The Depletion of the World’s Most Dynamic Ecosystem

The Depletion of the World’s Most Dynamic Ecosystem

    Year after year, we keep finding that the coral reef is being destroyed more and more. Housing the vastest amount of marine wildlife, the depletion of the coral reef is becoming more concerning than ever.

    Ever since 1998, the destroying and disappearance of the coral reef has become an issue that is very concerning to the world’s most dynamic ecosystem. There are 5 main reason as to what is harming the coral reefs and causing them to disappear:

1. Ocean Warming:  The ocean warming is a big reason for the destruction of the coral reefs because when the waters warm it becomes a less healthy environment for the coral to live.  Most of this is due to the climate change issue.
2. Water Pollution:  Oil, gas, pesticide contamination, trash, and animal or human waste are some of the biggest contributors of water pollution that harm the coral reefs.
3. Sedimentation: When developing around an ocean or anything that would stir up the ocean, cause sediment to hurt the coral reefs and eventually destroys them.
4. Coastal Development:  A lot of coasts are where people around the world want to live, and this development of these coasts causes damage to the reefs.  This damage could be very vast and can wipe out a majority of a reef in a small period of time.
5. Careless Tourism:  Many people visit these coast lines to see their beauty. Unfortunately a lot of them don’t be careful around the reefs as they should. Careless boating, snorkeling, fishing, etc. all contribute to the damaging of the reefs (Coral Reef Alliance, p. 1)                                     

   

   Photo Courtesy of Google Images

                                      

     There are many reasons why the coral reefs are disappearing. The depletion of the coral reefs have a huge impact on everyone, even if you don’t live near the ocean. There are so many benefits to this diverse ecosystem, and so many reasons why we should help save it. Here are a few:

• Most diverse ecosystem on Earth:  The coral reefs are home to a vast amount of marine wildlife that we should value.  About 25% of the marine wildlife call this ecosystem its home.
• Provides food to millions:  Because of the coral reefs biodiversity it contains a lot of different foods that humans (yes, humans) eat. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any food taken from me.
• Protect Land:  Coral reefs provide a unique protection to the coastal land. The way they are located they actually detour a hurricane or other tropical storm away from the coast.
• Supply natural medicines:  Coral reefs have the ability to have bacterial fighting agents, like penicillin does.  Although it has yet to be found it has the potential to have those agents in its ecosystem (Carilli p. 1).
• BEAUTIFUL!!   

Photo courtesy of Google Images

While there is much destruction being done to the coral reefs, there are many activists and conservationists concerned who are figuring out ways to save the reefs. As of right now many of them are trying the technique of transplanting coral fragments into dying coral reefs.

                                                                  

Works Cited

Carilli, Jessica. "Why Are Coral Reefs Important?" Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 17 June 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

"Threats to Coral Reefs." Coral.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.