Shifting Baselines
Most people are unaware of the natural history of the ocean.
Without this knowledge, our baseline concept of its natural state
continues to shift, and we come to accept its current state as normal.
This is the problem of Shifting Baselines.
The Bounty of Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are sometimes called the rainforests of the sea.
Amazingly, however, this diversity thrives in ocean waters that are much
more similar to deserts.
Coral Holobiont
The coral animal is a symbiotic community comprised of all three
Domains of life, called the coral holobiont. A precariously balanced
system, the coral holobiont has unique strategies to gain energy and
nutrients.
Coral Bleaching
The reduction of zooxanthellae is called coral
bleaching as it exposes the white skeleton of the coral animal.
Potentially lethal, a number of factors cause coral bleaching.
The Maintenance of Coral Reef Health
The maintenance of a healthy coral reef is precarious.
How does
overfishing, nutrients & dissolved organic carbon(DOC) affect
this equilibrium?