Mangroves Protecting Corals From Climate Change
10/23/14
Tiffany Chan
Website Posted October 8, 2014
Written By Caroline Rogers
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141008131601.htm
Summary: Research has been done by Eckerd College and the U.S. Geological Survey on coral living and growing on mangrove tree roots in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is thought that changing temperatures, pH, and high levels of solar radiation are causing the corals to seek refuge under these trees. The mangrove trees prevents coral bleaching from the sun and protects it from water acidity. Because of the slowed rate of coral bleaching, the coral will probably live longer. In addition, various chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of the mangrove trees' habitat maintains the water's pH levels. With the acidity levels of the ocean rising, coral, being extremely sensitive to a change in pH, would find the mangrove trees' habitat ideal. Because of change in their location, the corals will probably survive longer. With climate and conditions of habitats of various organisms changing, it is hoped that other organisms can adapt like the corals have.
Connection:By protection the corals from various things like coral bleaching, and a change in pH, the mangrove trees and the corals have a symbiotic relationship. In the ecosystems unit, symbiosis was a topic. The corals are helped by the mangrove trees since they are provided shelter and protected by the trees' roots from changing temperatures, solar radiation, and increasing acidity of the water. Because of this, this relationship is commensalism where one organism benefits and the other is neither affected nor harmed. Also, in the matter and energy unit, we were told that organisms were very sensitive to a change in pH. For example, human blood is around the pH level 7. If an organism's habitat strays too far from the required pH, it is most likely that the organisms will die. Because of this, the level of pH is crucial to the well-being of an environment.
How exactly do the various chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of this habitat protect corals from the rising acidity levels in the ocean?
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DeleteI'm not really sure what chemical or physical characteristics protect coral for the acidity of the ocean. However, the mangrove tree roots trap much of the sediment that would have headed further downstream. By preventing much of the sediment from going downstream, it protects the coral from over sedimentation as well as some heavy metal pollutants that adhere to sediment. Some of the pollutants may be contributing the the ocean acidity levels. By filtering the sediment out, the mangrove trees protect the corals from the changing acidity levels of the ocean.
ReplyDeleteDoes the coral have any negative impact on the mangrove tree? (like crowding it's space etc.)
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have any negative impact on the mangrove tree making the relationship between the corals and the mangrove trees commensalism.
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