https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z en-us 2023-05-01 17:15:04 UTC 2023-05-04 18:11:03 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f420.png ksmolnar https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2574003811 I know that coral bleaching occurs when the coral reefs lose their vibrant colors and turn white. This can happen due to a variety of factors including climate change and pollution. When the coral reefs are bleached, they become more vulnerable to disease and death. Coral gets its color from algae which lives inside the coral, also providing it with food. If the water is too warm or polluted, these algae leave the coral because they can no longer withstand the unstable conditions. If the coral cannot recover quickly enough, it will die.]]> 2023-05-01 17:26:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2574003811 ksmolnar https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2575592400    This source has an interesting take on how we can monitor the corals' health and make them more resilient by using sound. We are taken back to the image of what coral looked like 100 years ago, vibrant, healthy, and surrounded by life. The amount of animals surrounding the reef naturally made a racket. This means that a healthy reef will also be louder than a less healthy version. Reefs are compared to a busy neighborhood due to their complex soundscape. This can be used to our advantage because recordings of the coral can give scientists a sense of how healthy/unhealthy it is. Divers will deploy the hydrophone (underwater microphone), then come back in less effort than diving down to the sea floor. This way of data collection has given us more evidence to what we can visually observe on the reefs. We are now able to use this research to compare all around the world and find our baseline of what is healthy again. ]]> 2023-05-02 18:07:26 UTC https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2575592400 ksmolnar https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2577064455 This source talks about the rapid decrease of coral reefs due to warming ocean waters, ocean acidity, and pollution. Recent research has focused on transporting lab-grown corals into suffering ecosystems. We have had short term promising results, but still no promise for the future. Scientists have predicted that by the year 2100 ocean conditions will no longer be fit for corals' survival. The article also states that ocean acidification has led to the breakdown of coral. This issue along with warming are direct results of our carbon dioxide emissions, primarily from expanding agricultural land and the use of fertilizers. ]]> 2023-05-03 17:11:08 UTC https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2577064455 ksmolnar https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2577418133 2023-05-03 23:59:33 UTC https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2577418133 ksmolnar https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2577488273 In conclusion, if we don't stop coral bleaching, coral reefs will continue to die off at an alarming rate. This will have devastating effects on the marine ecosystem, as coral reefs are home to a vast array of marine life. Additionally, many communities around the world rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods, so the economic impact of coral reef loss could be significant. In said sources, several solutions have been found, and proven to be effective. The most effective way for the community to help would be to reduce our carbon emissions. This can be acheived by using less energy, driving less, and eating less meat. This will slow the effects of global warming. We can also expose of any trash to prevent excess waste. Overall, preventing coral bleaching requires a collective effort from the community. By taking action now, we can help ensure that coral reefs continue to thrive for generations to come.]]> 2023-05-04 01:07:26 UTC https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2577488273 ksmolnar https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2578667201 This source states that healthy reefs can still be found, but they are surrounded by bleached corals. Scientists have recently found extensive patches of dead coral around the Great Barrier Reef. Australia is now in its third bleaching event in just five years. Researchers have used this devastation as a reason to find more solutions to this pandemic. Going back to the idea of lab-grown corals, scientists have found a way to make microalgae that are more tolerant to heat. This was created in hopes of restoring some of our lost coral reefs due to ocean warming. The algae were increasingly exposed to warmer temperatures, allowing the new coral-algae symbiosis to be heat tolerant. The next steps are now to allow testing on a range of coral species.]]> 2023-05-04 18:11:03 UTC https://padlet.com/ksmolnar/7ia917d554gk1v0z/wish/2578667201