Running Head: DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS 1

The Destruction of Coral Reefs, Proposed Solutions for Preservation, and Opposing Viewpoints Concerning Underwater Ecosystems Julie Rankin, Karson Cook, Kelsey Chancellor AP Environmental Science

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS Abstract

This paper discusses the problems that threaten the existence of coral reefs. The authors will use facts and statistics that they found through online research in order to prove that the depletion of reefs is a serious problem in regards to underwater ecosystems. This document argues that the best solutions to save coral reefs are reducing the use of harmful chemicals and minimizing human coral interaction. Throughout this paper, the authors will explain how the preservation of coral reefs will result in the salvation of an essential component to marine life. The role that conservation programs such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) play on the preservation of coral reefs will be described in this report. Keywords: underwater ecosystems, conservation programs

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS Table of Contents: Abstract Position History of the Problem Causes of the Problem Consequences of the Problem Proposed Solutions to the Problem Rebuttal Tables and Figures Works Cited Page 2 Page 4 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 7-8 Page 8 Page 8-9 Page 10 Page 11

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS Position According to Dupree (2007), Philip Dustan, a University of Charleston biology professor and

science advisor to the Cousteau Society stated, in regards to coral destruction; imagine going to your favorite national park and finding that 90 percent of the trees are dead. There's a spectacularly beautiful world down there that is just being lost. If this were happening on land, people would be screaming about it. Mr. Dustan is merely stating that we, as people and society, are not protecting our underwater environment. Coral reefs have been referred to as the rainforests of the deep. According to the Coral Reef Alliance (2012), Coral reefs contain 25 percent of all known marine species and are home to more than 4,000 species of fish and 700 species of coral; they are like a metropolis. Many aquatic animals live in or on it in order to survive. If coral destruction continues, then there will be less diversity among types of fish and marine life. The removal of any main component to an ecosystem, such as coral, causes a ripple effect that will eventually make people realize that protecting coral and preventing its destruction is important. The results of the complete destruction of coral would mean the death of many marine animals, the loss of a natural wonder, and the extinction of an element in a very large ecosystem. History of Coral Reef Destruction The Industrial Revolution release of carbon dioxide (CO2) resulted in the atmospheric concentration of the chemical to increase from 280 to 385 parts per million. When CO2 reacts with sea water, the pH level of saltwater reduction condensed availability of carbonate ions. Because carbonate ions are the components that help underwater coral form shells for protection, the decrease of them results in the lack of shells that coral have to defend themselves from predators.

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Global warming is caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other gasses in the atmosphere being heated up. These gases act as a blanket, preventing the heat of the sun to escape from the atmosphere. Global warming is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation and many scientists believe that this is causing sea surface temperatures to rise. Ocean warming is extremely dangerous to coral reefs because they are very sensitive to changes in temperature (Coral Reef Alliance, 2012) Coral reef preservation has not always been the priority of nature advocates. Some of what scientist have discovered about coral reef destruction has come by accident in recent years. As scientist found more information on global warming, they began to study the effects that high temperatures have on coral reefs (WWF, 2013). Many organizations have come together to slow the rapid depletion of coral reefs. Founded in 1948, the IUCN is the world's oldest environmental organization. "Conserving biodiversity is central to the mission of IUCN. We demonstrate how biodiversity is fundamental to addressing some of the worlds greatest challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and food security." The NOAA is an organization in the United States that works with the government to put a stop to coral reef destruction (IUCN, 2013) The Coral Reef Conservation Act was passed in 2000 for the purpose of preserving coral reef ecosystems. The Coral Reef Conservation Program and Coral Reef Conservation Fund were established under the act and they both provide financial assistance for coral reef projects. They also authorize funding for the NOAA. The Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973 to protect animals from extinction. Because of this act, habitat destruction or modification is protected, so the harming of coral reefs is an act of injustice (Shah, 2013).

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS Causes of the Problem Coral reefs are a significant characteristic of the sea, yet they are

constantly being destroyed. Coral bleaching is one of the main causes of the destruction of reefs. Coral bleaching is when the algae that the reefs require to survive is stripped away. This algae, known as zooxanthellae, is what gives the coral its striking color, so when removed, it results in bleached, or white, coral. Bleaching is believed to be a response to stressful environmental conditions. It is accredited to increases in ultraviolet radiation, extreme temperatures and salinities, and high levels of turbidity and sedimentation. Loss of zooxanthellae negatively affects growth rates and overall health of the coral (University of Florida, 2013). The sunscreen that swimmers wear to protect their skin can also have a damaging affect on coral reefs. The ultraviolet filters in sunscreen cause a viral infection in the zooxanthellae algae. The authors of a 2008 study in the US based Health Perspectives journal concluded that sunscreens potentially play an important role in coral bleaching in areas prone to high levels of recreational use by humans. They estimated that about one quarter of the sunscreen tourists apply washes off when they swim or bathe, accounting for a potential release of 4,000 to 6,000 tons per year in reef areas (Robertson, 2012). Coral reefs, as all other living creatures, are prone to diseases, particularly white band disease and black band disease. White band disease causes the tissue of the coral to peel and leave behind a thin line of bare white skeleton. It is caused by the overgrowth of algae and can devastate entire reef ecosystems. Black band disease is similar to white band disease in the way that it leaves the white skeleton vulnerable, but instead of peeling tissue, a black band moves along the coral, destroying the tissue. This disease can result in the death of many colonies of species and is caused by stressors such as sedimentation, pollution, nutrient levels, and high water temperatures.

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS Overfishing and bottom-trawling can also affect coral reefs. Bottom-trawling is one of

the biggest problems when it comes to fishing practices because fishing net is towed along the sea floor, disturbing the coral ecosystems. Overfishing distorts the food chain from its natural ways because so many species of fish are being removed from the sea surrounding the reefs. Careless tourism is another way to harm coral reefs. When people touch or collect the coral, the oil in the human skin will be left behind which can potentially be life threatening to the reefs. Many people also collect coral for jewelry which results in the reduction of the reefs. Coral is also mined for the use of bricks or cement for buildings. Pollution is another cause of coral reef destruction. Urban and industrial waste, sewage, agrochemicals, and oil pollution are poisoning reefs. These toxins are dumped directly into the ocean or carried by river systems from sources upstream. Some pollutants, such as sewage and runoff from farming, increase the level of nitrogen in seawater, triggering an overgrowth of algae, which 'smothers' reefs by cutting off their sunlight. Sedimentation, which is erosion instigated by actions such as construction, leads to increased sediment in rivers that flow into the oceans and destroy coral reefs. Not only can humans cause damage to coral reefs, but nature can as well. Storms and hurricanes that conjure resilient waves flatten coral colonies, creating rubble fields. They can also disrupt the coral near the shore which then releases sediments that smother the reefs (Freund, 2012). Consequences. Because of the rapid depletion of corals, the animals that live in the reefs are losing their homes. If animals do not have a place to live, then they become subject to predator attacks because they are not being protected by the reefs. The fish that previously occupied the reefs will not have anywhere to live, and therefore become extinct due to attack.

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS

If action is not taken, then the oceans will be rid of their coral reefs. Reefs are a natural barrier of protection against currents, strong waves, and storms. Without their presence, the water current will not be slowed before it reaches the shore, which will be detrimental to the surrounding shoreline. Because coral reefs are sources of medicines to cure the diseases that currently plague the earth, the destruction of them could mean that there could, in the future, be no cure to many diseases. Chemicals found in the reefs have been used to treat ulcers, heart disease, leukemia, and more (The Destruction of Coral Reefs, 2013). Proposed Solutions. The continuing depletion of the oceans corals means that fast action needs to be taken to save the coral reefs. Reducing harmful chemicals in the home and in the garden will keep the toxic products out of the water system. Substituting water-based, nontoxic alternatives in place of inorganic chemicals will keep the water systems clear of any injurious substances. Unwanted chemicals should never be poured on the ground due to the fact that soil cannot purify most chemicals, so eventually runoff water could be contaminated and end up in the ocean. When any sort of chemical fertilizers get into water systems, they can cause algal blooms, which destroy coral reefs (Coral Reef Alliance, 2013). As for the physical preservation of the reefs, marine life should not be disturbed, the corals should not be touched, and the sediment near the coral should not be stirred up. When scuba-divers are exploring near reefs, their hands should be kept far away from the coral. This will avoid the chemical interaction between people and reefs that can cause the coral to die. Rebuttal Many scientists predict that coral will eventually adapt like other organisms have for centuries in order to survive in warmer water temperatures and other harmful conditions (Dupree, 2007). Because it is the inept nature of living things to acclimate to constant changes in

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS the environment, people believe that corals will adapt to the changing environment in order to

survive. Many also think that coral reef preservation should not be a priority of conservationists because there are other problems that are more imperative than those associated with the depletion of reefs. The scientists that find little importance in coral reef destruction focus their efforts on energy conservation and global warming. However, some scientists do not understand that coral reefs are extremely sensitive. Their outer layers cannot be exposed to anything unhealthy for them; or else the layer protecting the coral deteriorates and then the coral dies due to exposure. According to Dupree (2007), Coral cannot grow the calcium-carbonate skeletons that house animals and start the growth of new reefs. Dupree (2007) reports that: Scientists tested this prediction in Arizona to see what effect the increasing carbon dioxide will have on the coral. They added large quantities of the gas to a 700,000 gallon seawater aquarium. Scientists have predicted that by the middle of this century the carbon dioxide levels will double so within this experiment they doubled it as well. And the result was that the reef building abilities of the coral plummeted by sixty percent. The last time carbon dioxide levels were that high, corals disappeared from the fossil record for a million years, says Chris Langdon, a University of Miami marine biologist who led the experiment. The lesson is, if we wipe them out, we're not going to have them around for a very long time. Corals will not adapt to changing environmental conditions and if action is not taken now, then the world may never see another coral reef again

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS Figure 1. Visual Representation of Coral Bleaching.

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Figure 2. Statistical Analysis of Coral Reef Risk Factors.

DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS References Coral Reef Alliance. (2013). Coral Reef Overview. Retrieved from http://www.coral.org/resources/about_coral_reefs/threats_to_coral_reefs

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The Destruction of Coral Reef. (2013). Retrieved from: http://plaza.ufl.edu/bettie/coralreef.html Dupree, J. (2007). CORAL CRISIS. National Wildlife (World Edition), 45(4), 22. Freund, J. (2012). Coral Reefs: Threats. Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_reefs/coral_ threats/ International Union for Conservation of Nature. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.iucn.org/about/ Robertson, L. (2012). Travelers Impact on Coral Reefs. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120802-travellers-impact-oncoral-reefs Shah, Anup. (2013). Coral Reefs. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/173/coralreefs University of Florida. (2013). Coral Bleaching. Retrieved from http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/southflorida/coral/coralbleaching.html WWF Global. (2013). Coral Reefs. Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_reefs/