Step 3: Research Draft #1

Coral Catastrophe

As the death toll rises, science falls behind. Deaths occur every day, but none as devastating as the multi-use coral. Coral have been around for millions of years supplying the world with many of its essentials, but after all those years, disease, pollution, and human interaction have made an enormous impact on the coral colonies, causing death. Science is trying hard to keep up with the constant changes in coral and the amount of death it has. Although it is a race against the clocks, it is important to save the coral reefs because they provide shelter for aquatic animals, have medicinal uses, and protect coastal communities against storms.

Coral itself is a living creature. Coral can be found in many different formations and this is why it can be found in many oceans across the world. It provides habitats for marine life throughout most oceans around the world. As a habitat it provides thousands of species with shelter, food and protection against enemies. The different species of fish that the live in the coral, also reproduce in the coral. They use the coral as a safeguard against predators where their eggs will be kept safe. Without coral these thousands of species wouldn’t have the means to survive. Aside from being a center of life for many of the thriving populations below the sea, coral draws huge attention as a magnificent sight for tourists to come see. Each year travelers come from around the world to scuba dive and snorkel along shores with coral reefs. Not only do tourists swim alongside the coral but marine biologists do as well. The reef fish and mollusks that live in the coral feed about 30 to 40 million people every year(Skoloff 2008). Coral is a fascinating life form that draws many researchers to ocean depths to try to understand its structure and uses.
Coral is absolutely necessary for not only life underwater, but life on land as well. It and its inhabitants have many medicinal uses. Many of the marine animals that are housed by the coral are immobile. Since they are unable to flee from danger, they produce toxins that ward off predators. These toxins happen to have other uses as well, such as histamines, hormones, and antibiotics that are used by pharmaceutical companies. It is essential that the reefs are kept alive, because with the loss of these reefs, very important medicines will not be able to be produced again. The medicines produced have also been proven to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS, cancer, asthma, and arthritis. Many tests and studies have been undergone to artificially produce the same things produced by the corals and its inhabitants. There are still numerous ocean regions teeming with life that have yet to be discovered. The new species found there could hold the cures for many of the diseases fought today.
Coral also protect communities against storms. They act as a barrier, thus the name The Great Barrier Reef. It slows the storm down and lessons the blow to the coast. Tsunamis with massive swells are dampened by the reef, slowing down the water and its fast currents. A large part of the destruction of the reefs is caused by nature, but scientists say that reefs that have had human interaction are less likely to survive than those hit by hurricanes or tsunamis. The coral that protects the coastal communities is dwindling away for numerous reasons. A few of these are overfishing, pollution, and rising sea temperatures caused by global warming.

The coral reefs are at the most risk due to human interaction and their fishing. Humans who try to take coral as a souvenir or just touch it while they are snorkeling cause a great amount of damage to the reefs, mainly their polyps. They are extremely fragile and even the smallest of disturbances can affect them. Humans try different tactics to catch fish, such as dynamite, poison, and large nets. All of these cause damage to the reefs, killing them in most cases. Fishermen drop anchor on the reef or fish away the ecosystem that keeps the coral alive.

Pollution is another significant factor that contributes to the coral death. Waste is dumped into the ocean, debris floats out to sea, and trash is thrown in the water at the beach. The pollution blocks the sunlight the coral thrives on to produce photosynthesis by their symbiotic algae(Climate 2007). If everyone were to pick up at least one piece of trash on earth, the coral would have a fighting chance.

The coral and their symbiotic algae are extremely sensitive to the temperature. Global warming affects the water temperature, causing it to fluctuate. Small but prolonged rises in sea temperature force coral colonies to expel their symbiotic, food-producing algae, a process known as bleaching. Bleaching is hard to recover from, but it possible. 90% of the coral in the Indian Ocean is bleached(Mark 2008). In order to stop this, humans need to reduce the production of greenhouse gases.

There are hundreds of organizations who are helping to fight the battle against coral death. They do research and studies, providing results that are crucial to saving the coral. Many scientists have started growing coral in baskets out in the ocean so it cannot be harmed by the predators or humans. These small steps aid the coral colonies immensely.
The reefs are an essential part of the earth. They provide so much and we give back so little. The coral reefs must be saved. The more involved each and every person gets, the slower the reefs will die. Perhaps they will even make a comeback! If the present rate of destruction continues, 70% of the world's coral reefs will be destroyed by the year 2050(Oliver 2007). Coral are immensely fascinating organisms that are dying quickly. Science is unable to keep up with the rate at which it is dying. Coral destruction is a fight that everyone must take part in. Coral is needed on this planet or all hell will break loose.





Works Cited

"Climate change." (n.d.). 10 Apr. 2007. TOPICsearch. EBSCO. University of Alaska Fairbanks Rasmuson Library, Fairbanks, AK. 15 Oct. 2008 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tth&AN=9FY1624323164&site=ehost-live.

Mark Henderson Science Editor. 9 June 2008. "Global warming making sea an 'acid bath'." (n.d.). TOPICsearch. EBSCO.University of Alaska Fairbanks Rasmuson Library, Fairbanks, AK. 15 Oct. 2008 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tth&AN=7EH2149143007&site=ehost-live.

Oliver, Rachel. "All About: Coral Reefs." CNN: EcoSolutions. 11 Dec. 2007. CNN. 15 Oct. 2008 http://www.cnn.com/2007/business/12/10/reefs.canaries/index.html?section=cnn_latest.

Skoloff, Brian. "NOAA report: US coral reefs in severe decline." SFGate.com. 7 July 2008.SFC.15 Oct. 2008 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/07/national/a140231d01.dtl&type=printable.