coral does not have any Zooxanthellae, or they lose their algal pigmentation, this causes bleaching.
In Australia, they have lost almost 93% of their coral reefs due to bleaching. A solution that peoples have found to be quite simple is to just stop dumping a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to stop the waters from getting hotter, and less acidic.
Currently, scientists are debating on whether to make coral reefs using metal and a small amount of electricity, or to make “super coral,” a type of coral that can withstand, adapt, and recover from stress so they can continue to reproduce after a stressor.
I personally think that trying to make “super corals” or using metal to rebuild coral reefs is an innovative idea to start. Especially with the “super corals” though, it may take a while and the science is exceedingly difficult, but it is possible.
references:
To Rebuild Coral Reefs Quickly, Just Add Electricity: https://www.treehugger.com/rebuild-coral-reefs-quickly-just-add-electricity-4867751
Scientists attempt to breed ‘super coral’ to save threatened reefs: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/05/scientists-attempt-to-breed-super-coral-to-save-threatened-reefs
Life below water: https://www.unep.org/interactives/status-world-coral-reefs/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyqCeg-XS_wIVBRZlCh3ZTAS5EAAYASAAEgJ9FPD_BwE
Chemistry and Coral Reefs – Bleaching and Greening: https://communities.acs.org/t5/GCI-Nexus-Blog/Chemistry-and-Coral-Reefs-Bleaching-and-Greening/ba-p/15765