Coral Bleaching - What is it?
Coral are marine invertebrates with algae living inside their structures that convert sunlight into food, providing energy for the coral for various biological functions.
This year, oceans temperatures have peaked at 2.5ºC during 2024, resulting in various negative effects for ocean life and ecosystems. While a corals ability to survive higher temperatures depends on where they are in the world (corals in the tropics are better at adapting) the increased temperatures have caused a “global mass bleaching event” of reefs across the world.
These record-breaking sea surface temperatures cause the coral to expel the algae in their tissue, turning them white. The absence of algae does not kill the coral, but it puts them at higher risk of decreased growth, reproduction and makes them more susceptible to disease.
Mediation efforts are focused on counteracting the effects of climate change.
Corals make up less than 1% of the ocean, but the provides homes and a food source for around 25% of ocean life, which marine animals like clownfish, turtles, shrimp, crabs and starfish utilise. They also provide natural barriers that protect human-made structures from crash9ing waves and erosion, without them society would need to rely on human-made barriers, which are less efficient, expensive and environmentally damaging
Sources:
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html
