© Richard Chesher |
Ecosystem services are services produced through nature that directly and indirectly benefit humanity and support the entire Earth, such as purifying water, cycling nutrients, pollinating plants, or sequestering carbon. The importance
of coral reefs cannot be understated; in terms of ecosystem services they
provide habitat for an estimated 25-40% of discovered marine organism
biodiversity (many of which are captured by us), aid in the protection of beach
erosion, and - most importantly to many - serve as an excellent source of recreation. It should be mentioned
that coral ecosystem’s biodiversity is unequaled in its genetic diversity also,
providing key components of potential lifesaving compounds, such as those that
fight some of the “worst infectious bacterial strains”, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
But the coral
reefs are at a greater risk of loss now than they have ever been in recorded
history. A large amount of this blame rests on the shoulders of humanity in
what has been informally termed the “Anthropocene” epoch by geologists and
environmentalists. Increased ocean temperatures, mainly from increased
greenhouse gas emissions by humans, and overfishing are two detrimental human-caused
factors.
Readings of the carbon dioxide levels from May 2nd-7th, 2013 from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the Mauna Loa Observatory. |
Greenhouse gas
changes caused by humans includes the majorly increased levels of carbon
dioxide, stemming mainly from burning fuels based on carbon, like natural gas,
oil, coal and wood. The increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cannot all
be taken up in the usual chain of events, including photosynthesis that
converts CO2 into organic carbon. The excess carbon dioxide is absorbed by the
ocean, interacting with the seawater to create carbonic acid, which in turn
decreases pH and affects the resident organisms. On May 7th of this
year, the carbon dioxide levels of the Mauna Loa Observatory reached 400 ppm – frightening, considering that the
last time carbon dioxide levels were this high was nearly 2.5 million years ago and far higher than the pre-industrial
280 ppm.
The increase in
acidity and temperature of the ocean is detrimental to coral reefs. Why?
Because of the reefs symbiotic relationship with the algae known as zooxanthallae.
When at healthy oceanic levels, the algae provide the coral polyps with oxygen,
fats and sugars, which the coral then utilize for cellular respiration. The algae
also provide the coral with its trademark bright colors. Cellular respiration
creates CO2 and water, which the algae use for photosynthesis. To simplify this
relationship, take a look at the animation on the right:
When coral
polyps come under the stress of decreased pH and increased temperature, they
may expel the zooxanthallae from
their cells. This leads to the coral bleaching, the tell-tale sign of the algal
expulsion. When coral bleaching occurs, the coral is weakened and therefore
more susceptible to diseases and bacterial or viral infections [1].
Australian researchers have found an incredible way to measure the stress of
corals. Recently, these researchers released a paper in Ecology and Evolution, discussing that hemoglobin protein gene has
been found in the microalgae living with the coral that may be able to measure
physiological stress, determining that “[hemoglobin] patterns can be affected
by a number of factors including hypoxia, organogenesis, pathogen infection and
ontogenesis” [2].
This could be
potentially useful for conservation efforts and even industries to gauge the
stress levels of the coral and their algal partners (and perhaps someday be
able to intercept the seemingly doomed corals before bleaching occurs).
Professor Hoegh-Guldberg of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
(CoECRS), describes the use of hemoglobin as a “potential…
biomarker” capable of supplying “a clear readout of stress levels in the corals
and their symbiotic algae”.
When first
discovered, scientists believed that there was only one species of algal
symbiont for all species of corals. That idea has been dispelled with the discovery
of multiple groups of zooxanthallae, with a variety of different features and
habitat preferences – including higher ocean temperatures thresholds. Dr.
Andrew Baker of University of Miami, seen in the video below, and his associates are looking
into this variation to find a way to prevent the coral from expelling the
zooxanthallae in higher temperatures [3]. In laboratory tests, they have been
artificially bleaching coral and then exposing it to ‘Clade
D’ – a thermal resistant zooxanthallae variation – in an attempt to swap
out the original symbiont for one that could survive in increased temperatures.
In theory, this could be utilized in coral reefs that are beginning to
experience increased ocean temperatures or to coral larvae that are
artificially inserted in restoration areas.
Could you
imagine if future conservationist could one day be able to monitor the stress
levels of at-risk coral reefs (via the hemoglobin biomarkers mentioned
previously) and introduce thermal resistant zooxanthallae in time to save them?
Climate change
caused by human interaction is of huge importance to the destruction of coral
habitats, but it is not the only cause of the “Anthropocene”. Overfishing of the
coral itself and its inhabitants for consumption and decorum haunt the once
flourishing reefs. Trawling of the ocean floor wipes out entire reef habitats,
as does dynamite and cyanide fishing.
How
do we raise concern for the preservation of Earth’s coral reefs?
TED Fellow and
socio-ecological artist Colleen Flanigan
has teamed up with the Global Coral Reef Alliance (GCRA) to fuse art,
technology and conservation together to help raise awareness and promote the
salvation of coral and its inhabitants. Since 2004, she has worked with GCRA
and Biorock® using her background in design, gardening, and metalworking to
“bring visibility to the problem”. Her main emphasis being that people may be
inspired once they are able to interact with the beauty of a sculpted “coral
refuge”.
Coral Skirt Biorock® sculpture transplanted to reef in Bali. © colleenflanigan.com |
Biorock®
utilizes electrolysis to literally pull minerals necessary to calcify the shell
of coral polyps to the metal framework, which once coral is transplanted to the
metal frame increases growth rapidly. In her TEDtalk Coral Restoration: Cultivating Mutual
Symbiosis, she enters
the TEDx stage in Monterey, California in a costume resembling a mix between a
jellyfish and a coral reef. Just great (see image below).
Getting ready to go onstage for her TEDx Talk in Monterey, CA. © TED. |
This
implementation of beauty in the conservation of coral reefs may be the key to
unlocking universal compassion and bring about more aggressive efforts to
maintain coral reefs, which as mentioned earlier are extremely important for
marine biodiversity, protection against erosion, and human recreation.
To learn more
about the efforts of Colleen and the GCRA off of the coast of Mexico, visit
their website. Want to learn how to get involved? Take a look at the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic & Atmosphere Administration's website, or opt to volunteer in the Florida Keys with expert divers through the Coral Restoration Foundation to transplant coral buds. Not looking to get that involved? Check out the Nature Conservancy's 10 easy ways to help preserve the reefs.
Citations:
Citations:
Peer-Reviewed Articles:
- [1] Jones, R., Bower, J., Hoegh-Guldberg, O. & Blackall, L., 2004. Dynamics of a temperature-related coral disease outbreak. Marine Ecology Progress Series 281, 63-77.
- [2] Baker, A., Glynn, P. & Riegl, B., 2008. Climate change and coral reef bleaching: An ecological assessment of long-term impacts, recovery trends and future outlook. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci., 1-37.
- [3] Baker, A. 2003. Flexibility and specificity in coral-algal symbiosis: Diversity, ecology, and biogeography of Symbiodinium, The Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics Online, 34, 661-689.
Media:
- NOAA, “Coral as Medicine”. NOAA Coral Conservation Program: http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/medicine/
- Walker, R. “Holy Holocene, It’s the Anthropocene”. Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-walker/its-the-anthropocene_b_3149135.html
- Biello, D. “400 PPM: Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere Reaches Prehistoric Levels”. Scientific American Blog: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/05/09/400-ppm-carbon-dioxide-in-the-atmosphere-reaches-prehistoric-levels/
- ARC Centre of Excellence. “‘Blood Test’ for Crook Corals”. ARC Centre of Excellence Coral Reef Studies: http://www.coralcoe.org.au/news/blood-test-for-crook-corals
- The PEW Charitable Trust. “Helping Corals to Survive Climate Change and Warming Oceans” Research Program Project Details of Marine Fellow Andrew Baker: http://www.pewenvironment.org/research-programs/marine-fellow/id/8589941790/project-details
- TED Fellows Profiles. “Colleen Flanigan”. TED: http://fellows.ted.com/profiles/colleen-flanigan
- NOAA, “Get Involved”. NOAA Coral Conservation Program: http://coralreef.noaa.gov/getinvolved/
- Coral Restoration Foundation, “Get Involved”. Coral Restoration Foundation: http://www.coralrestoration.org/get-involved/
- The Nature Conservancy, “10 East Steps to Help Protect Coral Reefs”. The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/coralreefs/ways-to-help-coral-reefs/index.htm
Videos:
- "Coral Restoration: Cultivating Mutual Symbiosis". Colleen Flanigan TEDx Monterey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj0Ymr2DzUY
- "Heat Resistant Zooxanthellae". Dr. Andrew Baker with Reef Resilience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Qq0KyNmlo
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