In addition
to their influence on sea life, corals also have a major impact upon human
life. They play a substantial role in protecting the shores from damage and
erosion that results from severe tropical storms. This serves as a benefit to
humans living along the shores, who may otherwise be subjected to the
devastation affiliated with the damage that such natural occurrences initiate.
Coral and coral reefs serve as a
primary factor in terms of their economic value to humans, as they provide
humans with jobs as well as the benefits elicited by tourism, fishing, and
other means of oceanic recreation (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, 2011). The aesthetic beauty demonstrated by these coral
colonies attract millions of tourists to the tropical regions of the Earth
every year. In addition, because the coral serves as a habitat for various
species of fish, they also attract fishermen, who may fish for fun or are
licensed to catch fish to sell for food and other means, such as aquariums.
Furthermore, corals and coral reefs also
provide biomedical researchers with the means to explore new sources of
medicine to utilize for various ailments endured by humans (National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, 2011). Before resorting to engineered means of
medication, genuine researchers in the medical field like to first turn to
natural resources that may potentially serve this purpose. This way, they
reduce the risk of harming the humans who will be treated with synthetic
materials.
Finally, these organisms are a very
important part of various cultures practiced by humans around the world, such
as Polynesians (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2011).
According to C. Wilkinson of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (2008),
"Coral reef declines will have alarming consequences for approximately 500
million people who depend on coral reefs for food, coastal protection, building
materials, and income from tourism. This includes 30 million who are virtually
totally dependent on coral reefs for their livelihoods or for the land they
live on (atolls)."
Thus,
climate and global warming pose a significant influence upon the bleaching
endured by corals and coral reefs. Increased sea-surface temperatures (SSTs)
associated with climate change/global warming have caused bleaching in
scleractinian corals (the loss of obligate symbiotic zooxanthellae) on a global
basis, resulting in mass mortality of corals and decimation of reefs” (Sammarco
and Strychar, 2009). This suggests that corals are a proficient indicator of
climate changes that occur, thereby allowing humans to determine potential
means of preventing the negative consequences of global warming from occurring
and affecting them.
In turn, humans may also be able to
prevent the detrimental effects that climate change and global warming have on
the coral species, thereby allowing themselves to continue to enjoy the
economic and health services provided by the species. According to Haslun et
al. (2011), “Coral exposed to short periods of temperature stress (1.0°C above
mean monthly maximum) and/or increased frequencies of high temperatures may
bolster resilience to global warming associated with climate change.” With this
notion taken into consideration, humans may be able to decide which tropical
areas would be the best in which to utilize the resources provided by corals
and coral reefs. Specifically, according to the study conducted by Haslun et
al. (2011), areas in which corals have been exposed to global warming or
changes in global climate the most are much more likely to resiliate after
undergoing bleaching as a result of such incidences. Therefore, living in these
areas and using the corals that exist within them would prove to allow humans
to utilized the resources to their fullest potential.
Referenced Links:
http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/
I think you've really got a grasp of the issue at hand. That being said - try to work on making the intro a bit more accessible. The title and intro don't draw in the average reader. Try to consider your audience and cater to them - Though this is for english class, don't write a book report.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea of the complete impact these reefs have. The coastal protection factor makes sense but I did not know how much some communities rely on these reefs.
ReplyDeleteSilva,
ReplyDeleteThis is another great blog post on an important topic. You expanded on my thoughts from the comment section of your other post about the importance of the coral ecosystems to marine wildlife as well as to humans. I think a lot of people don’t realize the diversity of life and just how much real estate the ocean covers on the planet. There are many political and cultural issues relating to marine ecosystems, but I feel that the coral ecosystems are one of the most important parts of the ocean. I agree that as humans, we have a responsibility to protect and oversee these important resources.
You chose an interesting topic, Silva. I’ve recently read on the news that Tony Abbott, the Prime Minister of Australia, is trying to expand coal facilities throughout the Great Barrier Reef. His policies haven’t done much to prevent the increase in coral bleaching or help the environment in general. Apparently, UNESCO has considered placing the reef on the list of World Heritage sites in danger because of his environmental policies. If coral reefs are really that important, I wonder why he seems opposed to preserving the landmark. I’m sure the tourism industry will take a hit if the reef is destroyed along with the fishing industry.
ReplyDeleteCoral bleaching is a huge problem and is one that doesn’t get a lot of attention. So, it is good that you are informing people about it. I knew coral reefs are important for the survival of many animal species, but I didn’t realize its impact on people. You did a great job at explaining all of the ways people use coral and coral reefs. Losing coral reefs would be devastating for the livelihoods of hundreds of people and the whole ecosystem. I agree that people need to protect them before they are ruined. Great job on your post!
ReplyDelete