Aimen Izhar, Green Blogger.
Coral reefs are now declining in the U.S and around
the globe. Many scientist believe that’s the existence of coral reefs is now in
danger due to not taking immediate actions to protect the coral reefs. The
threats to coral reef come from both global and local sources. The most coral
reefs occur near the shoreline that’s why human activities are directly
effecting the existence of coral reefs.
“Coral reefs are the backbone
of the entire ocean system. They are the nursery for the ocean”.
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem which characterized by reef-building corals. Coral
reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps which held together by calcium
carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals. The main types of
coral reefs are fringing reefs, barrier reefs, patch reefs and atolls reefs.
Coral reefs are dying around the world. Damaging
activities include coral mining, pollution, overfishing, blast fishing, the
digging of canals. Other dangers include disease, destructive fishing practices
and warming oceans. The main factors which effect the coral reefs are
atmospheric changes, ultraviolet light, ocean acidification, viruses,
sedimentation and other pollutants, plastics etc. Reefs are threatened well
beyond coastal areas. Climate change, such as warming temperatures, causes
coral bleaching which causes the corals to kill.
The sediments deposition on the reefs can smother
the reefs structure and interfere with the ability of their reproduction,
growth and feed. Nutrients from the agriculture runoff or from wastewater
discharge may effect the coral reef structure because the reefs are adopted to
lower levels of nutrients so high level of nutrients may trigger their growth
rate which ultimately effect the other marine life.
There should be proper maintenance for the
healthy environment of coral reefs because they are providing variety of life in
the ocean by giving nutrients, food and shelter to many living organisms in the
ocean as well as they are important for human being for their fish for food.
Immediate measures should be taken to avoid the pollution in the ocean system.
“The greatest danger to our
planet is the belief that h someone else will save it”.
About the Author: Aimen
Izhar is a student of environmental sciences at GCWUS. She finds her keen
interests in writing for environment and climate.
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