Coral Reefs: Battling Against the Odds
Coral reefs have always brought a sense of awe to the oceans, making them less daunting and more colorful. They are romanticized in movies and documentaries, yet very little said about how they are in danger of going extinct. Just like every other organism that has been endangered, corals are clearly suffering on multiple fronts: growth, reproduction, and finding food. The zooxanthellae living within their tissues supplies them with their food, but due to the increasing water temperature and acidity levels, these photosynthetic algae are being forced out, leaving the corals a stark white, a process called coral bleaching. Ocean acidification is a leading cause of corals being unable to grow and reproduce, which is ultimately leading to hardships for coral reef ecosystems and coastal communities that depend on the biodiversity to feed their families and economies. However, laws and measures have been put in place to better help the corals recover, scientists are learning how to grow coral, and everyday people are finding ways to lower their greenhouse gas emissions so less ends up affecting the oceans. While there is still a lot to be done and a lot to change, there is still a lot of hope for the future of coral reefs.
BIOL 499, Senior Capstone
Paul Allee
Womack 100
2 – 2:30 PM