Interactions Of Coral Reef Co2

The most organically distinct ecosystems called coral reefs are under threat. To protect the community of coral reef Co2 levels have to be maintained. An increase in the Co2 will destroy the reefs.

The rise in the level of Co2 in the air is causing the oceans' acidity to increase. This elevation threatens the future of our coral reef ecosystems.

The coral reefs' framework is made of limestone and is built by animals and their supportive symbiotic plants. They are the habitats for almost twenty five percent of all aquatic life. They have an eminent natural value and provide important benefit to the society like fisheries and tourism.

They are even financially beneficial. The net financial benefit that the coral reefs provide is approximately thirty billion dollars on an annual basis, globally.

Nearly ten percent of the subtropical and tropical coral reefs have been lost over the last few decades. The ones that remain are also showing signs of severe to moderate deterioration. This degradation has been induced by anthropogenic factors like pollution, sediment and nutrient overloading, over fishing and direct destruction.

These pressures of the environment, along with the natural phenomenon increase the sensitivity of corals to bleaching and disease. An increase in the carbon dioxide level also threatens the long term sustainability of these valuable coral reefs. The change in the global climate may cause death of these precious reefs.

The rise in the temperature of the ocean implicates mass coral bleaching and coral disease. Research efforts worldwide are targeted at understanding the impacts of global warming on coral reef ecosystems. The other factors are caused by mankind and the rise in the sea levels.

However, latest studies show that the increasing acidification of the ocean has caused a hidden danger to the life of these coral reefs. Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH levels of the oceans. The Co2 that gets dissolved in the seawater increases the concentration of the hydrogen ion (H+) in the ocean.

Coral reefs are structured with calcium carbonate or limestone and are constructed by coral creatures from the carbonate and calcium that is dissolved in the sea water. An increase in the acid level of the ocean can reduce the volume of carbonate, that is available in the sea water.

This change in the chemistry of the marine waters may reduce the ability of coral animals to construct the limestone habitats and reefs they provide, in the future. These complicated interactions between the global stress and the coral reef biology may impact specific species. This may affect the whole ecosystem of the reefs, in days to come.

Thus to protect the useful coral reef Co2 levels in the atmosphere have to be decreased. Otherwise, this diverse and productive community will meet a sad end.