Effect of climate Change on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR)
Rising sea temperatures:
Empirical evidence shows that the rising temperatures caused by climatic changes have a ripple impact on the GBR due to the interdependence between algae found on the coral reef tissue and sea animals that feed on it (GBR Marine Park Authority, 2011). More importantly, rising temperatures stress coral reefs because they are highly responsive to fluctuating temperatures; in particular, if sea temperatures remain higher than usual overtime due to climate change, algae that depend on corals for food may escape the tissue. The effect of algae leaving the tissue is manifested when the corals change color to white. Notably, algae have pigmentations that give corals their natural color. Consequently, bleached corals are frail and unhealthy, which affects their ability to combat diseases. Eventually, the rising sea temperature leads to coral bleaching. As the situation escalates, coral reefs face the challenge of starvation and eventually extinction (Johnson & Marshall, 2007). Moreover, Johnson et al., (2007) indicates that some seaweed may profit from the rising sea temperatures; but on the contrary, other sea animals that depend on the coral reefs will heavily be affected due to destructions of their habitats and food chains. Besides, the rising sea temperatures not only affect the reef ecosystem physically and biologically; but also, the water quality.
1.2 Extreme weather:
According to Devline et al., (2012) the extreme weathers conditions that significantly affect the coral reef are mainly floods and cyclones. The argument by Devline is collaborated by a report by the GBF Marine Park Authority (2011), which indicates that whenever there are floods and cyclones, 6% of the area covered by reef estimated at 89,000Km2 suffers severe cyclone run-off including broken corals. Moreover, hurricanes create strong wind turbulence and torrents that shake the foundations of the shallow great barrier reefs causing cyclone run-offs that damage the reefs. Further, the strong torrents and wind waves create significant variations in the quality of sea water.
References
Johnson, E., & Marshall P., (2007). Climate change and the great barrier reef: A vulnerability assessment.
GBR Marine Park Authority, (2011). Impacts of rising sea temperatures on the reef.
Devlin, M., Brodie, J., Wenger, A., Da Silva.E., Alvarez-Romeo, J.G., Waterhouse, J., & McKenzie, L (2012). Extreme weather conditions in the great barrier reef: Divers of change?
GBR Marine Park Authority, (2011). Extreme Weather and the Great Barrier Reef.
