final Flashcards
Zooxanthellae
Single celled photosynthetic
algae that lives in the coral tissue
● Provides coral with low cost
energy
● Plays a role in light-enhanced
calcification of corals allowing for
rapid calcification that must
occur to form reef structures
What is Coral
Bleaching?
The photosynthetic algae
zooxanthellae is what gives coral its
deep brown colouring
● Bleaching is the loss of some or all
of this photosynthetic pigment
● White calcium carbonate skeleton
becomes visible
Causes of Coral
Bleaching
Environmental stressors:
pollutions
● Extremely high or low water
temperatures
● Low salinity
● Human activities
Solar Irradiance
● Subaerial exposure
● Sedimentation
● Fresh water dilution
Coral Bleaching
Impacts on Marine
Ecosystems
Increased predation
- Habitat degradation
- Extinction of vulnerable
species
what happens to fish in coral bleaching
Increased fish fights
- Fish are essential prey for
predators.
Coral Reef Economy
$1 trillion USD in global
benefits
- Medicinal ingredients
- Shoreline protection
- Tourism ($35.8 billion
USD)
- Fishing (livelihoods/food)
- *environmental value?
short term gain that damages coral
blast fishing, coral mining for sand, stone, rubble, aquariums and lime extractions
Long term gain for coral reefs
sustainability - Sustainable tourism/planning
- Protected areas/limit access
- Sustainable fishing
- Government regulation
(Hoegh-Guldberg, O. et al. 2015)
Social importance
of reef systems
Culturally significant species
- Indigenous practices
- Careers and livelihoods
- Community
Loss of coral reefs
impacts
Loss of work for people who rely on the
reefs for fishing
- Indigenous cultures can no longer
practice traditions related to the reefs
- Groups moving away from coastal areas
How coral
bleaching is being
prevented socially
Advisory panels
- Governance actors
- Social network analysis
The Ailan awareness
approach
An entirely indigenous lead initiative
towards marine rehabilitation
- Started in 1993 in Papua New Guinea
but has been consistently updated
- Funded by foundations from around
the world
- Now the method has spread across
the world and fosters collaboration
across this issue
Conservation and
Restoration Efforts for
Coral Reefs
Creating Marine Protected Areas
(MPAs) and No-Take Zones
Reducing Pollution and Runoff
● Controlling Overfishing
Different types of coral restoration
methods
Coral Nurseries:
-Coral Transplantation:
-Artificial Reef Structures:
Coral Gardening:
-Microfragmentation and Fusion:
-Larval Restoration:
-Genetic Considerations:
carbon dioxide over the last 800,000 years
increases 100x the regular rate of natural fluctuation GHG such as Methane
(CH4 ) & Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) have
also increased
Average warming
1.1 degrees celsius last ten years are the warmest years on record
Extreme weather frequency
quadrupled in frequency since 1980
extinction rate
1% per year and 69% in animal population size latin America the most at 94%
climate change affect on plants
plant metabolism, reduced biomass, plant cell damage affects northern hardwood tree distribution
Effects of Climate Change on Soil
Nutrient levels, pH levels, and microbial communities.
- Heavy rainfall or droughts, exacerbate soil
degradation processes.
- Increase in soil erosion between 9 and 56% in the
coming decades (Borrelli et al., 2020)
Animals: Trends in Biodiversity
North America: decline of avian species
- Cornell Lab estimates we’ve lost 3 billion wild birds, 29% of the 1970 North American
population (Rosenberg et al., 2019)
- Rising temperatures, acidic oceans, extreme weather to blame
Animals: Species Distribution and Climate Change
Climate change causes issues for species’ future viability due to shrinking
and/or fragmenting of already limited ranges
- Especially in biodiversity hotspots, such as the tropics (Raxworthy et al., 2008; Velasquez-
Tibata et al., 2013)
- As of 1998, 25 Canadian animal species physically restricted from
migration (Kerr and Packer, 1998)
- Arctic Ocean restricts any more northward movement
- Pressured by warming temperatures + species migrating from the south
- Example: northern collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus)
animal reactions to migration
not all uniform across all species
How will individuals be affected?
Changes to genetic composition(Scheffers
et al., 2016)
● New Adaptations
● Changes in morphology (Size, Colour,
wingspan)
● Changes in physiology(Functions,
digestion, disease resistance)
● Hybridization
Challenges in Projecting Future
Biodiversity:
Uncertainties and complexities in
predicting biodiversity loss due to
climate change (Bellard et al., 2012).
- Variability in estimates due to factors
such as habitat degradation and
species adaptation
tourist in Hawaii
Attract over 7 million tourists in 2005 (Friedlander et al., 2005).
* In recent years the average went up by 48% to 10.48 million visitors.
* Huge Influx of tourists to Hawaii after Covid
peak season for cruise ships in Hawaii
September and December
benefits of tourism in Hawaii
Economic growth and job opportunities
challlenges to to environmental sustainability
overcrowded beaches,
* Increases waste and pollution
* Destruction of natural habitats and
ecosystems
Increases plastic pollution
* Harms marine life and their ecosystem
* Solution: banned single-use plastic
Indirect impacts by tourism-related
developments and pollution
* Direct damage by on-reef activities of
tourists
* Degradation of habitat for marine life
- traffic congestion
solutions to congestionin hawaii
Local Government funding of projects to
relieve congestion
BUT
These projects end up being funded by
local taxpayers
And they don’t create permanent solutions!
What percentage of Canada’s oceans does the country aim to conserve by 2025 and 2030?
Canada aims to conserve 25% of its oceans by 2025 and 30% by 2030.
By what year does Canada seek to manage key fish and invertebrate stocks sustainably, based on a 2016 baseline?
Canada aims to manage key fish and invertebrate stocks sustainably by 2023, from a baseline of 96% in 2016.
How much did Canada allocate in its 2021 Budget towards ocean conservation?
Canada allocated $976.8 million in its 2021 Budget towards ocean conservation.
Under what framework does Canada implement science-based fisheries management?
Canada implements science-based fisheries management under the Sustainable Fisheries Framework.
What is the total budget for Canada’s Ocean Protection Plan?
Canada’s Ocean Protection Plan has a total budget of $1.5 billion.
What specific activities does Canada undertake for ocean monitoring and spatial planning?
Canada undertakes ocean monitoring and advancements in marine spatial planning as part of its conservation efforts.
Who does Canada collaborate with for ocean conservation efforts?
Canada collaborates with provincial and territorial partners for ocean conservation efforts.
Which stock collapsed leading to significant job losses in Canada’s fishing industry?
The collapse of the northern cod stock led to significant job losses in Canada’s fishing industry.
In what year did Canada’s fisheries minister ban cod fishing off the NE coast of Newfoundland?
Canada’s fisheries minister banned cod fishing off the NE coast of Newfoundland in 1992.
What were the consequences of the collapse of the northern cod stock in terms of jobs and social impact?
The collapse resulted in 40,000 fishermen and fish processors losing jobs, leading to social and economic chaos throughout Atlantic Canada.