Heat Stress Can Impact Corals Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean [Research]

Scientists using climate model simulations emphasized that heat stress could cause an extreme impact on coral reefs located in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

The study stresses immediate mitigation plans to save the coral reefs.

Coral reefs are called rainforests in the ocean.

The corals in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean are rich in aquatic ecosystems, of which 10% of the world's reefs with hundreds of fish species are there.

However, climate change, pollution, and illegal fishing have affected the marine ecosystem, especially the coral reefs.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explained global and local stressors impacted the Caribbean coral reefs, showing a massive decline of coral in the Caribbean.

The Journal of Geophysical Research published the study, and the findings can be read at Phys.org.

Research Study

(Photo : by DANIEL MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the study, Lawman et al. applied the climate model simulations from 2015 to 2100 to assess the effect of heat stress and ocean acidification on corals in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

In the research, scientists looked into and broke down the temperature and acidification regionally.

The findings showed that sea surface temperature increase depending on the simulation.

Moreover, the result shows an increase per decade (about 0.3°C-0.4°C) through the 21st century (2°C-2.8°C).

Based on the study on the three decades of heat stress exposure in Caribbean reefs, severe heat stress can result in large-scale bleaching, which could devastate reef biodiversity.

The same report noted that the Caribbean is one of the most exposed to heat stress.

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In definition, it explained that heat stress affects and disrupts the symbiotic relationship between coral and algae.

With the loss of symbionts, bleaching will disrupt the coral's ability to gain energy in photosynthesis, which may lead to coral death.

In addition, the study emphasized that countries depend on coral reefs for fisheries, tourism, business, livelihood, coastal protection, or day-to-day survival.

The impact could become a global concern.

On the other hand, the Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) explained ocean acidification occurs when carbon dioxide combines with sea water reducing the pH.

It added that the acidification is a consequence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

WHOI said that scientists estimated that oceans absorb one-quarter of what humans emit carbon dioxide.

It stressed that ocean acidification and global warming are closely linked because of the emissions of carbon dioxide by humans.

Immediate mitigation efforts

Ultimately, the study unveils that heat stress could have an immediate and extreme impact on the reef systems, and some regions show that the temperature is projected to change slowly.

In conclusion, the researchers suggest that regions with ocean temperatures moving slowly should get priority for protection.

The study also said that many corals would die by 2100 if there were no mitigation efforts to address the problem.