The consequences of a planet with a rapidly rising temperature is not restricted to the changes on land but it will also have negative impacts on the ocean. One of the most devasting consequences of climate warming is the effects on marine life because of coral bleaching. Coral ecosystems are vital to maintaining diverse marine ecosystems and supporting thousands of marine animals. The coral depends on their relationship with microscopic algae (called zooxanthellae), which gives coral their primary food source, the coral its colour and creates a safe environment for algea. This relationship can be disrupted when the water temperature changes by even few degrees. When the waters warm during a period of extremely warm temperatures the corals become stressed and ejected out the microscopic algae. The coral then turns white and is more vulnerable to diseases, this is coral bleaching. 

While coral bleaching does not mean that the corals are dead, if the microscopic algae are able to get back to the corals, they may be able to survive. In 2005, a bleaching event cause the loss of halve of the Caribbean coral reefs. World-wide up too 75% of the coral reefs have experienced a bleaching event and for 30% the bleaching events were fatal. Because these ecosystems are vital to the reef marine system, many species will be facing extinction. While these effects will have large negative consequences for marine life, this will also have huge harmful effects on human lives. For people who depend on fishing for their livelihood, the collapse of fish systems will threaten food security and will contribute to the issue of over-fishing. Coral reefs are more than areas of productive marine ecosystems, but can also act as natural barriers. They can protect coastal communities from waves and storm surges and are much more effective at coastal protection than any man-made invention. As 40% of urban areas are along the coast, with combination with sea-level rise and increasing storm intensity, it is crucial that we save these incredibly diverse areas.  

Acknowledgments: 

Oceanservice.noaa.gov. (2019). What is coral bleaching?. [online] Available at: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html [Accessed 30 Sep. 2019].

World Wildlife Fund. (2019). Everything you need to know about coral bleaching—and how we can stop it. [online] Available at: https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/everything-you-need-to-know-about-coral-bleaching-and-how-we-can-stop-it [Accessed 30 Sep. 2019].