Coral reefs, created mostly by corals and algae, are some of the most extravagant, stunning, mass communities found around the world in the waters of the four oceans. The warm and clear water attracts a variety of organisms that inhabit these coral reefs. After many organisms make their home, they created an ecosystem. Coral reefs have a bunch of different and different kinds of species living on them. Compared with all these species, the whole world is still under the sea. With each of the various organisms that inhabit these coral reefs, each of them has something a little different to the coral reef. Coral reefs are of different types, no two are the same.
Corals and algae are not the only organisms that help create coral reefs. Although corals are the head of the reef building process, there are other organisms that help to create reefs, such as coralline algae. While some organisms play a larger role than others, some organisms help in a minimal way, such as sea urchins and parrots, in building coral reefs. . Most of all the corals that build these reefs contain zooxanthellae. In which, “corals help calcium carbonateskeletons” human dynamics” (Field, p. 55 ).Human interactions such as mining, over-fishing, and disturbance, contribute to the destruction of coral reefs Natural causes of pollution in coral reefs affect coral reefs in large quantities and continue to decline.
Humans have a fairly large role in the deterioration of coral reefs. In which it is to be repelled. When people throw away so many materials, whether safe or harmful, biodegradable or not, without thinking about where they go or how they affect the environment, it contributes to the pollution of the oceans. More so, since coral reefs live in oceans, it affects them.
Coral reefs are the major tourist attraction, with awe-inspiring views and visual attractions. With all the tourists coming to watch coral reefs, it can cause major problems. To see some of these coral reefs, you have to physically enter the water. This happens with boats in which the anchor or propeller can disturb the environment of the coral reef, or physically put yourself in the water around the coral reef. In which some tourists fish on the rocks, some tourists also scuba dive on them. With human-to-organism interaction, humans disrupt the ecosystems of these coral reefs.
Mining for limestone, oil and other materials destroys coral reefs. Since these reefs are made of limestone producing organisms, it is a great place for people to dispose of these materials. . When people dig into coral reefs, they release harmful chemicals into the water. Also surrounds the place where the metals disturb.
Another type of pollution that humans and nature produce is pollution at low and high concentrations of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. concentrations of nutrients. These can be harmful if taken in large quantities. “Excess nutrients, including dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage, wastewater and fertilizers, promote the growth of algae that compete with juvenile and adult coral for space on benthic reef surfaces” (Pollution). All water leads to estuaries, where salt and fresh water meet, and then into the ocean. The resulting contaminated material dispersing into the ocean. Therefore, if the river is polluted, then it affects coral reefs. “It is estimated that ten thousand tons of phosphorus and 100,000 tons of nitrogen are washed from the land into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef” (Information for Action).
There is a wide variety of natural causes of sleep disorders. “There are some natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons, earthquakes, or plagues of coral-eating predators, such as crown-of-thorns starfish, about which we know little” (Why Are Coral Reefs Dying?). With so many different factors playing such an awful role in this scenario, all we can do is let nature take its course. “World-wide erosion is infecting corals, mass mortality of reef-dwelling organisms, and declining populations of corals and other reef species” (Reaka-Kudla, p.84). Coral infection is the expulsion of zooxanthellae from the coral leaving the coral unable to reproduce and subsequently unable to survive. Natural causes contributing to the destruction of the coral reef, there is nothing that can really save it.
Coral predation is something that will always happen. How the ecosystem flows. Different organisms feed on and feed on the corals and algae that occupy coral reefs. For example, the crown of spines starfish is a living invertebrate that comes and goes as it pleases on coral reefs. These starfish are predatory and eat corals and coral octopuses. In mass quantities, these starfish crowns of spines can negatively affect coral reefs. Although many attempts have been made to try and stop the crown-of-thorns starfish, most attempts are successful.
Coral predation is something that will always happen. Fish that eat coral polyps help to control coral growth. “If not for the fish, this rapidly growing coral would dominate the other corals in the bay” (Castro, p. 327). However, some of the organisms that the kingfisher feeds on actually help the coral reef instead of harming it, as octopuses eat off-cuts of coral. Feeding organisms, such as algae and crustaceans, help to control the growth of algae and algae that, like coral, take over the reef.
With so many different types of pollution affecting these coral reefs, there are only a few ways to help prevent these different types of pollution from occurring on coral reefs. But some solutions are more difficult than others. Such as setting limits on what can and cannot be done, such as regulation of fishing and stopping people from polluting the oceans. Although many natural causes for pollution in coral reefs cannot be controlled, if humans can stop their pollution, perhaps coral reefs will begin to expand further.
Works Cited
Castro, Peter, and Michael E. Huber. Marine Biology. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
Field, John G., Gotthilf Hempel, and Colin P. Summerhayes. Oceans 2020: Science, Trends, and the Challenge of Sustainability. Washington: Island, 2002. Print.
“Information of action.” Conservation, Biodiversity, Environmental Sustainability Issues, Automated Lobbying Database at. Web. 01 March 2012.
“pollution.” NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program:. Web. 01 March 2012
Reaka-Kudla, Marjorie L., Don E. Wilson, and Edward O. Wilson. Biodiversity II: Understanding and Protecting Our Biological Resources. Washington, D.C.: Joseph Henry, 1997. Print.
“Why Are Coral Reefs Dying?” Global Coral Reef Alliance. Web. 01 March 2012.
