Download Coral reefs and greenhouse gases

The Effect of Greenhouse Gases
on Coral Reefs
Group N Mentors: Mrs. Achenbach & Mr. Worthington
Members: Min Jae Kim, Aura Mejía, Walle Kiikeri, Sebastian Fleming-Dresser, and
Sofia Videla
JOBS
Min Jae - Effect of acidity on coral reef/conclusion
Aura - What we can do to preserve coral life (improvements, protection,
etc)/Effect of acidity on coral reef w/ min
Walle - Research and write a brief summary of coral life (where they are, in
what kind of environment they exist, what they are)
Seb - Effect of warming temperatures on coral life
Sofia - Effect of warming temperature on coral life w/ seb
PS: ALWAYS feel free to add to other ppls work if needed
AND refer to specific studies and dont forget to reference (pictures as well)!
Tomorrow lets add more of coral life and the stuff ↓
PS: Guys we should add more about how coral make up their skeleton and their
living conditions
WOW guys this is amazing! Yeah! :D
What they are (Walle)
● There can often be uncertainty of what Corals should be
defined as. They make a calcium carbonate skeleton which
look similar to a rock but have a symbiotic relationship with
plant-like cells called zooxanthellae. Corals are still animals,
that simply have a different structure.
● They are able to capture food as small microscopic organisms
with their stinging tentacles. Coral reefs are home for a
variety of living creatures. These organisms settle on corals,
because they provide shelter and food.
The Origins of Coral (Seb)
● Coral is a relatively small, sedentary marine animal related to the sea
anemone but characterized by a skeleton of horny or calcareous material.
● The most commonly found coral species are the hermatypic and the
ahermatypic types.
● The coral itself is the skeleton, which is surrounded by a blanket of algae.
● There exist hundreds of coral species, more than 200 of which can be
found in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.
● Although coral can grow in deep, cold waters, they are most abundant in
warm, shallow environments, where unicellular plants provide the oxygen
necessitated by coral.
● Coral reefs are also homes for many other marine animal species,
especially fish.
Coral reef types, and characteristics (walle)
Corals are divided in two categories of coral, soft and hard.
● Soft corals don’t carry hard permanent skeletons, and they remind
more of plants and trees. Soft corals are attached on a hard surface by
a single anchor. These corals are found in a variety of climates, both
tropical and cooler areas.
● Hard corals are the ones that make up the coral reefs and adapt in
large colonies. Soft corals often grow on hard corals. Hard corals
survive on tiny algae, unlike soft corals that don’t need algae to live.
Types of Coral (Sofia)
Table Coral
Table coral are ideally
shaped to expose as
much of their surface
area as possible.
Hard Corals (they have
zooxanthellae) which is
needed for
photosynthesis.
Supported on a short
stout stem.
Daisy Coral
The daisy coral has
polyps that are a
few inches long.
It is surrounded by
a ring of about 24
tentacles.
Daisy coral grows in
rounded lump, but
it is difficult to see
when the polyps are
extended.
Types of Coral (Sofia)
Hump Coral
It can be difficult to tell that hump coral is
living coral because it looks like a giant
rock.
By looking closely, it is revealed that it
grows as a series of large lobes formed
into a dome.
The living polyps are tiny and their
tentacles are 1/32 mm long.
It is important for reef-building species.
Types of Coral (Sofia)
Mushroom Coral
Juveniles start life as a small disk attached to dead coral or rock. By the time they reach to
1 and ½ inches in diameter the become detached.
The animal feeds at and the tentacles are withdrawn during the day, leaving the skeleton
very visible.
Its tentacles turn itself the right way up if its overturned by waves.
Devonshire Cup Coral
Devonshire Cup coral is solitary and lives in temperate parts
of the ocean.
These tiny corals look like
anemones, with each tapering,
transparent tentacle ending in a
small knob.
Types of Coral (Sofia)
Great Brain Coral
This huge coral grows as giant domes or
extensive thick crusts and can live for more
than 100 years.
The surface of the colony is a convoluted series
of ridges and long valleys, as in other species of
brain coral, and this is what gives it name.
The polyp mouths are hidden in the valleys and
the tentacles are only extended at night.
In recent studies, giant brain corals in the
Tortugas Islands (south of Florida Keys) have
been attacked by a disease and some have died.
As well as
attracting divers,
the coral heads
attract fish, and
some gobies live
permanently on the
coral.
Corals and its distribution in the world
(Walle)
● Coral reefs or corals adapt into a community of a large quantity of same
type species. These corals, operate in the same way as rainforests in the
amazon, and function as a symbiotic organism to help other organisms,
such as zooxanthellae and small fish, to survive.
● Coral reefs have an extremely important function, which is to keep some
fishes alive, as they are a big source of biodiversity. Without Corals, Many
species of plant and animal would die out.
● Coral reefs are mostly distributed in the warm waters around the equator,
but recent years, has brought discoveries of corals in the cold parts of
different oceans as the norwegian sea and the Tasman sea (northern east
of Australia).
Distribution on map
As the chart and map shows the corals
distribute around the equator, due to the
suitable weather, which is warm and is
seen as one whole season, without any
significant changes.
Coral reefs are mostly located by the
equator in clear tropical oceans. They
form in waters from the surface down to
45 meters, as they need sunlight to
survive. The richest and most colourful,
settle near the surface as the light level is
higher.
The largest coral reefs are found in
Australia, by the great barrier reef. Other
wide concentrations of corals are seen in
Central America and the Red Sea.
Coral Reef Hotspots (Sofia)
● In 2002, a team of research done by Dr. Callum Roberts from the
University of York, UK, collected data on 3,235 different reef species such
as coral, snails and lobsters.
● The study showed that 18 coral reef hotspots where located (as shown the
last slide) and they cover 35% of the world’s total coral reef area but they
are home to more than 60% of rare and localized species, so they are high
on conservation priority.
● Southern Japan, followed by those in western Australia and the Gulf of
Guinea is one of the richest coral reef hotspot.
The Anatomy of Coral (Seb)
● When one uses the term coral, it is not in reference to the entire organism,
rather to the skeleton, which is grown due to the creation of a protein that
precipitates carbonate to form the characteristic skeleton.
● Ocean acidification causes coral to grow more slowly, and hence it is less
able to withstand high pressures that are found in the deep trenches of the
oceans.
● Many reef dwellers break apart fragments of the skeletons to feed on or
construct homes.
● This is called bioerosion - corals are constantly trying to grow faster than
they are broken apart, and in oceans permeated by high levels of CO2 the
skeletons not only grow more slowly but are also more susceptible to
bioerosion.
Coral Habitats (Min Jae)
● The four main factors that allow coral life to grow are: substantial
light, optimum temperature ((23-25◦C), but depends on species),
little sedimentation, and the right salinity.
● Corals need lots of light, and to obtain it they are normally in
shallow clear waters. Light is essential for the photosynthetic algae
called zooxanthellae.
● Corals are extremely sensitive to temperatures, as high
temperatures can cause bleaching.
● Salinity is measured by parts per thousand (ppt), and corals live in
around a narrow range of 30-40 ppt of salt.
Brief Overview of Rising Ocean Temperatures (Seb)
● Recent warming oceans have led to “the worst coral die off on record,” with
vast majorities of reefs in the Indian Ocean having disappeared due to the
greenhouse effect.
● Fish have been deprived of food and shelter as a result of the collapsing
coral reefs.
● This disaster has led to a massive decline in fish population (by as much as
half in some areas) due to coral bleaching.
● Although it is possible for coral to recover from coral bleaching, given the
circumstances this is unlikely for many of the coral reefs suffering from
this condition.
● A similar crisis was encountered in 1998 when “an El Niño weather pattern
sparked the worst coral bleaching event ever observed.”
Global Warming takes over the Coral
Reef (Sofia)
Australia's Great Barrier Reef—the world's largest coral reef—is a unique marine
ecosystem threatened by global warming. Damage to the reef could harm the region's
biodiversity, tourism, and fisheries.
● The reef has suffered coral bleaching occasions since 1979, by high water
temperatures. If there is enough time between bleaching events, the coral can often
recover. However, annual bleaching is expected by mid-century.Societies heattrapping releases continue at their current pace, thus leaving the reef vulnerable to
diseases from which it may not recover.
● Ocean acidification is expected to occur if atmospheric carbon dioxide surpasses
500 parts per million is likely to limit the capacity of the reef to recover from
bleaching events, and to cope with other stresses.
● Scientists project a significant loss of biodiversity within a decade, and at worst a 95
percent decrease in the distribution of Great Barrier Reef species by late this
century.
Bioerosion (Seb)
● Even the healthiest reefs are perpetually battling bioerosion, and due to
high CO2 levels corals are beginning to shrink, as they are unable to
overcome the destruction caused by ocean acidification.
● Millions of marine species rely on coral reefs, not only for food but also for
reproduction, to shelter larvae and to take refuge from predators; if reefs
begin to disappear it could threaten the majority of marine life as we know
it.
● According to Dr. Ken Caldeira, “There is at least a reasonable expectation
that if current carbon emission trends continue, corals will not survive this
century.”
History of Ocean Acidification (Aura)
● The Industrial Revolution was a huge era for human industry and
advancement, but this created a problem with the oceans pH. Through
the use of fossil fuel-powered machines carbon dioxide (CO2) and
other greenhouse gases were sent up into the atmosphere. But, CO2
has also been absorbed by the oceans. The massive production of
carbon dioxide is changing the oceans chemistry and affecting the life
cycles of marine life.
● Acidity is mainly found on the surface of oceans. Ocean acidification
has been proven to inhibit shell growth.
● According to Sabine et al. (2004) the ocean absorbs a third of human
made carbon dioxide since the 1800s, and approximately a half of CO2
by the burning of fossil fuels.
Ocean acidification (Min Jae)
● Coral reefs are extremely sensitive to pH, and more acidity prevents
coral from absorbing aragonite, a natural form of calcium
carbonate, dissolving their shells and hindering coral reefs from
growing skeletons.
● The CO₂ emitted by human activities is absorbed and reacted with
the water in the ocean: around one-third of carbon dioxide
produced into the atmosphere is absorbed by oceans, according to
Caldeira, K. in an investigation carried out by Stanford. This gives
the equation:
CO₂ + H₂O ⇄ H₂CO₃,
where H₂CO₃ (Carbonic acid) is formed, which dissolves carbonate
minerals that make up coral skeleton (Calcium carbonate).
Effects of Ocean acidification (Min Jae)
● The carbonic acid then releases bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, where
the hydrogen ions bond with other carbonate ions, forming other
bicarbonate ions.
● This prevents coral from absorbing free carbonate ions (that would
otherwise be used to make calcium carbonate for their skeletons) and
thus impedes coral from further growth, also known as calcification.
● Already, ocean pH levels have fallen from 8.179 to 8.069, and it is
presumed it will fall to a further 7.8 by the year 2100 (Royal Society).
● According to a study of Ricke, K and Caldeira, K, with current CO₂
emission rates, there will be no more ocean water with the chemical
properties that can sustain coral reef growth by 2100.This means that a
majority of shallow-water coral reef will die off by this time.
Coral Bleaching (Seb)
● Climate change increases oceanic temperatures, impacting and altering
coral reefs by inducing coral bleaching, an effect that turns coral white and
brittle.
● Coral is extremely sensitive to water temperature - thus, as the water
begins to warm, zooxanthellae (a photosynthetic algae that provides coral
with food and its exuberant colour) begin to leave its tissue, causing
brittleness and lack of coloration.
● Even a change of more than 1-2◦C can kill some coral species.
● As a result of its “bleaching,” white coral is prevented from combatting
disease and is more prone to cracking.
● Climate change is prompting exponential coral bleaching, and coral
bleaching will gradually become more common.
Recent Coral Bleaching Events (Seb)
● In 2005, the U.S. lost half of its coral reefs due to a coral bleaching
epidemic when the warm waters around the northern Antilles near
the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico expanded southward.
● Cold water temperatures can also cause coral bleaching; in 2010,
cold water temperatures in Florida Keys (a drop of approximately
12.06 degrees fahrenheit), also causing coral bleaching. The
scientists inferred that cold water temperatures also make coral
susceptible to disease.
● El Niño is “an abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the
eastern tropical Pacific.” In 1998, it hit the Indian Ocean with a
malevolent fury, inducing the bleaching of masses of coral reefs
that have since died off.
Sea Level Rise (Min Jae)
● Sea levels are rising due to climate change caused by
greenhouse gases: the warmer the globe becomes, the
more thermal expansion oceans will experience, and
more glaciers would melt, contributing to higher sea
levels.
● Current sea level rise is at 3 mm per year, and according
to the Third National Climate Assessment of 2014, it is
predicted that sea level will rise by 30-120 cm by 2100.
Effects of Sea level rise (Min Jae)
● Rising sea levels have a significant effect on coral reefs, as coral can live in
specific depths of sea (most live in shallow water). Many of the hermatypic
coral reefs are limited to about 70 metres below the water’s surface, mainly
due to the amount of light that can penetrate the sea.
● As sea levels rise, corals have to continue ‘climbing’ up in order to receive
more light. However, with normal coral growth rates, this is not a
significant problem, but with many other factors inhibiting coral growth
(ocean acidification, warming waters), coral growth is slowed, therefore
rising sea levels can cause some damage to coral colonies.
● Furthermore, with rising sea levels, there may be more sedimentation due
to increased shoreline erosion: this means that sediments can block
sunlight, hindering zooxanthellae growth.
Ways to help preserve coral life (Aura)
Everyone can help preserve coral life everyday by:
1.
Conserving water - The less water used, the
less runoff and wastewater will pollute the
oceans. Also, the less freshwater used, helps
keep more water in streams and in other
water bodies for plants and animals.
2. The 3 R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle) - Any
kind of litter pollutes the water and coral
life. By reducing, reusing and recycling,
water pollution is reduced.
3. Conserving electricity - Turn off the lights
when not in use as this helps decrease
greenhouse gasses.
4. Reducing pollution - Another way to reduce
greenhouse gasses is by walking, riding a bike,
or riding the bus. Also, fossil fuel emissions
from cars lead to ocean warming which causes
mass-bleaching of corals and may even lead to
the destruction of reefs.
5. Using ecological/organic fertilizers Chemicals flow onto the water system and
enter the ocean, polluting and harming coral
reefs and other marine life.
6. Planting a tree - Trees reduce runoffs and
through photosynthesis, they take in carbon
dioxide and release oxygen into the air.
Oxygen that both land and marine life need
for survival.
Links/References
Min Jae: http://carnegiescience.edu/news/coral_reefs_unlikely_survive_acid_oceans
https://carnegiescience.edu/news/major_changes_needed_coral_reef_survival
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/managing-the-reef/threats-to-the-reef/climate-change/how-climate-change-can-affect-thereef/ocean-acidification
Seb: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/warming-coral.html
http://www.teachoceanscience.net/teaching_resources/education_modules/coral_reefs_and_climate_change/how_does_clima
te_change_affect_coral_reefs/
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/nino/intro.html
Walle: http://www.livescience.com/40276-coral-reefs.html http://www.mbgnet.net/salt/coral/where.htm
http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/coralreef.html
http://www.teachoceanscience.net/teaching_resources/education_modules/coral_reefs_and_climate_change/what_is_a_coral
/
http://www.reefs2go.com/category/sea_life.corals/
http://www.naturefoundationsxm.org/education/coral_reefs/kinds_of_coral.htm
Link/References
Aura: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/coralreefs/ways-to-help-coral-reefs/index.htm
http://www.teachoceanscience.net/teaching_resources/education_modules/coral_reefs_and_climate_change/how_c
an_you_help_coral_reefs/
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/
http://www.teachoceanscience.net/teaching_resources/education_modules/coral_reefs_and_climate_change/how_d
oes_climate_change_affect_coral_reefs/
Sofia: Oceans “The worlds last wilderness reavealed” By: Fabien Cousteau
http://oceana.org/en/explore/marine-wildlife/table-coral
http://oceana.org/en/explore/marine-wildlife/daisy-coral http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fishsupplies.cfm?c=597+598
http://www.arkive.org/devonshire-cup-coral/caryophyllia-smithii/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_coral