Continuing my involvement in the AtoZ Challenge … and bringing in my passion and concerns for our oceans …
C is for Coral
Reef life off of Little Cayman island, Cayman Islands, Caribbean sea | RF-9582, Nikon D700, Nauticam housing
Everyone knows (or should know) that the El Niño for 2015/2016 continues to set records in adding stress to a system already under significant pressure from global climate change. With ocean temperatures and acidification from CO2 rising, combined with stressors from overfishing and polutant runoffs, our coral reef systems face unprecedented risks. Oceanic acidification is dropping at a rate and to levels not experienced by marine life for over 20 million years! Corals offer a clear visual indicator of the changes in our oceans as bleaching events continue on the rise.
When people think of corals, they probably know of their vibrant colors. These colors come from marine algae called zooxanthellae that have a symbiotic relationship with the coral structure. Healthy, thriving reefs are the most colorful, with a population of healthy fish and other marine life. When corals become stressed, they basically kick out these friendly algae, leaving them with a “bleached” appearance. The rest of the neighborhood tends to go with it.
I have witnessed it myself in many of the areas that my wife and I have gone diving. It is an incredibly sad sight to see when you have seen other areas being so vibrant and healthy in the past. Just take a look at these examples captured by the Seaview Survey project..and this is happening all over the world.
Coral bleaching in Hawaii, image courtesy SeaView Survey
American Samoa reef, image courtesy SeaView Survey
So what can people do? I think supporting policies to protect the oceans and the threats against them is not only a necessity, but should be mandatory for public office holders. Scientists estimate the world has lost close to 50% of our reefs in the past 30 years alone, and 100% of the remaining reefs are currently under stress.
“No water, no life. No blue, no green.” ~ Sylvia Earle
Yikes, that sucks. I wish we all took active care of life around us.
Indeed!
Sadly, those of us who understand and are concerned with the changes are a minority still. It will take a large outcry and movement to make the difference and I am fearful that it will come too late. Societies have moved rapidly to instant gratification which means that people are all too interested in their immediate needs and comforts and many are unwilling to sacrifice for global improvement. The vast majority don’t notice how things are changing and at some point there will come a dramatic natural response to what we have been doing. It will not be pretty.
I’d like to think that images such as yours will make a difference, but I have always been a pessimist and remain so.
Unfortunately I tend to lean more to the pessimistic side as well Steve. When you see how difficult it is for people to come together on an issue in our own country, it doesn’t bode well for coming together across nations and vastly different cultures. Still, I know not doing anything will certainly seal our fate, so I look towards those that still maintain some hope for inspiration.
It’s amazing how little people think about these changes – excepting the people that deny them outright. The ecological changes are scary, and so are the rising sea levels – on the east coast of the US, and many other places worldwide.
I would be very concerned if I lived near a coastline in Florida or many of the southern states. I heard a story on the radio the other day that folks in Miami already have to be concerned on a daily basis where they park their cars. It just goes to show this is here, right now.
Yes, a sad situation and scary too. I often wonder if the elimination/death of these micro-organisms might eventually reach a tipping point effect where the whole eco-system begins to quickly collapse.
It would lead to a collapse of the food chain Brooks. Global fisheries are already seeing the impacts of unsustainable practices. Every time a new type of fish becomes all the rage, it is usually because the old ones can’t be found anymore.
So sad to see. What the scientists are telling us is the decline in our natural world is happening rapidly and so many people do not want to accept that change. If we are distant from it then we to not acknowledge it. Sad.
It a same this is happening to our waters. I do like coral photography because of the colours. It’s another world under there and we need to look after it.
AGCreativeBlog
Sad situation indeed