The Effects Of Increasing Carbon Dioxide On Coral Reefs...

Effects of increasing carbon dioxide on coral reefs and the ecosystem services Coral reefs are not just a bar of coral living beneath the surface of the water, but a diverse ecosystem with many food webs and inter-species relationships. Coral itself has a complex symbiotic relationship between polyp and zooplankton which lives as an endosymbiont in the polyp tissue. Ecosystem services are what the Coral provides to its nearby organisms and the physical environment. Coral’s calcium carbonate shell is an outstanding example of this because not only does it help to anchor and protect the coral from predation, it also provides protection and habitats to organisms and the nearby coasts. Carbon dioxide affects the coral in two main ways, increasing global temperatures due to its greenhouse properties, but also forming carbonic acid in the oceans causing ocean acidification. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, meaning it traps solar radiation in the atmosphere. This is done by either absorbing or reflecting infra-red waves, thereby trapping them in the Earth’s atmosphere for longer, contributing to global warming. Rising sea surface temperature has a large effect on coral, due to their low range of tolerance of 23 °Ã¢â‚¬â€œ29 °Celsius. Large-scale bleaching events can occur from a temperature change as little as 1-2 °Celsius (Brown 1997). Bleaching is the loss of colour from the coral and can be due to two reasons, the symbiotic zooxanthellae plankton either leave the coralShow MoreRelatedMarine Ecosystems: Coral Reefs1349 Words   |  6 PagesDeclan de Mamiel (1033575) Coral reefs are the oldest of marine ecosystems, the youngest approximately 10,000 years old, and are often referred to as the rain forests’ of the ocean. Found commonly in tropical waters less than deep, these areas have a high availability of nutrients and access to sunlight required for the process of photosynthesis. 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