The 10 types of Coral Reefs possibly disappear by 2025.

The 10 types of Coral Reefs possibly disappear by 2025.

In the ocean coral reefs are the big city. This great diversity is however facing a serious threat. Global warming, environmental degradation, and commercial fishing are putting some of the most recognizable species on edge.

Moving into 2025, it is with an even greater sense of urgency that these underwater wonders are in danger and have to be preserved. This paper will examine the most endangered 10 species of coral reefs, what are the threats to the survival of the species and why important that we save the species to maintain the health of the seas.

1. Staghorn Coral

Staghorn Coral is the once prevalent coral that builds reefs throughout the Caribbean which has since lost more than 98 percent of its population since the 1980s. The antlered structure of this species puts it under much vulnerability to coral bleaching that comes with increasing at sea temperature. It is prone to disease outbreaks and prone to loss due to storms. This is one of the leading factors that contribute to the loss of the structural complexity of the Caribbean reefs to a large extent.

2. Elkhorn Coral

Elkhorn Coral is another foundation species to Caribbean reef systems that is closely related to the Staghorn. Its branched, but flattened troops form the very necessary maze-like barriers to coastal waves and erosion. Exposed to the same dangers of ocean acidification, disease (namely white band disease) and bleaching, it now faces the more dire threat of becoming endangered. The demise of these major foundational corals compare to the collapse of the skeleton of a skyscraper.

3. Hawksbill sea turtle

Millions of years ago, Hawksbill sea turtles were an essential part of a coral reef ecosystem as they ensure wellbeing by consuming sponges that would powerhouse out corals due to shortage of space. It is their exquisitely beautiful shells that have proved their greatest curse insofar as they have attracted the illegal wildlife trade. They also fall victims to bycatch on fishing equipment and poaching of their eggs, as well as losing their nesting shores to coastal development.

4. Blue Coral

A distinctive and very ancient group of organisms, Blue Coral is the only octocoral to make a giant skeleton. Although it is called brown, the living flesh of this octopus is actually brown, its skeleton is an incredibly beautiful blue, so it has been sought by the aquarium trade. It lives in the Indo-Pacific, and is prey to bleaching and loss of habitat. It also has a low growth rate, and thus recovery is very hard due to the disturbances.

5. Napoleon Wrasse

This most recognizable giant of the reef, whose other names include the Humphead Wrasse, is easily identified by its conspicuous hump and huge size. It is one of the most important predators that keeps the population size of other species such as crown-of-thorns starfish in check. Nevertheless, it is of great economic value in the live reef fish food trade and thus has been over-fished to a significant degree. It reproduces slowly, and their slow growth causes populations to take a long time to recover.

6. Giant Clams

These great bivalves are not only dwellers on the reef; they are helpers, who contribute to the health of the reef. They strain through waters, they offer protection and their algae, which are symbionts, helps produce energy within the reef. All the species of giant clam are vulnerable to over collection and exploitation of meat and shell and the effects of changing climate on their symbiotic relationships.

7. Leaf Scorpionfish

A virtuoso of camouflage, the Leaf Scorpionfish uses the intricate nature of healthy reefs to stalk and hide itself to defend against prey. Although it is not exploited by fishermen, its hyper-specialization is its limitation. Habitat degradation simply increases the hunting grounds and shelter that are available to coral and makes it highly susceptible to population decline as reefs become barren.

8. Banggai Cardinalfish

Man, they are pretty and fall prey to their own exquisiteness, endemic to an archipelago of very small islands in Indonesia. Its beautiful appearance and non-aggressive behavior shot it through the roofs in the world trade market. This and its extremely low natural range and reproductive capacity have resulted in a disastrous decline. Sustainable aqu culture promises a better alternative to the wild-collect situation nowadays.

9. Caribbean Shark

The Caribbean reef shark is a telling example of the importance of apex predators as overall apex predators form a crucial part of the food web. Their existence is an indication of a healthy ecosystem Nevertheless, they are highly subjected to overfishing whether as a target or as bycatch. Their long reproduction times are unable to match the fishing pressure making them disappear in large percentage within their range.

10. Parrotfish

It might appear odd to include a widespread parrotfish, but these ornamental grazers are the lawn mowers of the reef. The algae-eating process that occurs continuously because of their consumption is essential towards forestalling the smothering and death of the corals due to the algae. In the process they also generate huge quantities of sand (obtained by grinding up coral skeletons) which make the beautiful white sand beaches many of us enjoy. The direct cause of these threats is overfishing and destruction of this ecological service by loss of habitat.

The Way Ahead: 

Whether they will still exist in the future depends on the future of the entire coral reefs of the world. Their major causes of decline are human made, change and pollution, and unsustainable practices thus the solutions lie in human power.

Volunteering to protect marine reserves, promoting more effective policies on climate change, buying sustainable fishery products, and donating to nonprofits that work to protect coral reefs are a few examples of things we can all do. Extinction need not be the end of the story of these species. Together, through raising awareness, we are able to make sure that these wonderful creatures live many generations into the future.