Have you snorkeled underwater and noticed that some of the colorful coral is now sickly white? This is known as coral bleaching, and it’s becoming a big problem for the ocean’s ecosystem. In fact, more than 75% of the world’s reefs experienced heat stress at mass bleaching levels between 2014 and 2017.
Coral bleaching can seem like an isolated issue, but it has a variety of causes and only furthers the damage of climate change. The good news is that it’s not too late to reverse the damage we’ve done to the environment.
This article illuminates what causes coral bleaching. We can better understand what we can do to help this process come to a halt. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Rising Water Temperatures
What is coral bleaching? Coral bleaching occurs when the symbiotic algae that live inside the coral are expelled, turning the coral’s tissues white.
When water temperatures rise, the algae that live in coral tissues produce toxins that cause the coral to expel them. This process makes it more susceptible to disease. Coral cannot live without the algae that live in their tissues, and so if the bleaching process is not reversed, the coral will eventually die.
Blue acan coral is a type of coral that is susceptible to bleaching. If you’re looking for blue acan coral for tank, you can check here.
Pollutants in the Water
Pollution can cause coral bleaching in two ways: by introducing harmful chemicals into the water or by causing an increase in sedimentation. The chemicals can be toxins that damage the coral, or they can inhibit the growth of the symbiotic algae. The increased sedimentation can smother the coral, preventing it from getting the light and nutrients it needs to thrive.
Some common pollutants that can cause coral bleaching are pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers from agricultural runoff. These pollutants can cause an overgrowth of algae on the coral, which stresses the coral and causes it to get rid of the algae. Oil and fuel spills can also cause coral bleaching by contaminating the water and stressing the coral.
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
UV radiation can cause coral bleaching by damaging the DNA of the coral’s algae. This damage prevents the algae from photosynthesizing, which is how they produce food for the coral. Without food, the coral will eventually die.
UV radiation can also cause coral bleaching by harming the coral’s
Symbiodinium algae. These algae are essential to the coral, providing them with food and oxygen. When the algae are damaged, the coral becomes bleached.
In severe cases, coral bleaching can lead to the death of the coral.
Overfishing
Overfishing disturbed the delicate balance between the fish and the coral. The fish eat the algae that live on the coral, and without them, the coral starves.
This makes it very susceptible to bleaching, which is when it turns white. The coral also gets very weak and can break easily.
Learn More About What Causes Coral Bleaching Guide
Coral reefs are a vital part of the marine ecosystem, but they are at threat from coral bleaching. What causes coral bleaching? Coral bleaching causes many stressors, including rising water temperatures, pollution, UV radiation, and overfishing.
In this coral bleaching guide, to help protect coral reefs, it is important to reduce our impact on the environment, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ocean acidification.
Want to learn more? Check out our other articles for more information!