Claim

After exploring the interconnections of our planets environmental spheres, and how their interactions can result in different outcomes, it can be hypothesized that the Hydrosphere will associate with the Biosphere.

How do they interact?

From saying this, it is presumed they will interact via forms of pollution entering the Hydrosphere; whether via rain or the ocean, to in turn have a negative effect on the balance and functioning of the Biosphere; either the coastal plants or the marine life within the water. These pollutants can range from atmospheric deposition such as acidic rain, or as direct discharge into oceans and its connecting waterways like oil spillage and plastic pollution or littering. This can have a expected effect to disrupt the biosphere by affecting coastal systems and marine life, as for instance, chemical contaminants and excess nutrients in the water can harm coastal plants, lead to algal blooms, and degrade the health of marine organisms, ultimately impairing the overall ecological balance and biodiversity. 

Oil Spillages into the Hydrosphere:

This claim mainly revolves around the cause and effect of human pollution of oil leakages, dumping and spillages into the Hydrosphere, and from that the Biosphere. A marine oil spillage can be defined as a release of a form of liquid petroleum (or 'oil') into a aquatic environment, due to human disruption, and is a severe form of pollution. It has spiked as an environmental problem since the 1960's, due to the intensified amount of exploration into petroleum uses and its production. Before strong environmental regulations, spillages from wrecked or damaged oil supertankers was a significant issue, as they were able to carry 500,000 tons of oil. Even so, thousands of oil spills both large and small are reported every year, as the total amount of oil released into our oceans annually climbing over 1 million tons. Either unintentional or careless, these spillages of gasoline solvents by companies and individuals highly contribute to the worldwide environmental crisis. 

Damages:

Oil seepage into the ocean and Biosphere creates a incredibly dangerous and toxic reaction throughout. Firstly, the buildup of oil residue on aquatic surfaces and mixture into water will prevent large amounts of sunlight to not penetrate the surface, and depletes the levels of dissolved oxygen, which in turn can cause Hypoxia for the environments residents. Moreover, ingested oil can be highly toxic to affected animals, and the impact to their habitat and fertility survival rate (which is also effected by oil ingestion) can slow the recovery rate of the species populace. Oil also destroys the insulating ability and water repellence given to birds and their feathers, without this, birds are at risk of dying off from hypothermia. Despite efforts to clean birds that have come in contact to oil spillages, some say it may be better to let these creatures die off anyways, as according to statistics only 1% of cleaned and rehabilitated birds survive afterwards, as most still face fatal issues due to internal organs still undergoing damage from oil ingestion, trauma related shock, anemia, or in some cases, animals returning back to the spot they were rescued from.

Coral Reefs like Ningaloo Reef can come into contact with oil by 3 major ways:

• Oil that was residing on the upper surface of the ocean being deposited directly onto the coral and surfaces as the water levels drop at low tide.

• Rough seas can mix up oil product, were they can then drift down into coral reefs.

• As the heavy amounts of oil "Weathers", or becomes mixed with sand or sediments, it can become dense enough to sink and smother the coral below the surface.

As oil encounters coral, even if it doesn't kill them it can disrupt their reproduction, growth and development, or even behavior.