Human factors like global warming, pollution and sedimentation contribute to the destruction of coral reefs, which are referred to as ‘the rainforests of the sea’.
A coral organism or coral polyp is a small, soft-bodied marine organism. It is a marine invertebrate (i.e. it lacks a backbone). A community of coral organisms or coral polyps is known as a coral reef.
Coral reefs host billions of zooxanthellae algae, which are very colourful. The colour of the coral reef depends on the colour of the zooxanthellae algae. Coral polyps are actually translucent. Corals have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. They derive most of their nutrients from the by-products of the algae’s photosynthesis. Human factors like global warming, pollution and sedimentation contribute to the destruction of coral reefs. If there is temperature change or pollution, the corals experience stress, causing them to evict the zooxanthellae algae. This, in turn, causes coral bleaching, since it is the algae which give corals their characteristic bright hues. When corals lose the algae, they will also lose most of their nutrients, causing them to die eventually. If the stress is mitigated then the process of coral bleaching is reversed, and the corals survive.
Coral reefs are referred to as ‘the rainforests of the sea. They cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, but support around 25 percent of marine creatures. So, the loss of coral reefs is a cause of great concern to the global community, and we should take necessary steps to prevent this loss.
QUICK FACTS
- Corals cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, but support around 25 percent of marine creatures.
- Pollution or temperature change causes corals to experience stress and evict the zooxanthellae algae, which leads to coral bleaching.
- Did you know that the process of coral bleaching can be reversed?
Picture Credit : Google