Savanah Autman

 The Importance of Coral Reefs. By: Savanah Autman Date: 06/8/2021. In science, coral reefs are especially important to our ecosystems because they help to protect. the coastlines from a variety of dangerous storms and erosions, provide jobs for any local community nationwide, and of course, offer many opportunities for recreations. Not only do they do their job of helping the environment, but they also provide enough food and new medicines for sea animals who live underwater to restore them back to life. In today’s world, many people all over different parts depend on coral reefs for food, income, and protection from certain types of danger all around. Coral reefs also make extremely popular souvenirs for many tourists, such as jewelry and home décor of any kind. Despite that, many consumers are also unaware that the beautiful structures are actually made by the living creatures themselves. However, only fewer of the individuals realize that the corals are dying off at extremely alarming rates as they speak. Unfortunately, as speaking, coral reefs are threatened. According to the website known as https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems, some of the threats are actually quite natural and harmless being prime example, diseases, predators, and storms too. “Some of the other threats are also caused by the people themselves, which include pollution, constant fishing practices, and climate change which also raise ocean temperatures as well as causing ocean acidification. These examples of the types of threats can even stress corals, which would eventually lead to coral bleaching.” However, the corals can be able to recover themselves from any bleaching event before they will die, although, it will take up to many years to come for the ecosystems to fully heal properly and naturally once again. Therefore, it is especially important and highly recommended for every individual including scientists to test new and different ways to help the coral reef ecosystems, such as growing the coral within a nursery and then transplanting them to damaged areas where they were destroyed in the first place. References. Heron, SF, Maynard J, van Hooidonk R, Eakin CM (2016). Warming Trends and Bleaching Stress of the World's Coral Reefs-. Scientific Reports 6: 38402, doi:10.1038/srep38402. Retrieved from: https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems