Coral Reefs and Climate Change in Australia
Coral Reefs and Climate Change in Australia
Off the coast of Australia rests colorful and diverse coral reefsprovide the basis for a “rainforest of the sea (Great BarrierReef Foundation). They appear in all kinds of shapes and sizes andprovide habitats and protection to multiple small sea creatures for their survival (NOAA). In addition, they aid Australians in the form of medicines, food, jobs, and, most importantly, a tourism destination (i.e. The Great Barrier Reef) (NOAA). They are an essential part of nature and to us as humans.Despite all the good points they have, the health of coral reefs is decreasing as the days go by. According to BBC News, 89% of the corals had dropped due to the constant rise of temperature from the year 2016-2017, and it affected a range of 1,500 km across the Great Barrier Reef (“Great Barrier Reef: Mass Decline”). Scientists from all over the world have confirmed that the main source of this wide-spread bleaching is because of climate change and this has been a problem for many generations. While Australia’s coral reefs appear structurally appealing while benefitting all living creatures from land and sea, a closer analysis reveals how threatened they truly are due to climate change and how people are struggling to find a solution to the problem at hand.
In order to be concerned about the general health of coral reefs, one must understand their structure first. In the online journal LiveScience, Rachel Ross describes coral reefs as huge, submerged structures that are made of marine invertebrates called coral. Ross continues that inside each coral lies coral polyp, which is a jellylike structure that builds their coral structure inside their ancestors (the existing corals) to further strengthen their defense against threats that seek to consume their inner, softer structures. To put it simply, coral reefs are the product of both corals (the existing coral structures) and coral polyps (the ones that are inside the corals while slowly creating their own set of armor).
There are two types of corals that can be found in the ocean: the hard corals and the soft corals. The hard corals are strong corals that are composed of calcium carbonate, which is a key component of making strong coral structures (Ross). The author reinforces the fact that these hard corals are the ones that consist of coral polyps and they are the ones responsible for protecting them. The soft corals are usually the ones that resemble plants and they don’t have strong coral structures (Ross). Examples of soft corals are “sea fans” and “sea whips” (Ross). There haven’t been many studies regarding soft corals and most scientists assume that they are not too important to the ecosystem. All in all, their major difference comes from how they look.
Although most scientists believe that soft corals play a minor role compare to hard corals, researchers from Tel Aviv University boldly claim that this is not the case. Soft corals are made of sclerites, which are “cemented microscopic skeletal elements”that are used for reef-building (“Soft Coral”). Once these soft corals disintegrate, they will release sclerites to the ocean andhard corals will take these materials, which are cemented with calcium carbonate, to create more coral structures(“Soft Coral”). These two types of corals are important by coexisting with one another through their reef-building and providing homes to different sea creatures and supplying them with oxygen (Ross and “Soft Coral”). Although the information is from 2011 and there is no further back up from other organizations, we can still assume that this informationis relevant until this day because of how they investigate along with other famous companies such as “TAU’s Department of Zoology” and “Academia Sinica’s Biodiversity Research Center.” As far as the given information goes,we can relate these two corals together through their reef-building ability and their formationwill crumble without one another. With the intense heat heating the ocean, we can presume that these hard corals won’t be able to have enough nutrients from the soft corals (because they cannot handle the extreme heat and will be eliminated first) to recover and reinforces their defenses from bleaching. In brief, soft corals play a huge role in reef-building by supporting the hard corals through their special element called sclerites.
Coral Reefs play a major part in the marine ecosystem. In fact, researchers fromNational Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states that coral reefs are so strongly associated with the marine ecosystem that they are known throughout the world as “the rainforests of the sea” andthere are “about 25% of the ocean’s fish depend on healthy coral reefs.”Firstly, coral reefs create a mutual relationship between them and zooxanthellae, which is an alga that is responsible for providing oxygen, carrying out photosynthesis and clearing waste products from the coral reefs (NOAA). By sheltering them from the coral reefs, the algae are protected from their predators as they carry on with their jobs safely. Experts from the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) points out that these coral reefs with their unique build supply homes to eccentric yet attractive-looking small fishes so they can live, breed, reproduce, and create more diversity. In return, the small fishes will protect their home by “eating different kinds of algae” that might be “potentially, deadly competitors” to the coral reefs (CORAL).Coral reefs also attract big predators to consume small fishes to prevent overpopulation and maintain the ecosystem between predators and prey (CORAL). In addition,Scientists from Reef Relief show that coral reefs act as filters byconsuming“particulate matter suspended in the water column,” resulting in a more“enhanced quality and clarity of our nearshore waters.”To sum up, coral reefs ensure the ecosystem by supplying shelters for living creatures and filtrating the environment surrounding them.
Coral Reefs are also a significant role for the people of Australia. First of all, Scientists from NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) point out more than half a billion people rely on coral reefs for food through small fishes that are lurking in them and large fishes that were being drawn by them. They also explain that coral reefs are one of the primary ingredients that allow scientists and doctors to create medicines that cure bacterial infections such as pink eye or strep throat. Furthermore, coral reefsserve us as the first line of defense from natural disasters such as floods, storms, and huge waves (NOAA). We may think of them as signals of an upcoming storm or flood because they will most likely be affected first before us. We can see it through the damages that these coral polyps possess after they got hit by those natural disasters.In addition, Experts from The Great Barrier Foundation points out that coral reefspresent job opportunities around the world with over 64,000 people working around The Great Barrier Reef alone to preserve and enhance the rich natural environment. It is worth noting that this “64,000 people” are only around The Great Barrier Reef. Can you imagine how many other workers working in other coral reefs such as Shark Bay or the Gulf of Carpentaria? If we are to combine them all together, we can guaranteethat that is a huge number! Not to mention,their bright colors, exquisite shapes, and different sizes send forth on of the most magnificent and memorable sights, which contribute to the economy of Australia as tourism with over 2 million visitors per year and $6.9 billion of dollars annually from the Great Barrier Reef alone (Great BarrierReef Foundation). All in all, coral reefs do an amazing job providing people’s needs through food, medicines, security, jobs, and money.
When we talk about a beautiful and massive coral reef in Australia, the first thing that pops out in our mind is The Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s national treasure and it is worthy to be “one of the 7 natural wonders of the world” due to its immense natural beauty and huge landscape at sea (Great Barrier Reef Foundation). In fact, it is so beautiful and huge that professionals from the scientists from Great Barrier Reef Foundation claim that they can get a great visual from space!It is one of the world’s largest coral reefs that stretches “2,300 km along the Queensland coastline and covers an area of 344,400 km2” (Great Barrier Reef Foundation). An enormous land like that is bound to be filled with all kinds of shelters and animals. It has several habitats with over 3,000 reefsandit is also one of the most diverse marine ecosystems with over 1625 fish species, 215 bird species, 30 whale or dolphin species, 14 snake species, and 6/7 turtle species (Great Barrier Foundation). This tells us how enormous and significant this place is to all living creatures to the point where most animals from all over the world will visit, and live in one of their many shelters to ensure their survival.In sum, The Great Barrier Reef is a massive natural land that is filled with all kinds of shelters and animals from all over the world to rest and enjoy their lives in it.
The Great Barrier Reef is not the only coral reef around Australia; in fact, thereare still quite plenty of other reefs. Ningaloo Reef deserves a shoutout. Although it isn’t as breathtaking as The Great Barrier Reef, it has one of the most exciting events that people should see: the whale shark season which began every year from April and July (Australia). There, people get the chance to take a closer look at those astonishing creatures and they are free to swim near them (Australia). Furthermore, there is alsoMontgomery Reef, which is located in Kimberly (Australia). In Montgomery Reef, as people cruise along the ocean, they will see uncommon marine lives such as saltwater crocodile or false killer whales (Australia). It is also a place where humpback whales breed (Australia). To conclude, these coral reefs, although it isn’t as magnificent as The Great Barrier Reef,have their unique taste and refreshing areas that makes them flash out while supporting the marine ecosystem.
Despite all of these good qualities coral reefs possess and how significant they are to everyone, scientists from all over the world have shown thatthere is a significant decrease in them due to climate change. Climate change has been a rising problem for a long period.It has posed a threat to the natural environment and its resources, andcoral reefs themselves are no exception. According to David Lergessner,coral reefs thrive better if their preferable temperature and depth are“between 20 and 32 degrees Celsius” and “less than 50 meters deep” respectively. This goes to show how humid and deep they need to be for them to work well and with the slow and rising temperatures that have been occurring for centuries, this will be a problem for coral reefs. The scientist from The Great Barrier Foundation states that “tropical sea surface temperatures have risen by 0.4–0.5 °C since the late 19th century.” This may look smallat first glance but considering how much time has passed, the numbers have risen tremendouslyand it will be detrimental to the coral reefs. To put it briefly, if climate change goes on, there will be a high chance that coral reefs will go extinct and will drag the whole marine ecosystem with it.
Climate change affects coral reefs’ survival by increasing the chances of having stronger tropical cyclones (Great Barrier Reef Foundation).According to Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), tropical cyclones are natural disasters that are described asa “rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation.” In other words, they are intense wind that can conjure up a storm near-tropical, warm water.On the year 2017, Scientists from the Weather Company had spotted a huge tropical cyclone called Debbie that had a strength category of 4 and it is located near The Great Barrier Reef. With a strength category so powerful that it could generate intense wind and “stir up the ocean near the Great Barrier Reef,” researchers from the Weather Company grew weary about the situation and decide to take matters on their hand by moving the corals to a different location. If it isn’t for those actions, those corals might have been wiped out from the Great Barrier Reef forever. There are some studies from the Weather Company’s experts that those cyclones are meant to cool the waters and help corals to build themselves back up; nevertheless, it doesn’t help much because “Cyclone Debbiecame a month too late and in the wrong place to prevent bleaching.”It is an unfortunate event and coral bleaching continuously rises to a higher degree than before.
Withwarming temperature continuously grow, more tropical cyclones are likely to take place anddestroy coral reefs’ exterior parts that are usually used to protect the smaller, fragile coral polyps that are responsible to build more of the coral reefs’ exoskeleton to ensure their protection (Lergessner and NOAA).Destruction of coral reefs leads to habitat loss for some small fishes and algae, which leaves them with no room for shelter, food, breeding place, and nursery (GBRMPA).In addition, scientists from GMRMPA coral reefs need decades or even centuries to fully recover from the damage so animals that live there are forced to leave and find a new place to survive.In short, more tropical cyclones are created by climate change and can give off tremendous damage to the coral reefs and everyone around it.
Climate change also results in ocean acidification, which hinders coral reefs’ skeletons. As mentioned by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, ocean acidification happens when seawater absorbs too much carbon dioxide thatis“mostly from burning fossil fuels” from the air. Normally, if the air has the right amount of carbon dioxide, seawater will produce both bicarbonate and carbonate ions in an equal amount (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution). Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution that these 2 components alongwith some calcium ions that are stored within coral polypswill fuse together to create calcium carbonate, which is what the coral skeletons are made off. However, if the air consists mainly of carbon dioxide, seawater will generate more bicarbonate than carbonate which hamper coral polyps from constructing stronger skeletons (Woods Hole Oceanographic). To put it simply, ocean acidification inhibits coral polyps to build better skeletons due to a lack of materials.
A good example of the effects of coral reefs with other animals when high carbon dioxide concentration takes place is in Shark Bay. According to Livia Albeck-Ripka from the article, “Australia’s Other Great (And Threatened) Coral Reefs,” she explains that Shark Bay is a safe haven for multiple sharks, endangered dugongs, and green turtles while providing with a massive patch of seagrasses (in other words, they are “soft corals” since they take in the form of green plants). She adds that it is the only place where the last living ancient type of algae called stromatolites. When climate change strikes, there is a quarter of seagrasses are being eradicated from existence (Albeck-Ripka). With no plants rendering the ocean’s environment and with the gradual warming of the water temperature, Shark Bay’s carbon dioxide takes a huge leap and it “release of up to nine million tons of carbon dioxide” (Albeck-Ripka). The article ends there but we can assume that with that huge amount of carbon dioxide, animals will have trouble breathing in, causing their respiratory system to be damaged. Slowly but surely, these animals will be extinct unless they choose to move to another area. Then again, with their respiratory system damage, they won’t have the necessary energy to move to another reef, which increases the chance of them going extinct.To sum up, a high amount of carbon dioxide can lead to respiratory failure and the extinction of both plants and animals.
Climate change’s effects such as escalating natural disasters and ocean acidification steer coral reefs to an unpleasant event called “coral bleaching.” Coral bleaching is “the whitening of corals, due to stress-induced expulsion of the coral reefs’ symbiotic algae,” which are the zooxanthellae algae (Pueschel). In brief, coral bleaching is when coral reefs are so stressed out that they change their colors to white as their stress signal. Scientists in NOAA explains that coral reefs and zooxanthellaealgae establish a “symbioticrelationship” between each other: coral reefs become their shelter and sanctuary while zooxanthellae perform photosynthesis and paint the coral reef’s outer layer with vibrant colors. However, Puechel counters that bleached coral reefs will “expel” these algae because these algae will start producing “highly corrosive radicals that damage the photosynthesis system and leads to an even higher carbon production” which prevents photosynthesis and is considered a threat to coral reefs. Afterthe algae are expelled, coral reefs will slowly lose their color and turn white(Pueschel).In short, the whitening or coral reefs happen because they expel the zooxanthellae algae that are inside them due to its corrosive fluid in response to high climate change.
Most people by this point of coral bleaching assume that these coral reefs are gone for good and there is no way to bring them back; fortunately, this assumption is not true. Scientists in NOAA argue that they are in a more vulnerable state by being “under more stress and are subject to mortality.”Pueschel adds that deceased coral reefs inhibit growth, reproduction, and survivability. To put it simply, coral reefs can survive through the bleaching event with some side effects that will be detrimental if they don’t recover in time. As time goes by and as the temperature continues to rise endlessly, more of these bleaching occurs and “entire communities of corals become stressed at the same time,” which leads to a term called “mass bleaching” (Pueschel). Mass bleaching is a serious problem to all the coral reefs in Australia because it affects a wide range of corals and hinders their survivability. In fact, it is so serious that scientists predict that coral reefs will go extinct by the year 2040 (Albeck-Ripka).Livia Albeck-Ripka reports that ”warming waters have bleached more than two-thirds of the coral in the Great Barrier Reef.”People should grow wary about the constant worsening situation that has affected for a long period.
Coral reefs are suffering at the hands of climate change and they are in need of our aid. Scientists from all over the world encourage us to be considerate of the environment as we go through our daily lives. For example, experts from EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggestwe spread awareness about the situation and throw trashes inside the trash bin to avoid them from going into the water or volunteer to take out the trash near beaches. Other examples such as using environmental-friendly things (transportations, cleansers, or fertilizers) or reuse, reduce, and recycle as much as possible are also recommended by researchers from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). According to WWF-Australia (World Wide Fund for Nature Australia), there is “a high proportion of Australians (68%) believe that a healthy environment and a prosperous economy go hand in hand, and 20% believe that the environment needs to be protected even if it impacts economic prosperity.” On the surface, it seems Australians have understood the importance of the well-being of the environment but how many of them are taking it seriously? They indeed claim that the environment is worth protecting but how many of them are actuallyprotecting the environment through their actions? We will never know. Why? Because there is simply no proof. We cannot keep track of millions of people walking around on this planet and count how many times they take actions into conserving the environment. Those small daily activities,that are mentioned by the scientists from EPA and NOAA above, will be effective if there are millions of people actively do this daily.Not everyone will enjoy taking on volunteers since it is not a paid job or they simply don’t have the time for it due to school or works. In addition, most environmental-friendly items are more expensive than non-environmental items due to healthier and more difficult materials to create one so most people will avoid it for a cheaper price.However, those few people, that are taking the advices of EPA and NOAA’s scientists and put it some work, are greatly appreciated because they set an inspiration to others while explaining their deeds through their actions. Although it is few, it can help significantly as they continue to spread awareness and preserve the coral reefs a little more. In sum, solutions that are pointed by scientists will be successfulif everyone in the world starts to work as a community and keep track of how we dispose of our waste to ensure a brighter future.
As mass bleaching has gone wildly uncontrollable, scientists all around the world have been digging around here and there for a cure to all of this madness. Tests and experiments have been undertaken as they bring those corals to their labs and study them closely on their structures and lifestyles. Ret Talbot reports that some scientists are creating “super corals,” which are genetically enhanced corals that can handle extreme temperatures. At a glance, this seems to be a good idea but some experts argue that these genetically enhanced corals might be a threat of its own. Madeleine J. H. van Oppenexplains that those “super corals” may harm the ecosystem, specifically the native corals. When survival takes place and with the constant rise of the ocean’s temperature, more fights for nutrients and materials for better coral structures will occur between native corals and “super corals” (Oppen). The problem, according to Madeleine H. H. van Oppen, is that those super corals have the advantage of handling extreme heat while the native corals don’t. Consequently, the “super corals” will absorb all of the nutrients and materials for themselves, which leaves the native corals to rot and be extinct (Oppen). She also states that those “super corals” acts like invasive species, which means that they ruin the ocean’s ecosystem just by being there (just like weeds). Fortunately, Ret Talbot points out that the scientists who are working on the “super corals” project are still pretty hesitant about releasing it worldwide due to the reasons above. Ultimately, the “super corals” are still in there testing phase and scientists are considering every step they take to have as minimal problems as possible once the “super corals” are launched to improve the environment.
All in all, coral reefs have every right to be “the rainforest of the sea” (NOAA). They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and characteristics that are unique to each coral. Furthermore, they create shelters, provide nutrients, and give breeding grounds for small fishes to reproduce their offspring. They also serve Australians by producing food and medicines, protecting them from natural disasters, offering jobs, and allowing the country to thrive through tourism. Although there are several coral reefs in Australia that are not well-known or as huge as The Great Barrier Reef, they also play major roles in the ecosystem to certain types of animals that are unique to them alone. However, with climate change around the corner, more and more coral reefs are at risk due to escalating cyclones, rising ocean acidification, and mass bleaching. Scientists urge people to reconsider their actions with the environment as they go through their lives. They are also undergoing experiments to develop “stronger corals” but they are still multiple uncertainties around the project. As far as finding the cure goes, there seem to be none in sight and it feels like the coral reefs are destined to go extinct; however, there is still hope for them. Kiersten Marhaver shows the world that there are plenty of coral reefs out there that thrives under extreme weather. These same coral reefs, that have been consecutively pressured under the intense weather, can adapt and recover quite well if we as people give them time and space from human contact (Marhaver). Once people give them these requirements, they will recover, grow new coral polyps to fight back the old ones and become stronger than before (Marhaver).These coral reefs are strong on their own and they will adapt to anything just like any other living creature that walks the Earth. All we need to do is to put faith in them as we continue to minimize climate change as much as we can possibly do to preserve the beauty of the coral reefs.
