PPS#98 | Over The Reef and Into The Sea. A Few Ingenious Facts About Why Coral Reefs Are Important

Criteria: F | Coral reef restoration

Over the reef

the seagull

flies.

To find

a place

to rest

her wings.

To close

her eyes.

The coral reef as defined by my not so trust-worthy but knowledgeable friend, Wikipedia, “the coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterised by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups.[1]

Do you remember how important calcium is as a building block? This link should remind you.

Carbon | The Building Block of Life

Coral reefs are built by nature’s workers, who are constantly steadfastly at work.

This post lists a few facts about corals. However sporadic, read on as the facts are pretty darned intriguing.

Dear Patient Reader,

Of the enormity of the ocean floor (of which one-fifth is mapped) across Earth, less than one percent of this is dynamic, rich, and lively marine life are reefs. Reefs occur in less than 1 percent of the ocean, yet are home to nearly one-quarter of all ocean species.[2] Marine life, sea life, or ocean life are the plants, animals, and other organisms that live in the salt water of the sea or ocean, or the brackish water of coastal estuaries.[3]

As natural evolution has proven and shown, natural ecosystems are very good at adaptation. Likewise, science has shown that coral can adapt and survive.[4] Coral reefs can adapt to climate change.[5] According to rough estimates, there exists half a trillion corals. There are approximately as many coral colonies in the Pacific Ocean as there are trees in the Amazon, and more corals than birds in the world. For each human, there are more than 70 coral colonies in the Pacific Ocean and the most common coral species outnumber humans globally. For example, the population sizes of one fifth of 318 species that were examined exceeded one billion individuals.[6]

There lives an underwater world more populated than ours in the oceans.

A few facts

Reef-building corals? A symbiotic relationship.

Coral reefs are built by coral polyps as they secrete layers of calcium carbonate beneath their bodies. The corals that build reefs are known as “hard” or “reef-building” corals. The coral polyps that build the reef survive by forming a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae, called zooxanthellae.[7]

Also, corals comprise an ancient and unique partnership, called symbiosis, that benefits both animal and plant life in the ocean.[8]

Coral biology?

Each individual coral animal is called a polyp, and most live in groups of hundreds to thousands of genetically identical polyps that form a ‘colony’. [Being genetically identical, corals have radially-symmetrical bodies. Symmetry in nature lies rampant. Which is simultaneously normal and miraculous.] The colony is formed by a process called budding, which is where the original polyp literally grows copies of itself.[9]

Are coral animals? Yes, they are. Plus, they’re sessile.

Have you ever wondered if corals are rocks, plants or animals? Well, with their hardened surfaces, corals are sometimes mistaken as being rocks. Plus, because they attach themselves, “take root” to the seafloor, corals are often mistaken as being plants.[10] Corals are sessile, which means that they permanently attach themselves to the ocean floor, essentially "taking root" like most plants do.[11]

[In actuality], unlike rocks, corals are alive. And unlike plants, corals do not make their own food. Corals are animals. The branch or mound that is often called “a coral” is made up of thousands of tiny animals, which are called polyps.[12] Eureka.

What do dead coral look like?

Dead corals look like stone. When the ocean’s temperature changes to warmer than usual, corals tend to expel the algae that live within their tissue. Without algae, polyps turn pale. This process is called “coral bleaching” and usually results in their death.[13]

And, economically and in the natural sense of terms, coral reefs are a natural resource.

• 25 percent of all marine life depends on coral reefs[14]

• 500 million people depend of coral reefs for food, income, and coastal protection[15]

• USD 375 billion in services come from coral reefs each year[16]

About a year or so back I had come across how Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello use 3D printing, link below, to make small clay seeding units which are used for coral reef restoration. It is so ingenious, and a great example of how innovative experimenting with technology, different materials, and designing for the environment can be. I do believe in the power of small-scale solutions. These small clay seeding units could offer some relief to a very big problem.

Link |

Watch till 2:16 in 3D Printing Coral Reefs.

When it comes to coral reef restoration, one of the most well-known and widespread methods is the microfragmentation technique. Which was created by scientist Dr. David E. Vaughan. The microfragmentation technique consists of cutting coral into very small fragments to grow large to massive coral. This technique stimulates coral to grow very fast. We’ll come back to the microfragmentation technique again next week. You can listen to, link below, how Vaughan restores 100 year old dead coral by closing (reducing) the life-cycle of coral through spawning.

Link |

Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth[17], similar to that of tropical rainforests, only submerged. Coral reefs are our underwater forests. Waving their colours towards the light above their waters.

Have a good week ahead fellas. Ciao

P.S. I was reminded of one of my most beloved children’s picture book, “The Rainbow Fish”, by Swiss author and illustrator, Marcus Pfister. The shiny scales, the texture of the scales, and the story. A delightful memory to recollect. And which teaches children early on, the importance of sharing.

P.P.S. Next week’s post is titled “The Micro-Fragmentation Technique: Cutting Coral For More Coral”. Which is about the coral restoration method mentioned nearing the end of this post, created by Dr. David E. Vaughan.

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References

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef

[2] https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/shallow-coral-reef-habitat#:~:text=of%20all%20kinds.-,Rainforests%20of%20the%20Sea,quarter%20of%20all%20ocean%20species.

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_life#:~:text=Marine%20life%2C%20sea%20life%2C%20or,brackish%20water%20of%20coastal%20estuaries.&text=Other%20fish%20evolved%20into%20land,seals%2C%20dolphins%2C%20or%20whales.

[4] https://coral.org/en/

[5] "Ibid". [4]

[6] https://ecoevocommunity.nature.com/posts/how-many-corals-are-there#:~:text=According%20to%20our%20best%20estimates,each%20exceed%20one%20billion%20individuals.

[7] https://coral.org/en/coral-reefs-101/how-reefs-are-made/

[8] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral.html

[9] https://www.icriforum.org/about-coral-reefs/what-are-corals/#:~:text=Coral%20biology&text=Each%20individual%20coral%20animal%20is,literally%20grows%20copies%20of%20itself.

[10] https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/corals/coralanimals.html

[11] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral.html

[12]"Ibid". [10]

[13] https://snorkelaroundtheworld.com/2020/10/dead-coral-why-are-they-dying/#:~:text=Dead%20corals%20lose%20their%20coral,and%20usually%20result%20in%20death.

[14] "Ibid". [4]

[15] "Ibid". [4]

[16] "Ibid". [4]

[17] https://www.reefrelief.org/learn/coral-reef-ecosystem/#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20coral%20reef,sharks%2C%20dolphins%20and%20much%20more.