Coral Reef Bleaching

By: Sarah Barash

What is Coral Reef Bleaching?

• Coral reef bleaching is caused by many factors but is basically when the coral is stressed and the coral expels the algae living in it

Why Is Coral Important?

• They shelter 25 percent of marine species

• Protect shorelines

• Support fishing industries

• Tourist Attraction

• Medical use

• Biodiversity

Key Terms

• Zooxanthellae- a photosynthetic algae that lives in coral and gives the coral its color. The coral and zooxanthellae have a mutualism relationship

• Sedimentation- particles mixing with water

How It Is Caused

• Reduction of photosynthetic pigment concentrations in zooxanthealle

• sea temperature (too hot)

• Sedimentation

• Foreign chemicals and nutrients (fertilizers, purchased dirt, etc.)

• Freshwater

• Overfishing

Areas That Are Affected

• Florida Keys

• Caribbean

• Gulf of Mexico

• South Atlantic

• Western Pacific

What Will Happen?

• Climate Change: the ocean will no longer be able to handle the carbon emissions in the ocean because the zooxanthealle will be gone

• Ocean Acidification: the extra CO2 has already begun to decreasing the ocean’s pH level

• Fishing Impact: the healthy coral acts as a home for many commercial fish

• Pollution: can cause disease and change the trophic structure

Sediment

Environmental Impact

• Trophic levels will be changed

• Extreme human growth can cause over fishing bringing down biodiversity

How It Affects the Carbon Cycle

But You Can Help!

• Reduce Greenhouse Gases because scientists already predict a 1.8ºF raise in water temperature in the next century already due to the emissions

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- be mindful of where your waste and runoff go!

Works Cited

Picture Links

• http://bestclipartblog.com/clipart-pics/fish-clip-art-7.jpg

• http://peswiki.com/images/5/5b/Carbon_cycle_diagram.jpg

• http://www.ourbreathingplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Coral-Reef.jpg

• http://icons.wxug.com/metgraphics/climate/coral_bleaching.jpg

• http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/481/files/import/i-5403acc4b27ad23b2ba0a242849b04ea-healthy-coral-reef.jpg

• http://coralreef.noaa.gov/threats/pollution/resources/plume_burdick.jpg