Climate Change and Coral Reef Bleaching: An Ecological Assessment of Long-Term Impacts, Recovery Trends and Future Outlook

Climate Change and Coral Reef Bleaching: An Ecological Assessment of Long-Term Impacts, Recovery Trends and Future Outlook

Introduction

This research paper focuses on the changes in climate and coral bleaching. This research work was carried out by Andrew C. Baker, Peter W. Glynna, and Bernhard Riegl in the year 2008.

Research Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives of this research work emphasis on the impact of bleaching due to long term ecological occurrences and impending recovery instead of delivering a review of its rampant impact and mechanisms of bleaching, because such notions have already been studied by several authors in this regard.

Research Method

The method used for the analysis in this research work is Meta Analysis. This method has become a research method for explaining long term and large scale trends in entire ecosystem and coral reefs. However, relationship among SST anomalies and longitude/latitude cell percentage was also observed, whereas, the mean daily temperature of some specific areas were also analyzed.

Affects on Coastal Areas

Coastal areas are extremely affected by coral bleaching, coral bleaching is reducing the life expectancy of coral reefs which are highlt important for biodiversity and provides home to more than 25% of marine life. Coral reefs form a natural barrier islands and low-lying coastal areas, absorbing storm surges. In the past few decades due to increased sea temperatures and intensive human economy and pollution killed nearly 20 percent of the world's reefs. One of the most significant impact of coral bleaching is the variability of the responses of different species to heat stress.

Discussion

During the last 20 years there has been in all the world's tropical seas a phenomenon known as coral bleaching. It is characterized by loss of color in corals (Nicholls, 1999). Under ...