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The Great Barrier Reef is off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is the largest coral reef in the world and is home to a variety of species. It is also one of the seven wonder of the world and can be viewed from space. About 2 million people visit the Great Barrier Reef each year, often to go snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing and more. On the other hand, the Great Barrier Reef system has been known to be affected by coral bleaching, causing a great amount of coral to die off. Although the Great Barrier Reef is known for its diversity and beauty, people are beginning to worry if its coral reefs will survive.

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The Great Barrier Reef as seen from space.

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Climate change has greatly devastated the Great Barrier Reef, leading to rising ocean temperatures, which can lead to coral bleaching. Zooxanthellae live in the coral and conduct photosynthesis for them.  Coral bleaching began around January, 1988. It makes the coral lose their color and their food source because algae are forced out (due to rising sea temps). Ahermatypic coral does not necessarily mean that the coral is dead and if conditions change, the coral has the chance to live again.

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Coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef

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A map showing rising ocean temperatures.

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Zooxanthellae, which provide food for coral.

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Healthy coral compared to bleached coral.

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Coral bleaching  first emerged due to rising sea temperatures around the world. Pollution contributes to global warming, causing the warmer temperatures. The general population can limit air pollution by conserving energy, driving less (by carpooling, walking, etc.), and many more ways.

Since it can be difficult to significantly reduce pollution levels, scientists have been proposing other solutions:
1. Replanting reefs - scientists are growing coral in nurseries, where they can stay healthy until returned to the ocean.
2. Cooling water temperatures - colder water is being pumped up from deeper in the ocean to reduce acidity.

Will It Work?
These attempts at reversing the effects of coral bleaching have been promising. However, the corals are being put back into the ocean, which still will have warmer temperatures and high acidity. This would pose a challenge in trying to get the coral to survive and grow. In addition, more awareness needs to be brought about to gain more funding to restore the coral reefs.

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Zooxanthellae - single celled organisms the have an endosymbiotic relationship with coral and undergoes photosynthesis for the coral
Ahermatypic Coral - a type of coral that does not build coral reefs; it usually has an absence of zooxanthellae
Coral Bleaching - a process in which coral is stressed by warm ocean temperatures and forces out the algae that feed them and give them their color
Barrier Reef - a coral reef running parallel to the shore but separated from it by a channel of deep water

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Coral reef shown in the Great Barrier Reef.

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Marine life that can be seen in the Great Barrier Reef.

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About 25% percent of marine life lives in coral worldwide. So, if the coral dies off due to coral bleaching, many species of fish, turtles, and algae are losing their habitats. Many populations of these creature could die off, as they do not have anywhere to go. Coral reefs are also responsible for protecting shorelines during tropical storms. In addition, the species that live in coral reefs are a source of food for millions of people. So if coral reefs begin to die off, marine life, coastlines and humans would all be threatened.

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Coral reefs are home to many of the creatures that are closer to the bottom of the food chain. These include small fish, lobster, clams, sea turtles, etc. Without their natural habitat, these species have a hard time surviving. This creates a ripple effect in the food chain, as larger predators eat those that live in the coral. Without their source of food, these predators may die off too. It is clear that coral bleaching affects the whole community in the Great Barrier Reef.

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1. The Great Barrier Reef includes about 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands.
2. The Great Barrier Reef has a vast diversity in its species. The coral reef system has 30 species of whale, dolphin and porpoise, 6 species of turtle, and 17 species of sea snake. It is also home to 1,5000+ species of fish, 10% of the world's fish species.