Page 136 - 2023 eMag Final Draft

The Housing Market is in Shambles

Despite their venom-harpoon-assisted
hunting prowess, coral polyps receive
most nutrients not heterotrophically
but through a symbiotic relationship
with zooxanthellae, an assortment of

algae that can undergo photosynthesis.
The polyps act as landlords to these
chlorophyll-bearing dinoflagellates,
supplying them with a safe, sunlight-
intensive environment. The zooxanthellae
pay their "rent" with the products of
their photosynthesis, collecting calcium
and cleaning up waste. Beyond their
functional symbiosis, zooxanthellae

are also responsible for a coral's colour
scheme. Secreted fluorescent pigments
reflect specific colours that can expedite
photosynthesis while removing harmful
UV light, giving corals their vibrant red,
green, and pink colour schemes. [2]

Extinction Event

Much like the international housing
market, a vast array of factors are

threatening coral reef systems. An influx
of irresponsible nature tourism has sullied
reefs with abuse and destruction. Global
warming and industrial pollution have If the corals die out, so do their has turned nature's miracles into
also drastically altered coral habitats. ecosystems. A domino effect of the cogs of industry. But there is
Zooxanthellae begin producing toxic death will drive millions of species still hope. Malaysia is blessed with
chemicals under these stressful conditions, to extinction. 25% of the world's the coral triangle, a region of high
and the pitiful polyps have no choice but to corals have already disappeared, coral productivity. Our nation's
expel them from their tissues. This process with up to two-thirds more at top researchers are advocating for References:
[1]https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-
causes the corals to lose their colour, hence risk . Since coral reefs are formed preserving these waters, both for collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems
[3]
the term coral bleaching. Bleached corals over millennia, their replacement nature's sake and ours. Do your
lack the necessary nutrients synthesised rate is far too inefficient to part to preserve the undersea [2]https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/
by the zooxanthellae, dooming them combat the loss brought on by metropolis, or the city of the sea did-you-know/why-are-corals-so-colorful/
to starvation. Alarmingly, 91% of the overexploitation. will be banished to myth.
world's largest reef system, the Australian [3]https://www.pcrf.org/reeffacts.
php#:~:text=Coral%20reefs%20are%20in%20
Great Barrier Reef, has already been lost The future is bleak for coral reefs. crisis,reefs%20are%20at%20risk%20today
to bleaching. Humanity's march towards greed

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