29, July 2022

Unit 6 Part 1 Scenario Activity: Coral Reefs

Short Answer Questions

1. Describe in detail, some direct coral reef threats that exist.

Overfishing, which has harmed 55 percent of the world's coral reefs, is one of the coral

reef threats that exist today, whether we live near an ocean or thousands of miles away.

When fish populations decline, particularly those that feed on phytoplankton, algae can

proliferate uncontrollably, suffocating corals. Other unsustainable fishing practices, such

as blast fishing, can destroy an entire section of coral reefs biologically; for example, a

single blast destroys 64 square feet (5.9 square meters) of coral reef.

Agricultural runoff negatively impacts 25% of the world's coral reefs.

Sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste discharge are all examples of

wastewater on coral reefs. When wastewater enters the ocean, chemicals and phages that

are harmful to coral reefs and humans are introduced. It also transports nutrients, which

can aid in the growth of algae. Furthermore, sediment that enters the ocean through

runoff can block the sunlight required by corals to survive.

Unsustainable tourist revenue and commercial fishing can harm coral reefs in the long

run. Touching or standing on a coral reef, as well as constructing buildings and roads too

close to the coastline, can instantly damage a thousand-year-old reef. Unsustainable

boating practices, such as anchoring on a reef, can also have disastrous consequences for

the environment.

2. Describe in detail, some global coral threats that exist.

 The majority of corals have a low temperature tolerance. When temperatures reach

dangerously high levels, corals expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live inside

them, turning white and losing an important food source. Corals can survive bleaching

events, but they are more vulnerable to infection and will die if the maritime hot weather

lasts for an extended period of time.

Corals are expected to end up in deep oceans, where they will receive less sunlight

(essential for their food source) and grow at a slower rate. As coastlines erode, river

pollution and sedimentation may have a greater impact on corals.

As sea surface temperatures rise, hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons that cause coral reef

damage become more powerful. Heavy rainfall from storms can also erode coastal lands,

resulting in more polluted runoff into the ocean.

3. What is the scope of the problem – is it getting better or worse? What is being done to

combat some of the issues that you discussed?

The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) released its latest international

report on the status, trends, and predicted futures of the world's coral reefs on October 5,

2021. After analyzing nearly 2 million observations collected in 73 countries, one clear

message emerged: coral reefs are in trouble.

Unfortunately, research from around the world indicates that many reefs are declining

rather than flourishing. This decline is primarily the result of large-scale coral bleaching

events, which first caught the attention of scientists in 1998 and have since become a

regular occurrence. Warming ocean temperatures caused by climate change can cause
bleaching, endangering coral reef health. Coral reefs, after all, are strong and resilient, but

they are also undeniably vulnerable, and we must act now to save them.