Tropical Fish Naso Tang (Naso lituratus)

Saving the Coral Reefs

At Wellness Cove, our 4th guiding principle is, “It’s fun to learn and cool to be smart.” If your child loves learning, you have set them up for success. You should love learning too and set an example for your kids. However, we understand that parents can get stuck in the rat race and forget how important it is to never stop learning. When we are learning, we are growing; we are alive. The best way to learn is to teach. We hope this class will encourage you to teach your kids to appreciate the spectacular underwater world God created for us. We hope you will be motivated to help save the coral reefs. Polar explorer Robert Swan said it best: “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” So, put away your cellphones; class is now in session.

Global Warming

There is a lot of talk about global warming. It is real. The temperature of our earth is increasing because human activities, including transportation, industry, and animal agriculture, release gases such as CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere and trap heat. This is referred to as the greenhouse effect. The temperature of our oceans is increasing because the ocean absorbs 93% of the excess heat generated by global warming. This increase in temperature is killing the coral reefs.

What is a coral reef?

Coral is classified as an animal. The living coral comprises many tiny polyps, as shown in the photograph. These polyps secrete calcium carbonate and create the hard skeleton that provides the structure of the coral reef. The coral reef contains microscopic algae that provide food for the coral. The reefs provide shelter and breeding grounds for many marine organisms. The coral reef ecosystem is one of the most diverse on our planet and is enjoyed by divers worldwide. Your child can learn all about the coral reef ecosystem in Book 3 of the Healthy Planet. Healthy Me series available on Amazon.

Why are coral reefs essential for our survival?

Coral reefs are essential for our survival for many reasons. Here are just a few. First, they provide shelter, food, and breeding grounds for 25% of all marine species. Next, they protect our shorelines from erosion by absorbing energy from waves and storms. Third, because of their rich biodiversity, they are a source of some essential compounds used for medicines. Fourth, the coral reef ecosystem is a huge carbon sink, meaning the plants here take carbon out of the atmosphere, the anecdote to global warming.

Why are the coral reefs in danger?

When the ocean temperature increases, the coral polyps expel the algae which lives with them symbiotically. The algae is needed for energy, so the coral then dies, leaving the calcium skeleton. This is called coral bleaching. The dying coral is directly related to the rising temperature of the ocean. Thus coral reefs are the canary in the coal mine. Overfishing and pollution are also contributing to the extinction of our coral reefs.

What can your family do to save the coral reefs?

  • Educate yourself so that you can educate others. If our oceans die, we die.
  • Eat less fish. Overfishing is contributing to the extinction of coral reefs. Our ocean is being exploited. The good news is, if we leave the ocean alone, it will recover.
  • Eat less meat (animal agriculture has a huge impact on global warming. This will be the topic of a future class.)
  • Recycle. Use less plastic. NEVER buy disposable water bottles. Buy a nice reusable water bottle for yourself and your kids.
  • Try to leave a smaller carbon footprint. Drive less. Walk or bike when you can. Carpool when you can. Consider an electric vehicle.
  • Donate to coral restoration foundations such as the Coral Restoration Foundation. https://www.coralrestoration.org/

Homework: Watch the documentary Chasing Coral.

Author of this article: Christopher S Dickson, MD