Blue planet sea of life coral seas
![blue planet sea of life coral seas blue planet sea of life coral seas](http://cdn.smartfile.co.kr/2015/05/25/71b2ec106d0aee04075a444ce6d776141432556726.jpg)
OK, so coral reefs support fish (no surprises there then). Coastal fishing industries would collapse And, like a domino effect, many fish, turtles and other creatures would disappear. If their homes disappeared, marine biodiversity would suffer immensely. For these creatures, the reef provides essential food, shelter and the spawning grounds needed for their species’ survival. That’s well over 1 million species that live in and depend upon coral reefs around the world. There’s a reason why coral reefs are known as the ‘rainforests of the sea.’ Despite covering less than 1% of the ocean, they provide essential habitat for 25% (yes, one quarter!) of all marine life. This is what a world without them could look like: 25% of marine life would lose their habitat
![blue planet sea of life coral seas blue planet sea of life coral seas](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1200x675/p05rth6m.jpg)
The threats to our coral reefs are very real. So, what would happen if there were no coral reefs?īy now, you might have guessed that this “what if” question isn’t just some over-the-top scenario. If the algae does not return to its coral host within a short period of time, the coral will be left without its main food source and, so, won’t survive. When stressed, they’re forced to abandon their coral host, leaving the reef bleached white. Incidentally, it’s these algae that give the coral their amazing colour (as well as their main source of food). These conditions are bad news for the tiny algae that live within the coral. Coral bleaching happens as a result of these changes in temperature, nutrient and mineral levels in the water. This can lead to coral bleaching, which is a very big problem (just look at the Great Barrier Reef). Stressors such as overfishing, pollution and unsustainable tourism practices are some of the threats that our coral reefs face today.Ĭompounding these is the growing threat of climate change and rising ocean temperatures. Despite the many wonderful benefits they bring us, coral reefs are extremely vulnerable to human activity and rapidly changing conditions. But that doesn’t mean they’ll go on forever. Instead, they grow wood-like cores for support and they thrive in nutrient rich waters.Īstonishingly, some of our planet’s reefs have been growing for a whopping 50 million years. They don’t have stony skeletons like the hard coral. Think of these as the building blocks of coral reefs! Soft coral, on the other hand, is much more floaty, plant-like and, well, soft! This is the type of coral you’ll see colourfully swaying with the ocean current. Hard coral is created when polyps take the calcium from the water and transform it into big skeletal, limestone structures. These little fellas – distant relatives of jellyfish and anemones – are crucial in forming both the hard and soft coral that we find in our reefs. The reefs that we see in our seas are created by huge colonies of organisms called coral polyps. But what exactly is a coral reef? Well, to put it simply, it’s a living creature. They come in all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes. What exactly is a coral reef?Ĭoral reefs are found in over 100 countries around the world, often in shallow, tropical waters. Read on to find out what a world without coral would look like and what we can all do to make sure this hypothetical scenario doesn't become a reality. There’s no getting around it time is running out for our precious reefs.īut what would actually happen if there were no coral reefs left in the world? The answer is pretty grim.
![blue planet sea of life coral seas blue planet sea of life coral seas](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/94ccd26a-d879-45de-8bdb-241fa55b4057_1.32ceed36b9fd0d64ab3ded86a2cffbfe.jpeg)
But did you know that over half of coral reefs have already been lost and what remains of them is at risk of rapid extinction? In fact, scientists at 2020’s Ocean Sciences Meeting estimated that more than 90% of all coral reefs are expected to die by 2050 ( The Guardian).