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Rising ocean temperatures due to global warming is affecting great barrier coral reef and may significantly affect the whole ecosystem. Temperature plays important role in influencing distribution and diversity of sea life. It is crucial to coral reef building and controlling its growth.
Like various marine creatures, coral reefs have also grown and adapted to the limited temperature rates. When the temperature exceeds the normal temperature, the thermal stress causes them to evict the algae within their tissues. This causes coral bleaching and with constant stress the corals may in due course starve and die.
Given below are the Impacts of Rising Temperature on Coral Reefs:
Rise in temperature of the ocean increases the severity and frequency of coral bleaching events. Warming seas also result in increasing coral diseases.
Catastrophic ice melting due to rising ocean temperatures may increase the global sea levels which may greatly affect coral reefs. The rising sea levels may cause increased coral sedimentation due to increase in shoreline erosion which would damage coral reefs.
Tropical storms may severely affect and damage the coral reef ecosystems by causing significant damage to the reef structure and increasing runoff from the land leading to an increase in sedimentation.
Ocean currents get affected by the change in temperature, wind, rainfall and salinity due to global warming. It can affect the temperature routines, movement of larvae and transport of toxins that negatively affect thermally sensitive species such as coral reefs.
Bleached corals are likely to increase vulnerability to diseases, elevate mortality rates, reduce growth rates, and decrease reproductive ability. Changes in coral communities affect the species that depend on them for food, shelter and habitat. When corals die due to coral bleaching there is change in coral community composition. There may also be decline in diversity of species when corals die.
Ocean acidification adversely effects on the rate at which corals calcify. This leads coral societies to become brittle and less resistant to the factors affecting their survival. Chemical pollutants in the oceans make coral habitat scarce and less appropriate. Sometimes when the coral dies it is replaced by non-calcifying organisms.
Climate change may raise the disturbance regime of coral reefs, and the destiny of coral reef ecosystem will ultimately be determined by their potential of recovery and resilience.
Ways to Prevent Destruction of Coral Reefs
Here’s how we can help reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to stop further deterioration of coral reefs:
Reduce, recycle or reuse.
Drive less, use public transport or share transport frequently.
Use energy efficient bulbs and appliances.
Print less as much as possible and download instead.
Do not throw away household waste and chemicals in drains.
Volunteer for beach and seaside cleanups.
The rising temperature is a major threat to the coral reefs and marine life. The severity will result in rising sea levels, frequent flooding and storms that will not only damage coral reef system but entire marine life. There is a serious need to control the rising temperature as it has already caused major destruction of coral reefs. Protecting oceans as a whole is vital to help corals maintain resiliency in case of threat in the future.