How does Ocean Pollution affect Coral Reefs?
Coral Reefs are the most diverse marine ecosystem on Earth. These reefs are home to more than 25% of all marine species. Coral reefs also protect coastlines from waves and storm surges and provide food, medicines, and tourism revenue for hundreds of millions of people every year.
Ocean pollution is a major threat to coral reefs because it can lead to coral bleaching which is a process that removes the living microorganisms from corals. In this process, the corals turn white and lose their ability to produce their food. When this happens, corals can die off entirely or be replaced by algae that grow on dead skeletons. Abyss Scuba Diving Sydney has been watching these slowly dying coral reefs closely and we are concerned.
Coral bleaching is caused by stressors like warmer water temperatures or increased exposure to UV light due to climate change or pollution from land-based sources like runoff
Ocean pollution is the introduction of harmful substances, chemicals, and waste into the ocean. The most common form of pollution is plastic. Plastics are broken down by sunlight, waves, and marine life into small pieces that are hard to spot.
Coral reefs are threatened by ocean pollution because they provide a home for many marine species. As a result, the population of these species decreases, and many marine animals die from suffocation or starvation. Coral reefs also harm human societies because they protect coastal communities from storm surges and tsunamis.
