Coral Reef Survival: Our Planet’s Works of Art
Coral reefs form a most stunning marine ecosystem with a multitude of dazzling coral reef fish darting in and out of colourful corals of all shapes and sizes. Coral reefs are the most bio-diverse marine ecosystems in the world matched only by the tropical rainforests. According to Charlie Veron, former chief scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, many coral reefs including the Great Barrier Reef will be so degraded by warming oceans that within 20 years they will be unrecognisable. So, what effect would this loss have on our future planet?
Biodiversity benefits humans in many ways. The loss of coral will cause a decline of reef fish and other reef dependent organisms. reef fish and molluscs provide food for 40 million people every year and corals protect coasts from strong currents by slowing down the water before it reaches the shore, so this loss would be disastrous.
Coral reefs consist of hundreds and thousands of coral polyps. In turn, coral form a sea habitat to a myriad of diverse animals including different species colourful tropical fish such as anemone fish, lion fish, rays and predatory sharks and blue ring octopus.
As citizens of Our Future Planet we may naturally become artists and observers of art and appreciate the beautiful underwater “Forests of Coral” inhabited by dazzling coloured fish and crustaceans. Together fish and coral produce perhaps as beautiful work of art as ever made by man or planet.
Do the citizens of our present planet appreciate these beautiful works of planetary art sufficiently to protect and preserve them from destruction? Current knowledge says the answer is no, the coral reefs of both our present and future planet will be destroyed and disappear within 20 years from now due to climate change.
Coral reefs are the most sensitive of marine ecosystems. Warming water causes coral polyps to eject the symbiotic algae that provide them with nutrients. These “bleaching events” were widespread during the El Niño of 1997-98, and localised occurrences are becoming more frequent. Reefs take decades to recover but by 2030 to 2050, depending on emissions and feedback effects, bleaching will be occurring annually or biannually.
Coral are also susceptible to the increasing acidity of the oceans dues to carbon emissions causing carbon dioxide levels to rise from 280ppm before the industrial revolution to around 387ppm today. Scientists also add that coral reef survival requires a limit of around 350ppm and note the current G8 super leaders aren’t even talking about 350ppm. While environmentalists are pleading for levels no higher than 450ppm, many of them say we are heading for 550 or even 650. When carbon dioxide concentrations reach between 480 and 500 parts per million coral reef growth becomes impossible anywhere in the ocean.
“Increased temperature and decreased pH will have a double-whammy effect. Reefs were safe at CO2 levels of 350 parts per million. We are at 387ppm today. Beyond 450 the fate of corals is sealed,” says Alex Rogers, Director of the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO).
Once carbon dioxide had hit the levels predicted for between 2030 and 2060, all coral reefs were doomed to extinction, he said. “They would be the world’s first global ecosystem to collapse. I have the backing of every coral reef scientist, every research organisation. I’ve spoken to them all. This is critical. This is reality,” says Dr Veron.
The Great Barrier Reef is worth $4.5 billion (£2.8 billion) a year to Australia. Worldwide, reefs are worth $300 billion. “But that is trivial compared with the costs if coral reefs fail,” Dr Veron said. “Then it will be a matter of damage to livelihoods, economies and ecosystems.”
What are our present planet and its art enthusiasts doing to prevent this disappearance of our planet’s works of art? A gathering of some of our present planet’s most powerful citizens (the G8) met in Italy earlier last week but the question is, are they powerful enough to do anything about this artistic planetary disaster? These leaders of the G8 industrial nations agreed that the world must cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2050. That means cuts of 80 per cent among the rich nations. There was a lack of agreement with China and India.
The G8 leaders have pledged to help developing countries meet costs associated with reducing emissions. There were two important considerations. Firstly, how and how much to help emerging economies like China and India now responsible for a large fraction of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions reduce those emissions without slowing their development. Second, how to help developing countries more vulnerable to climate disasters adapt to climate change.
There was also a disagreement over the baseline year for calculating emissions cuts. And of course there is the time factor as to when constraints may actually occur. To save the coral reefs we have to act now yet some world leaders are talking about timetables for actually doing something to reverse carbon dioxide trends for 2050, 40 years from now. How many of them will be in office then?
Coral reefs are fragile, artistic and beautiful ecosystems threatened by coral bleaching due to rising sea temperatures and carbon dioxide levels. They are a crucial part of marine ecosystems and provide humans with fish and a protective barrier against ocean waves. Ultimately, all ecosystems will suffer by the loss of biodiversity and the balance of life on earth will be lost. As an individual you can help prevent this decline of beautiful coral reefs on our future planet by behaving wisely and reducing your carbon footprint. What are your thoughts? Have your say. We welcome your thoughts and proposals. Add your comment below. Have your say. We welcome your thoughts and proposals. Add your comment below. Not a Citizen? Sign up
