Can corals survive a bleaching event? Discuss the factors responsible for the coral bleaching and suggest measures to prevent it.(200 Words)
Refer - The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands
IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
· If the stress-caused bleaching is not severe, coral have been known to recover. If the algae loss is prolonged and the stress continues, coral eventually dies.
· A healthy, resilient reef can either resist a stressful event, like bleaching, or recover from it. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive if water temperatures return to normal quickly.
Rising Temperature:
· A major stressor is increased or decreased water temperature traced to global warming owing to human activities. Summer coral bleaching has been attributed to high sea surface temperature in conjunction with high solar irradiance.
Subaerial Exposure:
· Sudden exposure of corals to the atmosphere, when there is extreme low tide, El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) related sea level drops or tectonic uplifts, can induce bleaching.
· These coupled with high or low temperatures of the water, increased solar radiation and sea water dilution could result in loss of zooxanthellae and death of corals.
Sedimentation:
· It has been held that sediment loading could make the algae zooxanthellae more likely to bleach.
· Dilution of Fresh Water Storm-generated precipitation and runoffs dilute reef waters and cause coral bleaching. But such bleaching events are known to be rare. Even when they occur, they are limited to small near shore areas.
Xenobiotics:
· When corals are exposed to high concentrations of chemical contaminants like copper, herbicides and oil, coral bleaching happens.
Epizootics:
· Pathogens can cause bleaching but this is different from other kinds of bleaching. In pathogen-induced bleaching, coral diseases result in patchy or whole colony death and sloughing of soft tissues.
· In the Mediterranean Sea, the coral Oculina patagonica has undergone bleaching. This was due to an infectious bacterium, Vibrio shiloi that attacked the symbiotic zooxanthellae.
Measures
· Solutions for protecting the future for coral must transcend social, economic and cultural boundaries.
· Halting unplanned coastal development would play a significant role in reversing the decline of reefs in some locations.
· Promoting sustainable fishing and providing opportunities for ecotourism can help conserve corals.
· There is a need to minimise the use of chemically enhanced fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides which are non degradable and harm corals.
Usha Sri 5 years
Please review this
IAS Parliament 5 years
What is coral bleaching ? is not part of the question. Can corals survive bleaching event? remain unanswered. Try to underline key points. Keep Writing.
Raj 5 years
Kindly Review. Thanks
IAS Parliament 5 years
Good attempt. Keep Writing.
IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
· If the stress-caused bleaching is not severe, coral have been known to recover. If the algae loss is prolonged and the stress continues, coral eventually dies.
· A healthy, resilient reef can either resist a stressful event, like bleaching, or recover from it. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive if water temperatures return to normal quickly.
Rising Temperature:
· A major stressor is increased or decreased water temperature traced to global warming owing to human activities. Summer coral bleaching has been attributed to high sea surface temperature in conjunction with high solar irradiance.
Subaerial Exposure:
· Sudden exposure of corals to the atmosphere, when there is extreme low tide, El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) related sea level drops or tectonic uplifts, can induce bleaching.
· These coupled with high or low temperatures of the water, increased solar radiation and sea water dilution could result in loss of zooxanthellae and death of corals.
Sedimentation:
· It has been held that sediment loading could make the algae zooxanthellae more likely to bleach.
· Dilution of Fresh Water Storm-generated precipitation and runoffs dilute reef waters and cause coral bleaching. But such bleaching events are known to be rare. Even when they occur, they are limited to small near shore areas.
Xenobiotics:
· When corals are exposed to high concentrations of chemical contaminants like copper, herbicides and oil, coral bleaching happens.
Epizootics:
· Pathogens can cause bleaching but this is different from other kinds of bleaching. In pathogen-induced bleaching, coral diseases result in patchy or whole colony death and sloughing of soft tissues.
· In the Mediterranean Sea, the coral Oculina patagonica has undergone bleaching. This was due to an infectious bacterium, Vibrio shiloi that attacked the symbiotic zooxanthellae.
Measures
· Solutions for protecting the future for coral must transcend social, economic and cultural boundaries.
· Halting unplanned coastal development would play a significant role in reversing the decline of reefs in some locations.
· Promoting sustainable fishing and providing opportunities for ecotourism can help conserve corals.
· There is a need to minimise the use of chemically enhanced fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides which are non degradable and harm corals.
· Harmful industrial waste must be treated before being disposed of in bodies of water. Water pollution should be avoided wherever possible by not dumping chemicals or oils in water bodies.
