Coral Reefs

Chase Dale

What Exactly are Coral Reefs?

The Great Barrier Reef

Image Credit: IBORISOFF/ISTOCK

Corals are one of the oldest species on the planet, dated to be over 400 million years old. With this incredible lifespan, corals have diversified into over 6000 different coral species. Most people think of Corals as hard body colorful creatures living in more shallow-water, tropical-zone areas. While this is true, there are also plenty of different corals that live in deeper, cooler areas. They are also incredibly colorful organisms that differ in their shapes and sizes.^1,2^,3

Coral reefs are structures of corals built by animals called Coral Polyps. Coral Polyps are individual organisms that structure themselves together to form colonies of corals. Each Polyp has a tiny stomach with an opening that catches small animals for food. A fundamental part of the life Corals is the fact that it contains a symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae. Corals provide a beneficial environment for this algae to undergo photosynthesis, allowing the corals to grow and survive. This algae and the process it goes through inside the corals is also what gives corals their magnificent spectrum of colors.²^,3

Coral reefs are the hosts of some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Dubbed the "rain forests of the sea," coral reefs provide and sustain the life of thousands of species.³^,5

Where are Coral Reefs Located?

Map of Reefs

https://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Coral-Reefs

Most of the coral reefs are located in the tropical zone. The tropical zone is considered areas that hover near the equator, where the temperature is generally quite high. The corals that build large colonies (the biggest reefs) cannot stand water temperatures below 18 degrees Celsius. Corals also tend to build themselves in areas of shallow water, where the penetration of sunlight is high. Sunlight is necessary for the function of photosynthesis to allow these coral reefs to expand effectively. ³

Pictured to the right is the World's largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef. It is located on the coast of Australia. There are about 2,900 different individual coral reefs that make up the Great Barrier Reef. It extends over 2,000 kilometers and hosts over 7,000 different species, making it one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.⁶

Worlds Biggest Coral Reef (Great Barrier Reef)

Image Credit: Getty Images

Deep Sea Coral Reef in UK

Image Credit: Wildlife Trust

Pictured left are what are called cold-water corals. These corals are unlike the tropical-zone corals. Tropical zone coral rely on sunlight and high temperatures so that the algae they host can undergo photosynthesis. These cold-water corals do not depend on a symbiotic algae like tropical-zone corals do. Because these corals don't depend on an algae like zooxanthellae to survive, these corals don't feature the same vibrant spectrum of color that tropical-corals do. ⁴

The Function of Corals?

From the surface, it doesn't seem like these creatures do very much as they tend to sit stagnate on the sea floor. In reality, corals and coral reefs are the main reasons why so many species can survive in the ocean. Just to give some clarity, it's noted that about a quarter of all of the ocean's fish depend on healthy coral reefs. So what is it that corals do?

Corals are dubbed the "Rain forests of the sea," and for good reason. Like rain forests, coral reefs are incredibly diverse ecosystems that offer all of the ingredients for organisms to sustain life. Really, coral reefs are the engines or machines that kick-start and sustain the creation of a livable and diverse environment. Because of how corals are structured, they making great hiding spots for smaller organisms that harvest micro-organisms. In turn, larger organisms search through these corals to hunt the smaller organisms for food. An entire web of life is spun solely through the existence of coral reefs.^2,5,7

"Therefore, a coral reef can turn an otherwise barren patch of sand into a bustling marine metropolis. All of this is made possible by the tiny coral polyps, most no larger than a single pearl."⁷

Not only are corals taking care of life in the sea, but they're also taking care of life on the ground. Coral reefs are actually vital to many of the local human communities they surround. They protect coastlines from storms and erosion. Without coral reefs, many coastal regions would, simply put, be destroyed. The people that live in these areas would lose their homes and everything necessary to support life. Amazingly enough, chemicals from corals are extracted and used to make medicines commonly used throughout the world.

The communities surrounding coral reefs have also utilized it as an economic function. Over 500 million people rely on coral reefs as a source of food. Coral reefs host a plethora of different sea-animals, in which people on the coastline fish, sell, and consume. The net value of coral reef's throughout the world is considered to be tens of billions of dollars.

The Destruction of Coral Reefs

Bleached Coral

Image Credit: Xl Catlin Seaview Survey

Coral Bleaching

Coral bleaching is the process in which corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissue. Coral bleaching occurs when the temperature of the sea rises. The rising temperature of the sea causes the corals to become stressed, creating an unfavorable environment for the algae, causing the algae to leave the coral. Because the algae is what gives corals their vibrant color, when the algae leaves the corals system, the coral loses its color and turns a stark white. This process doesn't necessarily kill the coral, though. It leaves them in a weak, stressed state, leaving them susceptible to disease. If corals are stressed for a long period of time, they will end up dying.

The rise in the temperature of the ocean is most commonly caused by climate change, the increasing levels of acidity in the ocean, and general pollution, all of which coming directly from humans.^10,11

Algae Bloom

Algae bloom is the overgrowth of algae in the sea and ocean. Caused by both pollution and rising sea temperatures, algae bloom is a detriment to the coral reef ecosystem. Algae bloom can release toxic chemicals into the environment, killing corals, fish, and other small organisms. Because of the excess algae present in the water, sunlight has a much harder time penetrating the ocean surface, meaning that anything requiring sunlight to survive (photosynthesis) will have a much more difficult time trying to live.⁹

Toxic Algae Bloom

Image Credit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9070000/9070148.stm

Process of Ocean Acidification

https://www.bioacid.de/ocean-acidification/?lang=en

Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification is the process of excess carbon dioxide entering the ocean. Through climate change and pollution, more greenhouse gasses, specifically carbon dioxide, are being pumped into the environment. This carbon dioxide enters the ocean, and through numerous chemical reactions, forms bicarbonate ions, while simultaneously heating up the environment. The increased temperatures of the environment is one of the causes for coral bleaching. On top of this, Corals use carbonate ions to create their skeletal structures. With an increased amount of bicarbonate ions in the ocean (due to the increased amount of carbon dioxide), there is a shortage of carbonate ions, making it much more difficult for corals to healthily form their skeletal structure.⁸

The Socioeconomic & Ecological Impacts (WIP)

Socioeconomic

Coral reefs are a major source of income for many of the people who live near them.
Because coral reefs are ecosystems, when they die off, every being depending on coral reefs will also be affected. If coral reefs die off, there will be less fish available, which people need for food and job opportunities.

Ecological

Coral reefs are some of the most bio-diverse ecosystems on the planet, the destruction of these reefs is limiting our bio-diversity
Coral bleaching makes it much harder for coral to reproduce and thrive.

The Ethical Impacts

Moral Standing

Having a moral standing refers to the idea that you have a right to be respected. Willott and Schmidtz define things with a moral standing as "things to whom (or to which) we can have obligations." (Willot & Schmidtz, 2002)) The question then becomes: who are the beings that we have obligations to? There are three main perspectives in reference to which beings we humans can have obligations to: Anthropocentrism, Biocentrism, and Ecocentrism. Through these three perspectives I will attempt to explain why Coral Reefs do in fact have a moral standing and why protecting them is essential to all beings around the world.

The anthropocentric perspective is the view that only humans are the only beings deserving of a moral standing, that humans are inherently superior to all other beings. In the case of coral reefs, an anthropocentrist would perhaps argue that because corals are not human, and therefore undeserving of a moral standing, fishers should heavily fish and harvest coral reefs because it is profitable. An inherent problem with this viewpoint is that not only are thousands of species dependent on these coral reefs to survive, but the same fishers and humans over-harvesting these coral reefs are dependent on the survival of coral in similar ways. Firstly, the humans that live near coral reefs are protected by these coral reefs. While it's true that it may be profitable to harvest coral in the short term, there will eventually be no more protection from storms, erosion, and other weather related issues. Ultimately, wiping out the coral reefs by over-fishing and harvesting would lead to the destruction of houses, islands, and even lives. On top of this, if there are no more corals to build reefs, aquatic life in these areas would disappear. There would no longer be a "bustling marine metropolis." Not only would the disappearance of coral reefs harm and even endanger some of the species that live there, but millions of humans rely on the aquatic life for food and job opportunities. To say that corals are undeserving of a moral standing simply because they're not human beings is ignorant to the thousands of species that rely on them, especially humans.¹²

The biocentric perspective is the view that the idea of moral standing extends to all living beings, that humans are equal to all living creatures (Willott & Schmidtz, 2002). Paul Taylor, one of the most famous philosophers working in the field of environmental ethics believed that there were four main components to the biocentric outlook on life.

He believed that,

(1) Humans are thought of as members of the Earth's community of life, holding that membership on the same terms as apply to all the nonhuman members.

(2) The Earth's natural ecosystems as a totality are seen as a complex web of interconnected elements, with the sound biological functioning of each being dependent on the sound biological functioning of the others. (This is the component referred to earlier as the great lesson that the science of ecology has taught us.)

(3) Each individual organism is conceived of as a teleological center of life, pursuing its own good in its own way.

(4) Whether we are concerned with standards of merit or with the concept of inherent worth, the claim that humans by their very nature are superior to other species is a groundless claim and, in the light of elements (I), (2), and (3), must be rejected as nothing more than an irrational bias in our own favor. (Taylor, 1989)

Under these views, a bio-centrist would argue that not only do corals have a moral standing, but that we must also protect and preserve them. The first component states that bio-centrists believe humans to be a member of "Earth's community of life, holding that membership on the same terms as apply to all the nonhuman members." Humans, compared to the vast majority of species in the world, are a very young species. Compared to corals we are infants. In this sense alone a bio-centrist would insist that we respect and protect coral reefs on the basis that they've been here much longer and that we have no claim to superiority.

The second component explains how the world and its organisms are all incredibly interdependent. The destruction of coral reefs would impede on thousands of species ability to survive. Coral reefs are a huge part of this web that has been spun over the millions of years of life. Showing ignorance to the life of corals would be showing ignorance to the life of the millions dependent on them as well. Really, it's being ignorant to life itself.

The third component states that every organism is a "teleological center of life, pursuing good in its own way." Every organism in coral reefs, including corals, are seeking and pursuing "good" in their own way. These different species have been around for so long because they've been able to pursue and find that "good" that has allowed them to survive for the hundreds of millions of years that they have. Just like humans, all organisms are trying to survive, to avoid harm and seek benefits. If this weren't the case then there wouldn't be any life on the planet as a whole.

The fourth component simply explains that humans claim for superiority is baseless and therefore should not be treated as such. In light of the three previous components, to say that nonhuman organisms are undeserving of a moral standing rejects the phenomena of life itself. A countless number of species and organisms have existed far before humans. To claim that we are superior based on our different abilities ignores the experience and evolution other species have faced as well. Who are we to claim that we are better? Just like other beings, our only inherent goal is to survive.

The ecocentric perspective is a view extending further on the biocentric perspective, holding that "ecosystems, habitats, species, and populations are the central objects for environmental concern." (DesJardins, 2018)

"Ecocentrism sees the ecosphere – comprising all Earth's ecosystems, atmosphere, water and land – as the matrix which birthed all life and as life's sole source of sustenance. It is a worldview that recognizes intrinsic value in ecosystems and the biological and physical elements that they comprise, as well as in the ecological processes that spatially and temporally connect them." (Gray, 2018)

Ecocentrists would argue that coral reefs have a moral standing, that we humans have the responsibility and obligation to preserve and protect coral reefs. They recognize that coral reefs hold intrinsic value within themselves, that they have value in their own right. Coral reefs do have intrinsic value--they have the intrinsic value of hosting life. Coral reefs contain the ingredients to form entire eco-systems, to build up life from nothing. They offer a breeding grounds to the countless amounts of species living in the ocean. Without coral reefs, a large portion of species relying on coral reefs simply wouldn't exist. Our world functions on biodiversity, a position that ecocentrists hold. If we were to neglect the preservation of coral reefs, we would be massively limiting our biodiversity. The functions necessary to sustain life for the countless number of species residing on our planet would slowly disappear as coral reefs diminish. From the ecocentrist perspective, coral reefs are absolutely demanding of a moral standing and we have humans have an obligation to protect them.¹²

Corals absolutely demand a moral standing. The anthropocentric view that many people hold is what is killing off the coral reefs we have. Those with the anthropocentric viewpoint are willing to exploit and deplete any and all resources for the benefit of humans as they see humans as inherently superior beings. Because of this, the anthropocentric viewpoint allows for the neglect of pollution, climate change, and many other factors that are causing coral reefs to diminish (and really, our world as a whole!) In reality, coral reefs are much more important than the economic benefits we can reap from exploiting them. They offer a grounds for the life of a countless number of species--they promote seemingly everlasting biodiversity in the ocean. Through the biocentric and ecocentric perspectives, we have an obligation to protect these beings. It's morally and ethically wrong to exploit a being just as deserving of the natural rights that we, humans, have.

What Happens if all the Coral Dies?

How Scientists are Restoring the Great Barrier Reef

Sources

General information derived from:

Coral reef ecosystems. Coral reef ecosystems | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems.
US Department of Commerce, N. O. and A. A. (2007, October 12). NOAA's Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS) - What are Coral Reefs. NOAA Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS) Home Page. https://www.coris.noaa.gov/about/what_are/.
US Department of Commerce, N. O. and A. A. (2013, June 1). What Are Corals? - Corals: NOAA's National Ocean Service Education. What Are Corals? Corals Tutorial. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_corals/coral01_intro.html.
Deep-water corals. The Wildlife Trusts. (n.d.). https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/habitats/marine/deep-water-corals.
from sisterMAG 30 – Coral & Glam – Sektion 1by sisterMAG. (2019, July 9). The Lungs of the Planet. issuu. https://issuu.com/sister_magazine/docs/en_sistermag30_1/s/121897.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, May 2). Great Barrier Reef. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef.
Coral Reefs: Rainforests of the Sea. (n.d.). https://www.oceanicresearch.org/education/films/crrain.html.
Scientists Pinpoint How Ocean Acidification Weakens Coral Reefs. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. (2018, January 29). https://www.whoi.edu/press-room/news-release/scientists-identify-how-ocean-acidification-weakens-coral-skeletons/.
Davies, E. (2010, October 8). Earth News - Toxic algae rapidly kills coral. BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9070000/9070148.stm.
US Department of Commerce, N. O. and A. A. (2010, March 15). What is coral bleaching? NOAA's National Ocean Service. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html.
Anthropocentric factors that affect the coral reefs in the Thousand Islands - A-Level Geography - Marked by Teachers.com. Marked by Teachers. (n.d.). http://www.markedbyteachers.com/as-and-a-level/geography/anthropocentric-factors-that-affect-the-coral-reefs-in-the-thousand-islands.html.
Gray, J. (n.d.). Ecocentrism: What it means and what it implies. Ecocentrism: What it means and what it implies (The Ecological Citizen). https://www.ecologicalcitizen.net/article.php?t=ecocentrism-what-means-what-implies.
DesJardines, J. R. (n.d.). Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ecocentrism.
Taylor, P. W. (1989). Respect for nature: a theory of environmental ethics. Princeton University Press.
Schmidtz, D., & Willott, E. (2002). Environmental ethics: what really matters, what really works. Oxford University Press.

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