Threats
From coraldigest
Threats to Corals and Coral Reefs
Nearly 60% of the world's coral reefs are threatened by human activity, and that number is even higher for Florida's reefs and reefs in the Caribbean. [1]
Natural Threats
- Tropical Cyclones
- Earthquakes and Tsunamis
- El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
- Population explosions (outbreaks) in certain species
Human-induced Threats
(some of these may be both natural and human-induced)
- Pollution including Water Pollution | Nutrient Loading | Plastics and Other Litter | Microplastics | Sewage Treatment
- Overfishing
- Physical Damage
- Sediment Overload (ex. from deforestation)
- Invasive Species
- The Coral Trade (jewelry, aquariums, etc.)
- Coral Mining
- Sunscreen
- DDAM (Dissolve Organic Matter (DOM), Disease, Algae, and Microbes) negative feedback loop
- Macroalgae
- The Impact of Warmer Water on Fish Behavior
Related to Climate Change
- Bleaching
- Disease
- Acidification
- The Potential Link Between Sea Surface Temperatures and Flooding
- Long-range Transport of Dust and Other Pollutants (ex. African dust or wildfire emissions)
Case Studies
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bryant, Dirk, Burke, Lauretta, McManus, John, Spalding, Mark, et. al. Reefs at Risk: A Map-Based Indicator of Threats to the World’s Coral Reefs. 1998. World Resources Institute (WRI), International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). http://pdf.wri.org/reefs.pdf