6 minute read
The Lungs of the Planet
Diving into the world’s most diverse ecosystem
Coral reefs are home to so many living species that scientists have literally lost count. It’s no wonder, then, that these wonders of the natural world are considered to be the world’s most diverse ecosystem. Something so precious is worth protecting an effort that’s becoming increasingly necessary.
They burst in all colours of the rainbow, form in Gaudían structures, and you’ll never find the same one twice – indeed, coral reefs are among the world’s most breathtaking spectacles. The most famous constellation of coral reefs, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, is even listed among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and is protected as a World Heritage Site.
But they’re much more than a feast for the eyes. Coral reefs are considered to be the world’s most diverse ecosystem and are often referred to as the »lungs of the planet.« Home to between 35,000 and 60,000 identified species, with an estimated 1 to 9 million more residing anonymously within their calcium catacombs, their importance to ocean life cannot be understated.
That’s probably because, in addition to marine housing, coral reefs are living organisms themselves. These intricate living and breathing structures form when jellyfishlike polyps attach themselves to the seabed and start secreting calcium carbonate to build a hard exoskeleton around their soft bodies. When conditions are right for these polyps to settle in massive colonies, you get coral reefs that can cover hundreds of thousands of square kilometres.
While the 2,300-kilometre-log Great Barrier Reef was formed around 20,000 years ago, the formation of most modern coral reefs coincides with ice melts following the last glacial period around 10,000 years ago. They develop in three primary formations: fringing, barrier, and atolls. Fringing reefs start growing from the shore towards the sea; barrier reefs grow along a coastline but are separated from the shore by water; and atolls are essentially a ring of corals around a lagoon. The atolls of the Maldives in the Indian Oceanare an especially alluring coral crescendo.
Unfortunately, they’ve also beendamaged by warming oceantemperatures resulting fromclimate change. Scientistsdiscovered that more than 60 percent of reefs in the Maldivessuffer from »bleaching,«a temperature stressinducedcondition thatturns coral white andcould lead to permanentdestruction. Today, coralreefs around the world aremore endangered than atany other point in history. Someestimates suggest 30 per cent ofthe world’s coral reefs have beenlost since the 1950s, a numberscientists predict could rise to 70per cent by 2050.
Interview
The continued decline of coral reefs would have a devastating effect on the ocean’s biodiversity and world’s tropical regions. In fact, German author and journalist Heinz Krimmer, who’s studied reefs for over 30 years as an underwater photographer and ocean expert, considers them to be »more valuable than Google and Apple.« His recently published book, »Coral Reef Network,« reveals just how crucial coral reefs are to life, the extent to which human activity has damaged them, and how we can protect their existence in the future.
We spoke to him about what we can learn from coral reefs, the most surprising facts of his research, and how corals play a critical role in medical research...
Q: What is the most important thing we can learn from coral reefs?
A: The great American ecologist Eugene P. Odum answered this question perfectly. In 1980 he wrote in his magnum opus, Fundamentals of Ecology, that man can learn a lot from the coral reef about recycling and the art of surviving in a world with scarce resources – an indication to pursue a better symbiosis with the plants and animals on which we depend.
Together with the help of photosynthetic algae, coral reefs create one of the world’s most species-rich ecosystems using just a few nutrients and solar energy. They are a common work of living creatures, and don’t belong to a single species, genus, or family. They belong to various realms within the biological system.
Q: What surprised you most during your research about coral reefs?
A: Their gigantic economic value. The monetary value coral reefs generate annually can be calculated at around $172 billion USD. Some researchers estimate as high as a trillion dollars.I’m also impressed by their resilience, which could allow them to defy the effects of climate change provided that the reduction targets set out by the Paris Climate Agreements are met. It should also be known that climate change has not and likely will not entirely cause the destruction of reefs, but rather it will result from a combination that also includes pollution, physical destruction, and overfishing.I’m encouraged that the tourism industry, as a whole, is having a positive impact on the protection of coral reefs.
Q: Why do coral reefs have such an important economic value?
A: There is not a single ecosystem that provides us with »services« in so many economically important areas. Coral reefs create land, like islands and coasts. Not only that, but they also protect it from destruction by wind and waves. Almost all coastal areas and islands in the tropics are marked by coral reefs, which of course are a major benefit to tourism as well.Most of the world's oil and gas deposits are stored in fossil reefs, and coral reefs belong to the largest calcium producers on the planet. Calcium is one of the most important components of industrial production.While reefs cover only about 0.2 per cent of the ocean floor, they are home to 12 per cent of the world’s total fish imports. At the same time, they export biomass, food, and species to other ecosystems.
Coral reefs are indispensable for ocean biodiversity – 30% of all oceans' fish species live in coral reefs.Medicinal ingredients found in reefs are very promising for medical research. The chemical compound AZT, which is used to treat and prevent AIDS, is found in Caribbean sea sponges. Overall, around 500 million people depend directly and indirectly on coral reefs.
Q: What are the consequences if corals continue to die?
A: If the corals die, there will be no coral reef ecosystem anymore. The consequences would be disastrous in the tropics. All the coral islands and large coastal regions would be damaged by flooding, as the reefs could no longer protect the coasts. People living in these zones would lose their homes. Fish exports in the tropics would collapse. Not only in the reefs, but also in all other ecosystems that rely on reefs for their biomass and nutrient supply. The tourism industry in the tropics would lose much of its appeal and the biodiversity of the oceans would decrease significantly.
Q: What can people do to protect the coral reefs?
A: The establishment of as many marine protection areas as possible is the first and most important measure if coral reefs are to have a chance against climate change due to high CO 2 emissions. Only healthy reefs have a way to defy warmer water temperatures and oceanic acidification. We’re seeing more protected areas being developed, but it is by no means sufficient.
Reef protection has been supported primarily by NGOs and very few policy initiatives. As an individual, you can help by donating to these organizations.If you go on vacation, you should try to forgo booking based only on the cheapest price, but also opt for companies that are active in environmental protection.We can all help with climate change. Avoid CO 2 emissions wherever possible – run or ride your bike instead of taking the car, for example.
Text: Christian Näthler
Photos: Alice Williamson
About the Author
Christian Näthler is a content creator whose work spans all aspects of digital media. He grew up and studied in Canada, and currently lives in Berlin.
