Coral Reefs Turn White

Global Climate Change affects a variety of different habitats. As I talked about in my previous post, rain forests are greatly affected. Another important ecosystem that is affected is coral reefs. These delicate habitats are home to thousands of fish and other marine life. Coral reefs are made up of algal symbionts that produce enough calcium carbonate to produce the reef structure (almost like an exoskeleton).

As the earth warms it in turn warms the seawater. Coral bleaching is an effect of global climate change and the warming seawater. Have you ever been to a beach and found white pieces of coral along the shore? Those small pieces of coral are a result of coral bleaching; when the coral releases the algae from its tissues. It is predicted by scientists that over half of the world’s coral reefs may die by 2050. 20% of the world’s reefs have already been destroyed without much hope of revival. Even the Great Barrier Reef, considered to be one of the healthiest coral reefs in the world, is in serious danger due to rising temperatures. It is located in Australia and is the largest coral reef system. You can even see it from outer space!

Not only will the destruction of coral reefs affect the marine life in them but it will also affect a number of other things. Coral reefs protect shores from the crashing waves and storms, provide food and medicine, and also provide an income for local communities with tourism. It is clear that if something isn’t done about global climate change and rising temperatures, these beautiful ecosystems will fade away.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/173/coral-reefs

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/climate/coral_change.html

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Coral_reef

The Foggy Future

Humans are known for their adaptability. We have proven that we can survive in harsh temperatures but the same cannot be said for animals. Changing temperatures causes changing habitats, which in turn can cause extinction for many animal species. Numerous changes are happening because of increasing temperatures; birds lay eggs earlier in the year, plants bloom sooner and mammals are come out of hibernation before expected. These changes are causing a chain reaction affecting anything from migration patterns to nesting grounds.

The Golden Toad once made it’s home in the cloud forests of Costa Rica. This habitat became unlivable for the creature because of Global Warming and the toad is now extinct. The U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change anticipates that if global temperatures increase more than two to three degrees, one-third of all the species on earth are at risk for extinction. All efforts of conserving wildlife in national parks and conservations will be futile if those habitats aren’t supportive to the organisms that live in them.

With the human impacts already directly and indirectly affecting many of the organisms in the word, the future life for all living organisms is unknown. Whether carbon emissions are the key cause of global warming, or it is a natural cycle is a question that is widely researched, but yet to be answered.

http://www.climateandweather.net/global_warming/effects_on_animals.htm

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1849698,00.html