Coral reefs, one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, are currently experiencing a global decline due to climate change and other human activities, and they are estimated to disappear by 2050 if the climate conditions continue to worsen. These ecosystems take up less than 1% of the ocean floor, yet host roughly 25% of known marine species. They have the appropriate nickname of “rainforests of the sea” due to their vast array of colors, shapes and life they support.
There has been a 14% global decline in coral reefs since 2009, and many reefs are currently threatened by changing conditions. This threatened status occurs as many stony corals (which predominantly make up reefs) form a mutualistic symbiosis with algae called zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae provides sugars formed from photosynthesis, which stony corals use to create calcium carbonate, a compound used to build their complex structures.
However, as ocean temperatures rise from climate change, corals become stressed and expel their zooxanthellae in a phenomenon known as “coral bleaching.” This process makes them appear white in color and can lead to mass coral deaths if they remain too long without the zooxanthellae.
A healthy coral reef provides numerous benefits, not only to over 1 million aquatic species but also to humans. In the United States alone, an estimated $3.4 billion comes from fisheries, tourism and coastal protection provided by coral reef ecosystems. Coral reefs also protect shorelines by reducing wave energy up to 97%, providing an estimated $1.8 billion in flood protection just in the U.S.
Globally, many communities rely on commercially harvested fish from reefs as a source of food and income. They are also a popular tourist attraction for scuba divers and snorkeling enthusiasts, creating a market for ecotourism. However, as weather patterns shift due to climate change, coastal communities will need healthy coral reef ecosystems to act as a buffer from strong waves and flooding.
It is easy to overlook the importance of coral reefs here at St. Joe’s since they are typically found in tropical areas. Nonetheless, there are approximately 1 billion people who currently benefit from coral reefs, either directly or indirectly. However, we need to keep average global temperatures under 2.7-3.6 °F, and these temperatures have already warmed 2.0 °F due to human activities.
There is hope for the future as corals can recover from short bleaching events. Some simple steps we can take to help these ecosystems include: avoiding touching corals if visiting a reef, reducing our fossil fuel emissions and educating others on what’s happening! Coral reefs support us economically, recreationally and more. Let’s make sure they survive for all future generations that rely on them.
