Romi Necq S.

Abuel Nat Sci 5

2014 63411 Reaction Paper

Coral Reefs and Their Importance

Philippines is one of the countries that is home many different species found and has a high
level of biodiversity. There are also species that are endemic or found only in the Philippines. Even
in the Philippine Sea and other neighboring oceanic waters, it is a vast place where you can find
many aquatic plant and animal species living in a diverse ecosystem that serves as safe havens and
breeding grounds for them. This diverse living habitat of many marine organisms is known as coral
reefs.

Coral reefs are composed of microscopic animals called coral polyps that are living as a
colony. They belong to the Phylum Cnidaria, along with jellyfishes and sea anemones. The
skeleton of coral reefs are produced when coral polyps secrete calcium carbonate or limestone
beneath them, which becomes their exoskeleton. Coral reefs build up over thousands of years when
old coral polyps die and their exoskeleton becomes part of the structure, while new coral polyps
anchor above the dead coral polyps and continue the secretion of calcium carbonate.

Some coral polyps have stinging tentacles that they use to capture small prey like fishes
and planktons, while some have a symbiotic relationship with algaes known as zooxanthellae,
which produces food for the coral polyps via photosynthesis, in exchange of raw materials and a
secure place to live in. The algae are found inside their bodies and it also gives the coral reefs the
color it has.

Coral reefs are very diverse, and there are many different species of coral polyps out there
that create different coral species. The reef-building corals are usually found in warm, tropical
waters where the algae can reach light. They cover at least 1% of the ocean floor but theyre known
to support 25% of the marine life species.

Many coral reefs are also very old as some that are found today are between 4,000 to 10,000
years old. Old coral reefs like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia also serves as a great tourist
attraction, where people can see and study the wonderful marine life composed of colorful and
beautiful coral species, fishes and plants that live together to form a biotic community.
Additionally, they provide economic benefits to the government and people though food, fisheries
and ecotourism.

Unfortunately, many coral reefs are now in danger or already damaged because of harmful
human activities and their carelessness through coral conservation. One of the factors on why many
corals are slowly dying is due to rising ocean temperatures and increase in carbon dioxide levels
in the water. An increase in temperature because of global warming can cause corals to undergo a
lot of stress, which in turn will expel the zooxanthellae thay they depend on for food. This will
cause the corals to lose their color from the algae and all that will remain is a white exoskeleton.
This is known as coral bleaching. Bleached corals do not die immediately, as they can still bring
back the zooxanthellae algae if environmental conditions return to normal, but bleached corals
usually die after a long time if the conditions worsen. On the other hand, increase of CO2 levels in
the ocean caused by logging of trees that usually absorb CO2 and burning of fossil fuels will give
rise to acidification of oceanic waters via absorption, and this acidity will impede the ability of
coral polyps to produce calcium carbonate skeletons for their shelter, which makes polyps more
vulnerable to external hazards.

Sadly, global warming and more acidification of oceans and seas are not the only threats
to coral reefs. Overfishing may disrupt the careful balance between species and overharvesting of
corals also disrupt reef ecosystems. Some methods of fishing like cyanide fishing, which employs
cyanide to kill fish also kills coral polyps; muro-ami, which uses big rocks that smashes corals and
kills them; and dynamite fishing, which uses dynamite that when it explodes underwater will kill
fishes along with corals as well.

Even activities that take place far from reefs can have an impact. Water pollution also
harms these reefs. Runoff agricultural pesticides and fertilizers, oil and gasoline, sewage discharge
or spills and sediments and silt from eroded landscapes due to deforestation damage the complex
relationships that exist between the plants, coral and other animals that are part of the reef
ecosystem. Sewage spills or silt from land also block the sunlight from reaching reefs that provide
many nutrients. This kills algae and then the coral dies, too. This in turn impoverishes the people
who depend upon the coral for their livelihood, including divers, tour guides, and fishermen. An
entire ecosystem is destroyed.
 Unfortunately, it is much easier to destroy coral than to protect and save it. Some
governments have mapped their reefs and are monitoring conditions. There are also many private
organizations helping to monitor local reefs. In order really to save our valuable reefs, though, we
need to raise societys awareness so that people know what they can do to help. Organizations like
the Marine Conservation Philippines, Unico Conservation Foundation and Philippine Reef &
Rainforest Conservation Foundation help through marine research, campaigning, local
outreach and conservation efforts we have joined the fight to try and change the current situation
before it is too late. But we must expand these organizations. Governments should place stricter
regulations on reef use. Fishermen who do not have a permit are severely punished, even jailed.
These regulations may seem harsh, but they have protected many coral reefs, which are in better
condition than in many countries and should serve as an example.

We must save these reefs! Otherwise, we will lose an entire ecosystem. Our tourism may
be affected and medicines will never be discovered because the untapped potential of coral reefs
are all gone. Young scientists will never be inspired to become marine biologists because they
might only see coral reefs in pictures but not in actuality anymore. Do we want to tell our children
that they will never see a coral reef because we didnt save them? Of course not! Theres still time
to save them. Step by step, coral reefs can return to normal and our marine ecosystem will flourish
once again if only each and every people will get involved and lend a hand in helping organizations
to save and care for the coral reefs.