We all well know how trees release oxygen and absorb CO2 which influences Earth’s temperature. Burning the trees releases all of the absorbed carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere and causes temperatures to rise which like a chain reaction affects many factors and is linked to negative environmental consequences such as biodiversity loss, global warming, soil erosion, and desertification. Although about one-third of the total land area is forested worldwide, about half of the earth’s forests have disappeared. Trees are the only form of ecosystem with capability of storing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen thus clearing our atmosphere. Cut trees still keep carbon dioxide stored inside, but aren't capable of absorbing more, while by burning all absorbed carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere as gaseous compound, which contribute to accelerated climate change. Another form of deforestation happens in oceans. Corals, that could be considered as trees of the oceans, provide food and shelter for many animals. And same as trees on land, they regulate levels of carbon dioxide in the oceans. Since oceans’ temperatures are rising, corals are “stressed” and react to high temperatures. What happens then is a process of bleaching - they expel the symbiotic algae (that absorb CO2) and start turning white. When symbiotic relationship becomes stressed, algae leaves corals. With no food left, corals are losing their colour and become paler. Another phenomenon recently discovered, also caused by temperature rising and pollution is intensity in corals’ colour to the point where it’s almost neon. The after effect is the same though, corals lose symbiotic relationship and eventually die. Now, they have been known to survive the bleaching itself, if not severe, but the longer the algae don't return to the corals the bigger the chance is for corals not to survive. And same as with what happens on land with the loss of trees, happens in oceans too - many factors are negatively affected.
Corals are animals dependant on their symbiotic relationships and are marine invertebrates. There are many variations of corals that differ by anatomy, ecology, reproduction…
Corals are animals dependant on their symbiotic relationships and are marine invertebrates. There are many variations of corals that differ by anatomy, ecology, reproduction…
They form their hard skeleton by secreting calcium carbonate. Polyps, small animals grow on this skeleton and connect with each other to create colonies. Colonies can be formed from many million individual polyps. So what we see as a one whole coral is actually a hard skeleton covered in many little polyps. Although some corals are able to catch plankton and small fish using stinging cells on their tentacles, most corals have a symbiotic relationship with algae called “zooxanthellae” that live in polyps’ tissue and are their primary food source and give them colour. These types of corals live in clear, shallow waters and require sunlight because they acquire most of their nutrients and energy from photosynthesis. When colonies join they create a whole ecosystem called coral reef. Because of its biodiversity, coral reefs are often called the “rainforests of the sea”. There are many animal species living in the oceans that call reefs home. And even though there are some similarities between reefs and forests, it is still unclear wether the similarities go so far to stay that corals too have ability to absorb CO2 because of how complex of an ecosystem they are.
Nevertheless, whether they absorbs CO2 or not, they still have a crucial role in nature - from providing home to protecting shores.