Climate Change - Negative Impact on the Coral Reefs - Essay Example

Climate Change                 Climate Change Studies on the present and imminent effects of human-stimulated climate change on reef-building corals is making managers and scientists to become more and more alarmed about the prospect of coral reefs. A vigorous reef ecosystem contains tremendous activity, colors and sounds, and is filled with significantly compact aggregations of invertebrates and fish. In this view, tropical reefs are more evocative of the Serengeti in Africa than of the tropical forest they are frequently contrasted to, where the native mammals and birds can be difficult to observe and are secretive. A coral reef may be made up of a large number of species and several of the universe’s most diverse and dense populations of vertebrate animals. It is unfortunate that extremely minimal residual coral reefs highlight this immaculate situation (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Moreover, on most, fishes and corals are much less plentiful than they were a few years ago. This paper will look at coral reefs and how they are or will be impacted by climate change. Wholesome coral reefs are eclipsed by a number of forms of reef-building corals, which stuff the position of trees in a forest, by developing the actual structure of the reef, supporting numerous animals and plants. Ecologists term trees, corals, and additional organisms, for example, oysters, which develop habitats as base species and understand that their extinction can be disastrous for the ecosystem and the community that surrounds them. In addition, the configuration established by corals over the years gives complicated harbors in which creatures can seek cover from hunters. When corals become extinct, the number of reef fish rapidly diminishes, largely because of the lack of sections for fingerlings to exist as they move away from their habitat and inhabit on the reef where they will live for the rest of their lives (Andréfouët, Mumby, McField, Hu, & Muller-Karger, 2002). For instance, the fish species were largely affected by coral loss because of sedimentation run-off and ocean warming from the switch of forest to oil palm farms, in Papua New Guinea. The ocean surface temperatures and the warmer air caused by climate change has an effect on corals and change coral reef populations by changing ocean chemistry and triggering coral bleaching. These effects have an impact on corals and the large numbers of creatures that utilize coral reefs as their habitation. Coral reefs coat a region of approximately 280,000 square kilometers and offer support for a number of species in what can be termed as the seas’ rainforests. Coral reefs have a number of benefits to the people and environment in several ways. For instance, coral reefs offer protection for shores from the effect of storms and waves; they give benefits to human beings in the form of medicine and food; they offer financial benefits to native societies from tourism (Jones, 2004). Climate change causes bleaching in coral reefs. Bleaching illustrates the deficiency of symbiotic algae by a host or the coral. A large component of the pigment in the regularly bright corals is dependent on the existence of these plant cells. The living tissue of coral reefs is usually translucent without several components. Moreover, bleaching is a common reaction that may be caused either by low or high temperatures, in the laboratory, changes in salinity, intense light, or by additional chemical or physical stresses. Bleaching is the severe condition of natural variation that is present in a large number of coral reefs (Baker, 2001). Extra humid temperatures caused by climate change strain corals because they are extremely responsive to temperature changes. In situations where water temperatures remain higher than standard for a long period, the elements they are dependent on for several of their nutrition escape their tissue. Without these elements, corals coral reefs lose their color. This is because the elements provide color for the coral reefs. Bleached coral reefs are fragile and less capable of dealing with diseases. Bleaching occasions on coral reefs all over the world were evident in 1998. There is minimal bleaching in the summer period, in several Pacific islands. Nevertheless, there have been occasions in which bleaching is especially severe in this area. For instance, in 1994, 2002, and 2003, there were extreme bleaching activities in the National Park Of American Samoa. Bleaching will continue to take place, and the general wellbeing of coral reefs will diminish as we continue to experience climate change (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Climate change has an impact on ocean chemistry causing ocean acidification. A large portion of carbon dioxide that is incorporated in the atmosphere enters the ocean. Since 1800, the almost one third of the carbon dioxide arising from activities of the human beings and a half of the carbon dioxide emitting from burnt fossil fuels have been dissolved in the oceans. The ocean pH becomes more acidic or diminishes as the carbon dioxide levels in the ocean advances. This is referred to ocean acidification (Hoegh-Guldberg, 2007). Corals are not able to gain the calcium carbonate they require to maintain the skeletons that provide support for the corals and their skeletons because of ocean acidification. This will make the reefs disappear. Currently, ocean acidification has lessened the ocean pH by almost 0.11 units. This signifies that the ocean is, currently, almost 30% extra acidic than in 1751. If no measures are taken to decrease carbon dioxide emanation into the atmosphere, ocean acidification will augment and additional coral reefs will be destroyed or damaged. The low level of pH in the ocean makes it demanding and vigorously expensive for corals to manufacture their own calcium carbonate skeleton. A number of studies have indicated that even the minimal lowering in pH levels may slow down the growth of corals, which will instigate and produce several different issues (Hoegh-Guldberg, 2007). For instance, it will lessen the capacity of corals to contend with other creatures, for example, seaweeds and sponges and to carry on with advanced degrees of sea level increase. This is commonly because of both the thermal extension of the ocean and the melting of ice caps and polar glaciers. Also, coral species may get well extra gradually from different climate change-associated stressors, for example, infectious diseases and bleaching of from mortality agents and natural disturbances, for instance, predation or storms. Also, ocean warming can have an indirect negative impact on corals by amplifying the impacts of infectious diseases, which are among the foremost causes of coral deficiency, predominantly in the Caribbean region. The prevalence, effects, and number of diseases of corals and other numerous forms of marine creatures have been on the rise over the last two to three decades (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). The seriousness of marine diseases may augment with temperature for a number of reasons. Enhanced water temperatures can either cause psychological stress for the corals or also incorporate their immune system. This may make them more vulnerable to infections. In addition, raised temperatures may also be of benefit to fungal and bacterial pathogens, making them extra virulent and fit. A current investigation established that inconsistently raised ocean temperatures significantly enhanced the seriousness of the coral disease white syndrome on the Great Barrier Reef. Outbreak of diseases only took place on reefs with raised coral cover particularly after temperate periods. This disease was significantly lacking on reefs with cool temperatures. The increase in temperature needed to instigate a white syndrome were comparatively moderate as a large number of disease outbreaks were witnessed in reefs where the temperature was approximately between one to two degrees Celsius humid than normal. Additional proof also highlights temperature as a significant facilitator of coral epizootics (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Coral diseases, for example, black band disease spread rapidly or is more prevalent during the summer season. Nonetheless, not the entire coral epizootics are caused by irregularly elevated temperature. A number of significant outbreaks have taken place in comparatively cool time, for example, white band disease, which occurred in the 80s in the Caribbean. Conclusion It is evident that climate change is already having a negative impact on the coral reefs and corals of the world. The danger will almost certainly increase over the coming few years as the intensity of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere augments and acidification and ocean warming pick up the pace. Foreseeing imminent effects of climate change on coral reefs is complex given all the improbability about future innovations, the definite impacts on reef inhabitants, the political reaction, the earth climate system, and the changes in behavior of human beings (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Also, moderate predictions propose that the world may lose the entire coral reef habitats before the final part of the 21st century. In spite the projected and recorded effects of climate change on coral reefs, there are a number of reasons for being hopeful. It is probable that corals will evolve or get used to more tolerant conditions and elevated temperatures and capable to adapt in extra acidic situations. There is proof that this has taken place to an extent (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Even though, given the unpredictable pace of climate change and the stresses corals would have to adjust to and the set of changes, a large number of experts are unconvinced that acclimation and adaptation only will aid long-term existence if hazards relating to climate are not lessened. References Andréfouët, S., Mumby, P. J., McField, M., Hu, C., & Muller-Karger, E. (2002). Revisiting coral reef connectivity. Coral Reefs, 21, 43-48. Baker, A. C. (2001). Reef corals bleach to survive change. Nature, 411, 765-766. Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (1999). Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the worlds coral reefs. Marine and Freshwater Research, 50, 839-866. Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (2007). Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification. Science, 318, 1737-1742. Jones, G. P. (2004). Coral decline threatens fish biodiversity in marine reserves. Proceedings of the National Academy Science, 101, 8251-8253. Read More