Overview:
Coral reefs are among the most fascinating and biodiverse ecosystems on our planet, yet they are faced with new challenges every day that threaten their survival. How do wildfires and ash impact coral reefs? This is the question we plan to answer through extensive research and an original experiment. We plan to experience the effects of ash on coral firsthand and write a short paper detailing our results in hopes of contributing to a greater understanding of the truly devastating impacts of wildfires on marine communities.
Research Questions:
Corals like Caribbean staghorn coral are more vulnerable to smothering from ash than other species, such as Orbicella Faveolata. Soft quarrels, such as the ones we will be using, can be smothered fairly easily by ash. However, while some coral may be more resilient than others, too much sedimentation can be detrimental for any coral. This variable shouldn’t impact our experiment too much, as the results will be natural and real.
To protect coral from wildfires we need to work to prevent fires, then mitigate any impacts if said fire occurs. Also, we should work to reduce carbon emissions which occur by burning fossil fuels to release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to rising ocean temperatures and acidification. Our society should also work to use fire-resistant materials in coastal construction to limit debris washed into the ocean. Additionally, it would be helpful if we could work to speed up the process of clearing debris after fires, especially when it's near the coast.
Fire debris directly impacts coral because the stress on the environment caused by fire debris can make coral reefs less resilient to other environmental stresses such as rising ocean temperatures. Additionally debris from houses like wood, toxic metals, furniture can cover coral reefs, blocking sunlight needed for photosynthesis, which is essential for coral growth. Coral can also become entangled in debris, leading to irreversible damage, and sometimes death.