Sometimes called the rainforests of the sea, coral reefs are home to around 25% of all marine life and provide a number of benefits both to the planet’s biodiversity and the economy. However, coral reefs are also one of the most compelling cases as to the consequences of climate change. In this guide, we’ll answer some of the most important questions about the future of coral reefs, including why they are bleaching.

What are coral reefs and how are they formed?

Coral reefs are incredible to look at, but what exactly are they? You’d be forgiven for thinking they are a plant, but corals are in fact animals. Corals are marine invertebrate animals known as polyps, which makes them closely related to jellyfish and sea anemones. They secrete a rocky exoskeleton made of calcium carbonate, which gives them a hard exterior for protection. They are also a sessile species, which means they are immobile.

Coral reefs begin to form when the free-swimming coral larvae attach to rocks or other objects before they begin to grow and reproduce. Over many years, this secretion creates large structures that reach multiple metres in length, resulting in corals that live together in large colonies. It is these colonies that make up a coral reef. Furthermore, it’s this calcium carbonate that creates the perfect foundation for baby corals to settle on, but the likes of seaweed, sponges and molluscs will also add to the structure of coral reefs. When these organisms die, they became part of that foundation for new coral.

The lifespan of a coral reef

The likes of barrier and atoll reefs are some of the oldest habitats in the world. Corals can grow at various rates and it can depend heavily on the conditions. Growth rates can vary between 0.3-2cm per year for large corals, while branching corals can grow up to 10cm per year. With that in mind, it can take thousands – 10,000 to be precise – of years for a coral reef to form.

Corals need a particular range of conditions in order to grow and thrive. Reef-building corals need a specific temperature of the water, usually between 23-29C, although in some cases they can still survive and tolerate temperatures as low as 20C or as high as 32C. With this in mind, coral reefs are usually found in tropical and semi-tropical water.

Reef-building corals also need help from algae in order to flourish. Known as zooxanthellae, this algae grows and lives inside the corals, providing them with food and energy through the process of photosynthesis. It is actually the zooxanthellae that provides corals with their beautiful colours. In return, the corals provide protection for the algae.

Environmental impact of coral reefs

The main global threat to coral reefs is the increase in the ocean’s temperature, followed by an increasing level of carbon dioxide in the water. Should coral reefs begin to disappear, it would have a devastating effect on marine life. For starters, 25% of marine life would lose its habitat which would be detrimental to the biodiversity of the ocean.

What’s more, coral reefs can provide protection to coastlines and without it, coasts would lose a natural buffer against waves and weathering. This would leave shorelines vulnerable to the likes of erosion and sea levels rising.

What happens when coral reefs suffer?

Environmental changes such as increased ocean temperature, pollution and overexposure to sunlight or extreme low tides can have a negative effect on corals and their reefs.

In the Pacific Ocean, there are 2 distinct climate patterns known as El Niño and La Niña. El Niño in particular can add a further spurt of warmth to the already overheating planet. The onset of this creates weaker easterly winds, allowing warm water to spread back through the Pacific, while La Niña causes the ocean to absorb more heat when the Pacific Ocean is at its coolest. In Australia, these weather events can increase the chance of mass coral bleaching across the Great Barrier Reef.

Coral bleaching occurs when the coral becomes stressed, usually because of increased temperatures and other changes in their environment. When the coral is stressed, they expel the microscopic algae that live amongst them and the colour of the coral will begin to fade to white. This is known as bleaching. Without the zooxanthellae algae, corals become more vulnerable, losing its main source of food and could be more prone to disease.

Once corals are bleached, it’s highly likely that they won’t recover and will eventually die. However, if the coral is able to reclaim its food source, it may begin to recover but it could take up to 10 years to achieve this in full.

What can be done to prevent coral bleaching?

One of the most important ways to reduce and prevent coral bleaching is by slowing down climate change. You can also avoid using pesticides and fertilisers that might end up in the waterways. Some other helpful ways to protect corals are hopefully things you’re doing already – like recycling and conserving water.

You can see corals for yourself, up and close and personal at our Coral Cave exhibit! This exciting and colourful exhibit replicates the reefs that can be found across the Indo-Pacific oceans. Check out our opening times and more on our website to plan your visit.

Thousands of marine animals worldwide have been affected by plastic pollution, including sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Therefore, Beach clean-ups are vital to mitigate the problem caused by ocean debris and the danger that plastic pollution poses to marine life.

Yesterday afternoon we teamed up with the lovely Caroline from Sharks Trust on a windy New Brighton beach on the hunt for shark and ray eggcases!

We found 118 Thornback Ray and 17 Small Spotted Catshark eggs!

FIVE reasons you should care about our ocean

1. The ocean regulates our climate and provides the air we breathe

The ocean produces over half of the world’s oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere!

2. The ocean feeds us

The ocean and its biodiversity provide our global community with 15 per cent of the animal protein we eat. In least developed countries, seafood is the primary source of protein to over 50 per cent of the population.

3. It provides jobs and livelihoods

More than three billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods, the vast majority in developing countries. In many of those, ocean-based industries such as tourism and fisheries are key sources of income and jobs.

4. The ocean is a tool for economic development

The maritime economy is vast. Marine shipping accounts for trillions of dollars in trade. Ocean tourism is also valued in the trillions. Offshore energy, such as oil, gas, and wind, also make up the maritime economy.

5. We need a healthy ocean to survive

The Ocean is the heart of the planet. Water covers more than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface. The deep waters are home to some amazing wildlife and some of the biggest creatures on earth! It provides us with food, jobs, life, entertainment, and sailing!

Find out more about conservation here

Mutualistic relationship of coral and zooxanthellae.

Most coral has a mutualistic relationship with special algae called zooxanthellae.

Zooxanthellae live inside the coral’s tissue. This protects it from predation and provides them with the nutrients they require for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis produces waste products, such as oxygen, glucose, and amino acids.

Coral uses these waste products to produce carbohydrates, proteins, fats and possibly most important of all calcium carbonate, allowing it to grow.

What is coral bleaching?

Coral Bleaching occurs when coral forces zooxanthellae out from inside it. This turns the coral into a pale white colour. This doesn’t kill it, but it does leave it vulnerable. Without help, they could die within days.

Why are zooxanthellae forced out?

Bleaching occurs for several reasons. The main cause though is climate change. Like so many other crises the world currently faces. Other factors include pollution, overexposure to sunlight and extremely low tides.

Changes in water temperatures, as little as 1 or 2 °C more than usual, can cause huge bleaching events in reefs. Leaving them vulnerable to destruction.

Ocean acidification

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid. The world’s oceans absorb in the region of 30 million tonnes of CO2 every day!

As I previously mentioned, coral use calcium carbonate to grow. Forming what is essentially a limestone skeleton. Seawater is slightly Alkaline, as this changes and becomes acidic the additional hydrogen ions released by the carbonic acid bind to carbonate ions in seawater changing them to bicarbonate. This makes it difficult for corals, and marine life with shells, to grow, as there are fewer carbonate ions available to them.

Why are coral reefs important?

Reefs influence a lot of ecosystems worldwide. The fish and animals that graze on coral over time create large sections of sand. This sand then moves with currents, forming shallows and islands and providing the ideal environment for coastal forests such as mangroves.

They provide jobs and recreational opportunities. Fishing, diving, and snorkeling at reefs can add millions of pounds to a local economy. It’s estimated there are over half a billion people dependent on reefs for food and protection around the world.

Reef ecosystems have also provided medical advancements. Many of the inhabitants of reefs produce chemical compounds that have been used in treatments for all sorts, from cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and ulcers. With such a high density of marine life, there is the potential for so much more we’ve yet to discover.

Coral reefs and biodiversity

Reefs are home to over 25% of all marine life. They’re present in both tropical and cold water but cover less than 0.2% of the world’s oceans. That’s a lot of life packed into a relatively small space!

This alone should demonstrate more than anything the importance of maintaining the world’s reefs!

The Tequila splitfin (Zoogoneticus tequila), is a small freshwater fish measuring up to 8cm long – with females being slightly larger than males. They are endemic to the Teuchitlan Springs in the upper Ameca river basin in Mexico, where they inhabit small lakes, tributaries and freshwater springs.

First discovered in 1955 in a small lake, overlooked by the Tequila Volcano. A volcano which gives the species its name. However, it was not until 1998 that they were officially classified as their own species. Their original habitat was a small lake with a diameter of just 8 metres and a depth of 1.3 metres.

Considered extinct in the wild after a series of unsuccessful searches in 1998. However, just three years later, a small population containing a handful of adults was found. Similarly, this was in a small lake that measured between 3 and 4 metres in diameter. Distressingly, as of 2013, these are also extinct.
In 2015 a reintroduction programme began, driven by captive breeding projects around the world. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) estimated this population to have around 80 adults in 2018. Thankfully, numbers are growing at a steady rate. This new population inhabits an oxygen-rich freshwater spring which is 4 metres in diameter and an average depth of just twenty centimetres.

Tequila Splitfin Conservation

The survival of the Tequila splitfin now faces a multitude of threats in the wild. These include:

• Habitat degradation
• Introduction of exotic fish species
• Introduction of exotic diseases
• Agriculture and aquaculture
• Human disturbances
• Changes in water management
• Pollution

Thankfully, there are already a number of conservation measures in place out in Mexico. These include:

• Research and monitoring
• Land and water protection
• Species management via captive breeding projects
• Education

The Future

Nobody can guarantee the survival of this species, the odds are certainly stacked against them. However here at Blue Planet Aquarium, we believe that every species is entitled to a fair shot at survival, especially when it’s decline is largely caused by human activity.
Here at Blue Planet Aquarium, however, we now have a healthy group of Tequila splitfins. Thanks to Bolton Museum Aquarium, we were able to become part of a nationwide captive breeding programme. As a result, this will allow Blue Planet Aquarium to contribute new offspring to other collections that will work towards ensuring the future of this characterful species. Hopefully, in time, the waters of the Ameca river will teem with Tequila splitfins once again.
Author: Dan Goodyer, Aquarist at Blue Planet Aquarium 

 

Our Ocean

Covering over 70% of the planet, the ocean provides a home to countless species. It keeps the air clean, serves as a valuable food source, and much much more. This vital ecosystem is being damaged by plastic pollution. Including chemicals, industrial waste, and oil spills, but plastic is the most serious of all. 

An Ocean of Plastic

Roughly eight million metric tons of plastic pollution end up in our oceans every year. Unfortunately, predictions show this increasing tenfold in the next decade. Plastic typically takes many decades to decompose, while some can take millions of years. Now, that’s a very long time!
Since its invention in 1852, most of the plastic produced on the planet is still polluting the planet.

Plastic Pollution

Most plastic pollution in the ocean comes from countries along the coastline. Particularly those who live less than 30 miles from the beach. But even plastic transported to landfill sites can end up in the ocean. A simple gust of wind can blow waste into rivers, which delivers it back to the ocean. 
There’s also a big problem with abandoned fishing equipment. It can entangle larger sea creatures, such as seals and dolphins, and break down into microplastics over time. Microbeads are another major factor. Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic found in toiletries. Such as face scrubs, shower gel, and toothpaste. Things that we use every day. Plastics experience erosion too. Just like rocks, forming plastic grains and microplastics.

Plastic in the food chain

Wastewater plants struggle to filter out microbeads. They’re just too small. They end up making their way into the sea. In the ocean, small hungry fish can easily gobble up these tiny pieces of plastic. Once they eat the plastic it remains within them. Small fish get eaten, mostly by larger fish. Which in turn, get eaten by larger fish. And so forth and so on, resulting in plastic entering the food chain. As larger animals tend to eat more than the smaller ones, they eat more plastic overall. Meaning plastic becomes more concentrated further up the food chain. This is known as bioaccumulation. Unsurprisingly, this does some damage to sea life. 

What can we do to help tackle plastic pollution? 

Simple changes, such as cutting down on single-use plastics can really help. Start using reusable carrier bags for your shopping, buy a steel straw and get toiletries from environmentally responsible retailers. Another easy thing to do is to stop buying bottled water – simply buy a reusable bottle and top up as you go! 
All of these things will help reduce your plastic pollution footprint, and although we have a long way to go before our oceans are clean and safe, these small steps can go a long way. 

To learn more about the world’s oceans and get up close with beautiful marine life, spend a day at Blue Planet Aquarium.

Get your tickets here.

Investigating climate change and conservation in sea anemones

In a collaborative venture, Blue Planet Aquarium and the University of Liverpool have joined forces. Looking to understand the impact of rising temperatures on a particular marine animal, the Beadlet Sea Anemone. 

Climate Change Effects

Environments around the world are under threat from climate change, as a result, animals are exposed to increasing and rapidly fluctuating temperatures. We need to fully understand its effects so we can conserve as many plants and animals as possible.

Animal Behaviour

One of the first things an animal can do to protect against climate change is to modify its behaviour. Many animals have a “personality”. Therefore, if you test a single animal, it will behave the same way over and over again. Allowing us to identify individuals by their behavioural quirks. Personality differences mean that some animals in a species might be better at changing their behaviour than others.

Blue Planet sponsors a PhD

Blue Planet Aquarium is sponsoring a PhD student, Daniel Maskrey, to investigate this issue at the University of Liverpool.

Daniel says:

“We’re using sea anemones to study this because the environment they live in on the seashore is at greater risk than most. The shore is constantly changing as the tides go in and out. Which means that the animals living there are already dealing with constant challenges. Add climate change to this, and many animals living on the seashore might no longer be able to survive. We’re using an approach that explores behavioural responses and other factors to work out how anemones with different personalities are likely to respond to climate change, and whether some might react better than others. In the end, we hope that our results will have major impacts on how we try to conserve species inhabiting seashores and maintain biodiversity.”

Why Sea Anemones?

Sea anemones are a very attractive species and feature in the exhibits at Blue Planet Aquarium. This gives researchers reliable access to individuals of the species. Additionally, it provides a controlled environment for effective tests.

Curator, Dave Wolfenden says:

“Understanding how temperature affects sea anemones not only helps us keep and breed these animals in better conditions but we can also contribute to efforts to conserve this species in the face of climate change”.

The research is partially funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council under the Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment (ACCE) priority area, in collaboration with marine biologist Dr Jack Thomson and behavioural physiologist Dr Lynne Sneddon.

Blue Planet battles plastic pollution

Blue Planet Aquarium shares this view. We are committed to making changes to try and reduce the amount of single-use plastic we use every year. Firstly exploring options with our suppliers, secondly re-using all we can. Such as used ketchup bottles and feed buckets re-used to aid in feeding and storage. This way very little of the plastic that comes into the aquarium goes to waste.

Single-use Challenge

Becky, a member of our dive team, will be starting a single-use plastic-free 2-week challenge. We want to find out how easy it is to completely eradicate single-use plastic from your life. Additionally, is it even possible to get the products in the local area? She will be sharing her experiences, advice, and tips across the two weeks. Her colleague Joe will also be keeping a close eye on her progress and encouraging Becky all the way. So make sure you keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook feeds.

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together” – Vincent Van Gogh

What is it?

Set up in 2009, the #2MinuteBeachClean is a not-for-profit organisation that helps to encourage beach cleaning and keeping our beaches and oceans healthy. Hundreds of beach-clean boards have been placed all over the UK to encourage beach visitors to take part in the #2MinuteBeachClean project.
The boards are equipped with litter-pickers and rubbish bags. Beach goers are challenged to take a mere two minutes out of their beach days to see how much rubbish they can collect. They’re then encouraged to take a snap of what they’ve collected, to share it on social media using the hashtag, and help promote awareness of the project.

How do you do it?

It’s simple: pick it, snap it, recycle it, reuse it, or bin it.
When enjoying your next trip to the beach, take a look around to see if there’s anything on the shore that shouldn’t be there. You can make a big difference by collecting dangerous rubbish and keeping it away from the oceans and its creatures. Removing rubbish from beaches and shorelines has a huge benefit on ocean life, so if you have time, why not give us (and them) a helping hand in keeping their homes tidy and safe from plastic and rubbish.

You can also help by being mindful of what you’re taking to the beach. Are you using single-use plastic products? Make sure they’re recycled and not left on the beach to drift into our waters. We have plenty of conservation tips to help you be more active in protecting our beaches and oceans.

Where is your nearest #2MinuteBeachClean board?

You can do a #2MinuteBeachClean anywhere! Just remember to take a bag for rubbish, and to wear gloves or use a litter picker to protect your hands from anything sharp, rusty, or dirty.

If you want to take part in an official #2MinuteBeachClean, there’s one just a 20-minute drive from Blue Planet Aquarium, at Thurstaston. There are others located around the UK shorelines, so there’s ‘shore’ to be one within driving distance, wherever you are!

If you’d like to be involved in a #2MinuteBeachClean (of course you do!) then you can learn more about their work here: https://beachclean.net/.

Remember, there doesn’t need to be aboard to help clean our beaches. Don’t forget to show us what you find on the shores on Facebook and Twitter.

As we celebrate Earth Day, we’d like to take a moment to remind you that we’re gearing up for this year’s #48DaysofBlue challenge in the days leading up to World Oceans Day (June 8).

What Is #48DaysofBlue?

The ‘48 Days of Blue’ campaign is an environmental movement that was started by the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland (USA) to promote a cleaner and healthier ocean through making small challenges.

Despite its name being 48 Days of Blue, the initiative is very ‘green’. For the 48 days between Earth Day and World Oceans Day, we’re challenging all our visitors to make small changes that will positively impact the environment, such as using fewer plastic products, bringing your own bag when shopping, and buying palm oil-free foods, and so on.

For more suggestions on how you can help preserve our oceans, take a look at our tips on how to preserve wildlife. By applying these small changes to our daily routines, we can (together) improve our communities, work towards a cleaner environment, and help protect the ocean for future generations.

What Is the Objective?

The aim of the #48DaysofBlue challenge is to raise awareness of the importance of a cleaner ocean, to educate the masses on how big a part this plays in the overall health of our planet, and to encourage action. So join us in giving back to our beautiful blue planet!

What Should You Do?

While the challenges may seem difficult, our collective impact will be equal whether you live down the road in Chester or in the coastal city of Chiclayo, Peru.

If you’re up for the #48DaysofBlue challenge, make sure you use the hashtag on social media to show us what changes you’re making – and try to get your friends on board to help turn the tide.

Conserve water,  use the Bucket Flush

Did you know that flushing your toilet the usual way can use up to seven gallons of water per flush? While this may not seem like the most first-world answer to water conservation, it’s a brilliant trick to know and will come in handy: use a gallon of water, pour it into your toilet in one fell swoop, and behold the miracle of your toilet flushing itself.

Don’t Leave The Tap Running

Most of us have heard it before: turning off the tap when brushing your teeth saves water. But few of us know just how much water this can save.
The average tap releases two gallons of water per minute – meaning if you brush your teeth twice a day, and for the recommended two minutes each time, you can waste up to eight gallons of water every day if you do keep the tap running (quite a shocking statistic when you think about it). Similarly, for the gents, it’s more economical to fill the sink for rinsing your razor and washing your face instead of letting the tap run.

Do Water Your Garden with a Watering Can Rather Than a Hosepipe…

… because the latter option can use as much as 1,000 litres of water an hour. To maximise your water-conservation efforts, you can mulch your plants with bark chippings, heavy compost, or straw to reduce evaporation. Alternatively, you should water outdoor plants in the early morning – that way you’ll need less water since cooler morning temperatures mean losing less water to evaporation.

Don’t Dump the Pot

After cooking pasta, parboiling potatoes, or steaming vegetables, instead of dumping that water down the drain, save it – drain it into a large pot, allow it to cool, and reuse it for bucket-flushing or watering your plants. Just make sure you wait for it to cool because your plants will not thank you if you chuck boiling water on them!

Do Fix Leaks and Running Toilets

This is an obvious but very important one: a running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water each day. At one drip per second, a dripping tap can waste 15 litres of water a day, or 3,000 gallons in a year. If your home is suffering from any of these defects, it’s time you called the plumber!

Do Choose Wisely Between a Bath and a Shower

A bath can take up to 70 gallons of water, whereas a five-minute shower uses anything between 10 and 25 gallons, so think twice next time you contemplate a relaxing bath. That said, if you don’t drain your bath water afterwards, you can always use that water to bucket-flush or water plants. Otherwise, you should consider getting an aerated shower head, which combines water and air to give you an invigorating shower, or inserting a regulator in your shower so you can keep tabs on flow rates.

Don’t Pre-Rinse Your Dishes

Last but not least, be sure to read your manual and see if your dishwasher requires pre-rinsing – a good scrape should suffice for most modern machines. While we’re at it, there are right ways and wrong ways of loading your dishwasher; doing it incorrectly will result in dishes not being properly washed, thus requiring extra water for a second wash.
Water is one of the most important resources for preserving life, so we hope you’ll join us in our quest to conserve water and reduce our collective water footprint. To read more about what you can do to help preserve wildlife, take a look at our World Wildlife Day blog.
If you wish to stay up-to-date with our conservation activities and the latest news, make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter.