Coral Reef Bleaching By: Sarah Barash
Feb 22, 2016
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/2
010/09/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