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Coral reef article - Dire prediction for world's coral reefs
- Thread starter GinaD
- Start date
RobboT
--
The solution to the reef problem is to frag it all and put it in Gina's tank. 
Seriously though I suppose it could happen that someday reefkeepers (or at least the pro-reefkeepers) could be helping to re-seed reefs that died. Kinda like raising bald eagles and setting them free.
Unfortunately in my case all I could contribute would be some xenia, anthelia and aptaisia.
Seriously though I suppose it could happen that someday reefkeepers (or at least the pro-reefkeepers) could be helping to re-seed reefs that died. Kinda like raising bald eagles and setting them free.
Unfortunately in my case all I could contribute would be some xenia, anthelia and aptaisia.
me2003
Non-member
The coral reefs are threatened and there are many scientific papers that show this trend. The reason it seems like there are a lot of articles is there has been a substantial increase in bleaching events. Some people do not believe that global warming is happening. They need to see the ocean in their yard to believe this. It is not a conspiracy. You can also believe that we did not land on the moon and wearing aluminum foil hat prevent aliens from reading your mind. This does not make them true. I know space aliens must have better technology.
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OP
OP
GinaD
Very Happy Red Sox Reefer
The solution to the reef problem is to frag it all and put it in Gina's tank.
Seriously though I suppose it could happen that someday reefkeepers (or at least the pro-reefkeepers) could be helping to re-seed reefs that died. Kinda like raising bald eagles and setting them free.
Unfortunately in my case all I could contribute would be some xenia, anthelia and aptaisia.
Ha - ha.
Yes, I do think history will show that the resposible reefkeeper may well be the one's to help the recovery efforts of the future.
OP
OP
GinaD
Very Happy Red Sox Reefer
I agree with you as well. Global warming is not a 'matter of view' or 'opinion'. It is happening, but will it have the global effect that is predicted, and is there anything we can do now to help lesson the effects, like we did with DDT and the songbirds?
From Wikipedia:
[In 1962, American biologist Rachel Carson published the book Silent Spring, which alleged that DDT caused cancer and harmed bird reproduction by thinning egg shells.]
The ban of DDT brought back the songbirds in such dramatic fashion. It was the most positive effect caused by a ban of chemicals used in a commercial product to have in a group of species.
wouldnt it be much harder to re-instate a coral that has been tank raised, into the ocean?The solution to the reef problem is to frag it all and put it in Gina's tank.
Seriously though I suppose it could happen that someday reefkeepers (or at least the pro-reefkeepers) could be helping to re-seed reefs that died. Kinda like raising bald eagles and setting them free.
Unfortunately in my case all I could contribute would be some xenia, anthelia and aptaisia.
I though I remember reading something on this matter
me2003
Non-member
Use less and cleaner energy. As with DDT, it takes years for a society
to change. History will tell if we reacted in time. Maybe some day they
will be naming beaches and parks after Al Gore like they do Rachel Carson
today. ( This should get an interesting response)
This is a report I had to do if you want further info. We are changing the ocean chemistry more than happened in 300 million years. Evolution can not
keep up with that rate.
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Threats to reef environments and Acropora
There are many threats to Acropora and their reef environment. The predictions are that over 60 percent of the world’s coral reefs may die completely by 2050 using data of current trends. ( NOAA 2005 ). It is estimated 20% of coral reefs worldwide have been destroyed already, while 24% are in imminent danger and a further 26% are under longer term danger of collapse. (Grimsditch and Salm 2005)
The use of reef material in construction, dredging, removal of herbivore fish causing algae to over grow the reef, blast fishing with dynamite, cyanide fishing, pollution, algae blooms, sedimentation, destruction of corals by anchors, scuba divers damaging corals, trade in ornamental dead corals and aquarium collection are many of the stresses on coral reefs and acropora. Estimates are more than 40 countries are affected by blast fishing, and more than 15 countries have reported cyanide fishing activities. ( NOAA 2005 ). There are projects that are trying to deal with these issues. Aquaculture of corals, banning bad fishing techniques, coral reef preserves, special anchorages, controlling development and educating scuba divers are examples of these projects. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (cites) lists and controls the trade in acropora and other corals.
There are at least two long term threats that solutions for will be difficult to find.
Global warming and the increase in atmospheric CO2 are predicted to cause increased coral bleaching and reduced calcification.
Coral Bleaching
Coral bleaching happens when a coral expels its zooxanthaellae. The lose of zooxanthaellae cause the coral to turn white (bleached). This typically leads to the death of the coral. Coral reefs exist in optimum temperatures of 25 to 29ºC. There are local variations to this temperature range where Acropora have adapted to as 33ºC ( NOAA 2005 ). An increase in the maximum temperature of the local area of just 1ºC over a month can cause coral bleaching. The prediction is that surface sea temperatures will increase by 1-3ºC by 2050. ( NOAA 2005 ). Coral bleaching incidences have been increasing. In the 1997 to 1998 El Niño season, there was extensive and severe coral reef bleaching. Estimates range from 70 to 80 percent of all shallow-water corals were killed on many Indo-Pacific reefs. Reefs in the Florida Keys had bleaching events that year also. NOAA reported a major bleaching event across the Caribbean on Oct. 25, 2005. It was severe in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin islands. Estimates are 85 to 95 percent of coral colonies were bleached in some reef areas. Grenada also experiences bleaching events with 70 percent of colonies suffering impact. ( NOAA 2005 ).
Atmospheric CO2
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. Most of this carbon dioxide will be absorbed by the ocean decreasing its pH. (Caldeira and Wickett 2003). Unabated carbon dioxide emission in the next couple of centuries will cause a pH reduction of 0.7 units (Caldeira and Wickett 2003). This is greater than the maximum reductions of 0.6 units seen in the last 300 million years. (Caldeira and Wickett 2003).
Surface oceans are saturated with calcium carbonate. The decrease in pH is reducing the carbonate ion concentration (Orr et al. 2005). Surface pH is already 0.1 units lower and models predict it will become 0.3 to 0.4 units lower by the end of the century. (Orr et al. 2005). Corals and some plankton will have difficulty maintaining their skeletons. Aragonite is a stabilized form of calcium carbonate. Experimental evidence shows that live pteropods, a major planktonic producer of aragonite, dissolve rapidly when surface become undersaturated with aragonite (Orr et al. 2005). The change in seawater chemistry and it effect on the biological composition of reefs is currently being studied.
In the phanerzoic, (0-550 million years) there were two episodes of aragonite inhibition (Montañez 2002).
to change. History will tell if we reacted in time. Maybe some day they
will be naming beaches and parks after Al Gore like they do Rachel Carson
today. ( This should get an interesting response)
This is a report I had to do if you want further info. We are changing the ocean chemistry more than happened in 300 million years. Evolution can not
keep up with that rate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Threats to reef environments and Acropora
There are many threats to Acropora and their reef environment. The predictions are that over 60 percent of the world’s coral reefs may die completely by 2050 using data of current trends. ( NOAA 2005 ). It is estimated 20% of coral reefs worldwide have been destroyed already, while 24% are in imminent danger and a further 26% are under longer term danger of collapse. (Grimsditch and Salm 2005)
The use of reef material in construction, dredging, removal of herbivore fish causing algae to over grow the reef, blast fishing with dynamite, cyanide fishing, pollution, algae blooms, sedimentation, destruction of corals by anchors, scuba divers damaging corals, trade in ornamental dead corals and aquarium collection are many of the stresses on coral reefs and acropora. Estimates are more than 40 countries are affected by blast fishing, and more than 15 countries have reported cyanide fishing activities. ( NOAA 2005 ). There are projects that are trying to deal with these issues. Aquaculture of corals, banning bad fishing techniques, coral reef preserves, special anchorages, controlling development and educating scuba divers are examples of these projects. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (cites) lists and controls the trade in acropora and other corals.
There are at least two long term threats that solutions for will be difficult to find.
Global warming and the increase in atmospheric CO2 are predicted to cause increased coral bleaching and reduced calcification.
Coral Bleaching
Coral bleaching happens when a coral expels its zooxanthaellae. The lose of zooxanthaellae cause the coral to turn white (bleached). This typically leads to the death of the coral. Coral reefs exist in optimum temperatures of 25 to 29ºC. There are local variations to this temperature range where Acropora have adapted to as 33ºC ( NOAA 2005 ). An increase in the maximum temperature of the local area of just 1ºC over a month can cause coral bleaching. The prediction is that surface sea temperatures will increase by 1-3ºC by 2050. ( NOAA 2005 ). Coral bleaching incidences have been increasing. In the 1997 to 1998 El Niño season, there was extensive and severe coral reef bleaching. Estimates range from 70 to 80 percent of all shallow-water corals were killed on many Indo-Pacific reefs. Reefs in the Florida Keys had bleaching events that year also. NOAA reported a major bleaching event across the Caribbean on Oct. 25, 2005. It was severe in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin islands. Estimates are 85 to 95 percent of coral colonies were bleached in some reef areas. Grenada also experiences bleaching events with 70 percent of colonies suffering impact. ( NOAA 2005 ).
Atmospheric CO2
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. Most of this carbon dioxide will be absorbed by the ocean decreasing its pH. (Caldeira and Wickett 2003). Unabated carbon dioxide emission in the next couple of centuries will cause a pH reduction of 0.7 units (Caldeira and Wickett 2003). This is greater than the maximum reductions of 0.6 units seen in the last 300 million years. (Caldeira and Wickett 2003).
Surface oceans are saturated with calcium carbonate. The decrease in pH is reducing the carbonate ion concentration (Orr et al. 2005). Surface pH is already 0.1 units lower and models predict it will become 0.3 to 0.4 units lower by the end of the century. (Orr et al. 2005). Corals and some plankton will have difficulty maintaining their skeletons. Aragonite is a stabilized form of calcium carbonate. Experimental evidence shows that live pteropods, a major planktonic producer of aragonite, dissolve rapidly when surface become undersaturated with aragonite (Orr et al. 2005). The change in seawater chemistry and it effect on the biological composition of reefs is currently being studied.
In the phanerzoic, (0-550 million years) there were two episodes of aragonite inhibition (Montañez 2002).
Change of Line under your message
Nice job at the auction. That was a cool tank and light set up. Will we be seeing a change in the line under your messages from the 30 gallon......
Glad to see that you got the tank.....I know you'll do a nice job setting it up.
Tom
Nice job at the auction. That was a cool tank and light set up. Will we be seeing a change in the line under your messages from the 30 gallon......
Glad to see that you got the tank.....I know you'll do a nice job setting it up.
Tom
The rate of pirates go down, global warming goes up.
See my logic?
I personnally believe that the earth goes through a cycle, and eventually there will be another ice age, rinse, repeat. Just not in our lifetime
JavaJones
Non-member
There is a nicely nuanced piece on the relative weights of climate change and human agriculture on certain types of extinctions at this site:
http://research.unc.edu/endeavors/spr2004/coral.html
http://research.unc.edu/endeavors/spr2004/coral.html
fanaglethebagle
Not-so-old Sea Dog
RobboT
--
I love science, chemistry in particular and want so badly to believe that they can accurately know that in the last 300 million years the pH of ocean only change 0.6 SUs. I just cant believe they really know what happened 300 million years ago to that level of accuracy.
I also know that cycles generally follow a sine wave pattern, if we're on the steep slope of an upward trend this could all just be natural
Of course if you then add to that all of the other factors that complicate the earths atmosphere all bets are off and as they say "past results may not be indicative of future performance." Again I think we certainly gave it a push but I dont think its reversible at all (contrary to what the guy in the article JavaJones referenced says
). We could probably slow the progress but it may be like me standing on the RR tracks trying to stop a Boston to DC Express. Possible if you do the math but not likely in practical terms. We could probably kill two birds with one stone by seeking better alternatives to the things we're doing now that caused the mess in the first place. More efficient energy and waste reduction technolocies would help slow the process but also would probably lead to ways for humans to survive in a more hostile environment.
NateHanson
Non-member
Evolution can't be a part of a discussion of death of an ecosystem within our lifetimes (or even our grandkids). Evolution just doesn't happen at that pace. It's a process of millenia, and occasionally centuries. The global climate has always ebbed and flowed, but the ice-age wasn't something that set in over the course of 100 years. It was thousands of years in the making. Nature is neither responsible for the current climate change, nor able to cope with it through adaptation or evolution. Industrialization caused this, and the abundant technology and wealth which arose from that industrialization needs to be put to use to mitigate the problems it spawned.
Plain and simply, we need to put out less CO2, and we need to encourage other countries to do the same. It's hard for this topic to not have political grains in it. Sighing about dying reefs is nice, but nothing will really change until governments agree to decrease their CO2 output, and use that as diplomatic leverage to force other countries to do the same.
oh well. Maybe in two years. 
Plain and simply, we need to put out less CO2, and we need to encourage other countries to do the same. It's hard for this topic to not have political grains in it. Sighing about dying reefs is nice, but nothing will really change until governments agree to decrease their CO2 output, and use that as diplomatic leverage to force other countries to do the same.
oh well. Maybe in two years.
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Fingolfin
Humble Christian
What have Al done for Americans? only whining about something we all know. Of course, he twisted it a little bit.
Do you see the logic here? Prediction! prediction! prediction! An extrapolation out of the known data doesn't necessary reflect what will happen. Of course, you can use the argument of prediction as your political gain, and that's exactly what's going on in today's political atmosphere.
I do not deny the fact that the elevated sea/atmosphere temperature has caused some issues, neither do I deny the fact that the advancement of human civilization has warmed up the earth. However, what are you going to do? stop consuming altogether? Everything you enjoy today contributes to the global warming. Pointing fingers at those bigger consumers doesn't make you more righteous. The key thing is, we all need to be conscious about what 's going on so we can possibly turn the tide. Sabotaging our current development won't help us find the solution, if any.
By the way, excess CO2 can help crop productions.
NateHanson
Non-member
The study I saw totally debunked this theoretical statement. In elevated co2 plants grew at the same rate. In higher levels they just died. Yes plants use co2 to grow., but they use water too. That doesn't neccessaily mean they'll grow faster underwater.
What we should do is CONTINUE to develop. Not stop developing. We need to develop and utilize NEW technologies that decrease CO2 emissions, use less fossil fuels, and create less waste. It's not a sabotage, it's a continuation of development. Doing what we're doing now is a total lack of development. Industry is just marching on like it's the 1950s. With that attitude we'll not only kill the planet, but we'll further cripple the American economy in the process by failing to continue to advance into the next generation of technologies.
On energy generation alone there's so much to do. Raise CAFE standards for the first time in 20 years. Utilize carbon-neutral energy sources like Biomass, Tidal, Sun, and Wind. Heat your house with wood! (None of us live in a region where deforestation or sustainable logging is an issue - New England is about a quarter MORE forrested than it was 100 years ago.)
Live close to work when possible. Buy local goods that haven't spent more time on an airplane than in your grocery store. Bring your own grocery bags. Just a couple ideas. Not at all meant to be "greener than thou" or pretend that we're not all contributing to the destruction of ecosystems we love (heck, I get 19 mpg
). But I don't like to see anyone throw up their hands and say "Well, what are WE going to do about it?" If everyone says that we go nowhere. If everyone says, "Well, here's something I can do," then it all adds up and we start to get someplace good.
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>but the ice-age wasn't something that set in over the course of 100 years.<
This is EXACTLY the problem. People really need to understand this. We are talking about huge temp changes in VERY few years. I don't understand why people don't get this. No coral is going to evolve in that span of years. Yes, there will always be coral, and there will probably always be some type of coral reef, somewhere, they will likely move north of the equator, and south of the equator. BUT, the reefs that continue to exist will be a shadow of what they were. The number of species will be dratically reduce, and assuming the temperature stabilizes somewhere again one day, the new reefs that form (off Cape Cod??) will take hundreds or thousands of years to reform.
This is EXACTLY the problem. People really need to understand this. We are talking about huge temp changes in VERY few years. I don't understand why people don't get this. No coral is going to evolve in that span of years. Yes, there will always be coral, and there will probably always be some type of coral reef, somewhere, they will likely move north of the equator, and south of the equator. BUT, the reefs that continue to exist will be a shadow of what they were. The number of species will be dratically reduce, and assuming the temperature stabilizes somewhere again one day, the new reefs that form (off Cape Cod??) will take hundreds or thousands of years to reform.
RobboT
--
>but the ice-age wasn't something that set in over the course of 100 years.<
agreed and I dont think many scientist would disagree so if the ice age occured as a sharp temperature change in a few years at a time before Exxon, Shell, Dupont and Dow . . . what make us think we have a snowballs chance of doing anything about the current warming trend?
agreed and I dont think many scientist would disagree so if the ice age occured as a sharp temperature change in a few years at a time before Exxon, Shell, Dupont and Dow . . . what make us think we have a snowballs chance of doing anything about the current warming trend?
