Threats facing the coral reefs

They also give the coral reefs their technical hues. Poor waters in term of nutrients they coral reefs have benefited since there is a lot of sugars and amino acids being produced. Unfortunately, the temperature of the water has risen; this has lead to the algae turning toxic which has left the coral reefs without nutrients to feed on thus causing it to bleach. This put the ecosystem at a great risk. Though in case of the water temperature falls the coral reefs may retain their health. Coral reefs cover at most only one percent of the ocean floor. They are habitats for twenty-five percent of all the fish species. Fish consuming coral reefs for survival are greatly harvested since most people feed on them.

In the developing countries, this activity has contributed to the growth of the economy through trade and tourism. Recently coral reefs have faced severe threats due to the over warming of the ocean waters which has been caused by the gradual climate change. This is called ocean acidification. It is important to research on this topic since one will discover the impacts of coral reefs. We learn the coral reefs are important to our economy since they attract tourist all over the world to come and enjoy the beauty of corals, thus earning the country an income. They also used to manufacture medicines for human beings. They also provide habitats for many fish species and ray their eggs. It has caused the ocean acidification and also the climate change.

Although it has reduced the global warming it is affecting the ocean negatively. Climatic changes affect the growth of coral reefs by the rise of sea levels which has increased sedimentation which has caused the smoothening of the coral reefs. Also through warming of the ocean whereby it leads to thermal stress that contributes to coral decolorizing and diseases that are contagious. Again it changes the patterns of the storms cause storms that are of high intensity and occur frequently which end up destroying coral reefs in the ocean. This will cause the bleaching of the coral reef which will destroy its growth. Dynamite fishing is also a way that hinders the growth of coral reefs where it is a method where dynamite, explosives that are made at home, or even grenades are thrown in the water.

It is a method that kills the fish around their blasting area where not only fish shelter so they end up getting killed together with the coral reefs. It even damaged the shelter of the remaining fish. Fishing through gears will also destroy the coral reef through physical contact with the coral parts. The industrial project has greatly contributed to the acidification of the ocean waters. In the past, calcium carbonate production conditions were relatively very stable underneath the water because the ions of the carbonate were at supersaturated levels of concentrations. The ionic level of concentration started to reduce which has made the carbonate become unsaturated which lead it to start dissolving in the ocean waters. When corals reefs will experience enhanced dissolution when they come in to contact with carbon dioxide.

This will affect the coral reef by weakening its skeleton or even hinder its creation any more. Some of these wastes consume oxygen in the ocean this leads to eutrophication leading to the killing of coral reefs and the species that live in the reefs. It can also introduce pathogens which causes infections in the ocean fans which has linked to the coral reef disease the white coral. There are several things that can be implemented to curb coral bleaching. One of the things is by avoiding to caught coral reefs and even damage the marine animals. Also, you should avoid disposing of trash into the water that may harm the marine life. "Coral bleaching: causes and consequences. " Coral reefs 16. 1 (1997): S129-S138 Hughes, Terry P.