Coral reefs cover a large portion of the sea floor but what are they?

These reefs are made up of tiny, individual animals known as polyps. These polyps form a symbiotic relationship with a unicellular algae called zooxanthellae (Region IV Regional Response Team). That relationship helps the coral to grow into large communities which we know as coral reefs. Coral reefs are the most diverse ecosystems on the planet Earth. According to NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species (Corals). Reefs are also some of the most beautiful and valuable ecosystems as well. Healthy reefs can help local economies through tourism opportunities such as dive tours and fishing trips. The biodiversity of coral reefs is considered key to finding new medicines for the 21st century. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses, and other diseases

(Corals). Coral reefs wave breaking ability also helps limit the damage to the coastline caused by hurricane generated waves (Region IV Regional Response Team). It is important to keep coral reefs happy and healthy for many reasons but unfortunately coral reefs share the ocean with oil platforms. Major oil companies have built oil rigs in many areas of the ocean in order to capitalize on the supplies of oil underground. These rigs normally do not cause problems but unfortunately when one malfunctions they cause long-lasting and far-reaching problems. When a rig stops working, oil is leaked into the ocean affecting everything around it, including coral reefs. There are three ways that coral reefs are exposed to oil after a spill. The first is direct oil contact which is possible when surface oil is left on corals that live near the surface of the water and become exposed by the changing tides. The second is when the seas are rough, which mixes with a light oil and pushes the oil below the surface which can reach the coral. These corals are exposed to less oil thanks to the water mixture but these lighter oils are usually the most toxic. The last way is when heavy oil mixes with sediments, this can lead to oil actually sinking and smothering the coral (How does an oil spill affect coral reefs?). In 2010, one of BPs, a large oil company, oil rigs exploded which led to more than 200 million gallons of oil {being} released into the Gulf of Mexico (Gerken). 7 miles from this spill about 90 percent of 40 large

groups of severely damaged soft coral were discolored and either dead or dying A colony of hard coral at another site about 1,300 feet away was also partially covered in the dark, brown oil (Brown).

According to NOAA direct contact with spilled oil can lead to coral death, but depends on coral species, growth form, life stage, and type/duration of oil exposure. Scientists believe that oil can also affect coral in sublethal forms, such as reduced photosynthesis, growth, or reproduction (How Does an Oil Spill Affect Coral Reefs?. The other problem is that once the oil is on the reef, there is no effective way to remove this oil without causing more damage to the reef (Region IV Regional Response Team). These coral reefs are not the only things affected by the oil. Coral reefs support many different kinds of plants and animals. Sponges, crustaceans and mollusks are unable to move which means they cannot avoid the effects of the oil. Other territorial animals, such as certain types of fish, will remain by the reefs until they die. When there is an oil spill, everyone must spring to action and take every step possible in saving coral reefs. Workers must try to minimize the amount of oil that reaches the coral without causing more damage. One way of doing this would be to deploy

booms, what look like pool floats that collect oil, around the reefs to protect them. If placed fast enough these booms can help ward off and collect oil. Oil companies also need to create safer rigs with better emergency plans of action in the event that something does go wrong. When the BP oil rig failed, it took weeks before the leak was finally stopped and the spill contained. Coral reefs need to be cared for because if they die, many other species will die as well as many businesses. They are not only very beautiful to look at but also very essential for the fragile ecosystem that is the planet Earth.

Works Cited Brown, Kathleen Jones aboard the Ronald H. "Giant Coral Die-Off Found-Gulf Spill "Smoking Gun?"" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 05 Nov. 2010. Web. 02 Feb. 2013. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/101105-deepwater-coraldieoff-gulf-oil-spill-science-environment/>. "Corals." NOAA National Ocean Service Education:. NOAA, 25 Mar. 2008. Web. 02 Feb. 2013. <http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals/coral07_importance.html>. Gerken, James. "Gulf Oil Spill: Coral Death 'Definitively' Linked To BP Spill." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 02 Feb. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/gulf-oil-spill-coral-death_n_1380712.html> "How Does an Oil Spill Affect Coral Reefs?" NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program:. N.p., 13 May 2011. Web. 02 Feb. 2013. <http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/facts/coral_oilspill.html>. Region IV Regional Response Team. "What Are the Effects of Oil on Coral Reefs?" N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http://ocean.floridamarine.org/acp/kwacp/Documents/RRTIVDocs/13_RRT4_Coral_Re efs_Pamphlet.pdf>. "Research Areas." Nsf.gov. National Science Foundation, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=123555>.

Photo Works Cited CETACEANINSPIRATION. Trash Vortexes and Dead Zones: What We Are Doing to the Oceans? N.d. Photograph. 26 Nov. 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http://cetaceaninspiration.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/trash-vortexes-and-dead-zoneswhat-we-are-doing-to-the-oceans/>. China Absolute Tours. Coral Reef National Natural Reserve. N.d. Photograph. Web. 02 Feb. 2013. <http://www.absolutechinatours.com/Sanya-attractions/Coral-Reef-424.html>. Conlin, Mark. Coral Reefs Report Warns of Mass Loss Threat. N.d. Photograph. 23 Feb. 2011. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/23/coral-reefreport-dying-danger>. EcoClass2010. The Effect of Global Warming on Coral Reefs. N.d. Photograph. 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 3 Feb. 2013. <http://ecoclass2010.wordpress.com/2010/10/25/the-effect-of-globalwarming-on-coral-reefs/>. Fisher, Charles. Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill's Effects on Deep-Water Corals. N.d. Photograph. 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=123555>. Gulf Oil Spill: Coral Death 'Definitively' Linked To BP Spill. N.d. Photograph. 26 May 2010. Web. 3 Feb. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/gulf-oil-spill-coraldeath_n_1380712.html?>.

Lee, Kate. New Research Lab Opens at Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center. N.d. Photograph. 5 Nov. 2008. Web. 3 Feb. 2013. <http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2008/11/2008-676.html>. Macallister, Terry. Shell Continues Spilling Oil in North Sea despite Efforts to Improve. N.d. Photograph. 31 Jan. 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jan/31/shell-spilling-oil-north-sea>. Nomack, Mallory. Effects of Oil on Wildlife and Habitat. N.d. Photograph. 7 Dec. 2010. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http://www.eoearth.org/articles/view/158446/>. Oil Containment Booms Are Used to Stop Oil Spread after an Oil Spill. N.d. Photograph. Web. 03 Feb. 2013. <http://www.oil-containment-booms.com/index.php>. Scuba Adventures. Scuba Diver. N.d. Photograph. Web. 2 Feb. 2013. <http://www.scubaadventuresnc.com/images/scuba_diver-2638.jpg>.