Coral and climate change

For an assignment for BSX-3144- Animal survival strategies we were given an assignment to write a review essay on how climate change is effecting a certain area of study. This helped to further my understanding on conservation efforts globally, which helped to further my knowledge in my chosen carer path of marine conservation, and helped me in writing concise essays.

The essay- a review

We were tasked with writing a short concise essay review associated with the module on a topic related to Climate change. This covers a broad array of subjects such as: different taxa, countries and ecological areas.

I opted to chose “Coral reefs” as my topic of choice. These have always been an interest of mine from a young age, and I have always wanted to conserve the coral reefs we have left. So this was a great way to develop my understanding of conservation associated with them.

How to write a review

This is a guide to what should be included in a review to ensure it is of good standard.

• Critically analyse and summarise available literature
• Integrate information from a range of sources
• Compare and contrast available information
• Be up to date. i.e. current level of understanding
• Qualify statements i.e. give values when appropriate
• Use examples
• Choose tropic that is broad enough for sufficient literature base, but not too broad to reduce focus.

What are coral reefs

Coral reefs are defined as an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals created by colonies of coral polyps containing calcium carbonate. Coral reefs are most commonly found in shallow tropical waters, but it is possible to find some deep water and cold water reefs on smaller scales. Coral reefs can be located in a range of areas across the world. Since coral reefs are located in many different areas, different areas allow different species to inhabit them, this allows for a rich biodiversity of species to thrive.

How climate change affects them

With climate change occurring more frequently more factors are effecting corals, one of the biggest and most recorded factor that is linked to climate change is coral bleaching, and is having a detrimental effect on their health.

Corals are responsive to the slightest change in temperature. The temperature could be as little as 1 °C over the normal seasonal maximum and the corals will respond to it. Corals go through process known as bleaching when they are exposed to elevated temperatures. The corals become stressed with the temperature change and will expel the zooxanthellae that lives in their tissues which will cause the coral to turn white or bleach . Once the corals are bleached they can often survive without their normal complement of zooxanthellae for a couple of weeks or months, but their growth and reproductive output is stunted, which leads to their eventual death. With global warming increasing there has already been an increase in the distribution of coral bleaching globally.

With less coral this means that species that live within the coral may die as well. This will see massive effects of population numbers of species in the ocean, as well as large declines in biodiversity as well, which could have knock on effects with species that are not associated with the reef, but rely on the reef fish for food, so there populations will decline as well.

My reflection

This was a great essay to further my knowledge around coral reefs, and what factors are effecting them. I had also never wrote a review essay before so it was great to further my knowledge and skills in that as well, incase of future job prospects as they may require me to write one. It also fueled my passion for conservation around coral reefs, and I would definitely like to look into potential carer options around setting up conservation areas in coral reefs, and trying to reduce the threat humans are having on them.