Coral Reefs: Villains and Superheroes

On a humid morning in late October, as people around me made their way to classes, I went over to one of the halls where Santa Fe frequently hosts guest speakers? Today's guest lecturer? Dr. Kimberly Yates, a research oceanographer who works with the United States Geological Survey (USGS.)

I've been to many guest lectures and presentations, but this one was profoundly different than the rest because it was about science. Now, I've certainly been inspired by talks that I've gone to about history, art, and culture. But, science is my niche. I knew I would get into the groove of what she was saying right away. Science was (and is) my jam.

I wasn't wrong about my ability to understand what she was saying. Well, a very large part of it. She lost me slightly as she was explaining the chemistry behind ocean acidification. BUT, when she delved into biology and ecology, I was there for it. I recognized her using the scientific names of various marine species, and I felt excited that I knew exactly what she was speaking about. It confirmed everything I loved about biology; how organisms function as a larger system, and how any changes, even if they may seem small, can have devastating effects for the functionality and longevity of an ecosystem.

She talked about her research in various coral reefs, which provoked some fascinating scuba diving stories. But it was her passion that sunk in with me. I've certainly contemplated a career in medicine and research, and her delivery of her research and her life's work pushed me even further in that direction.

Now, even though my major is biology with a pre-professional motive, I've always been highly receptive to the other fields within my discipline. It's what I excel in and it was the motivator for my GTM experience back in Spring. And I certainly learned more about ecological systems in the brief time she spoke.

Dr. Yates first talked about corals in general, how they're actually animals that group together and form colonies. These colonies evolve over time to form a coral reef, with the 'skeleton' of dead coral among the new living coral. She talked about how diverse coral reefs are, and how they're home to many different types of organisms all over the world. Unfortunately, coral reefs are under siege; coastal pollution, dredging and disease have huge ramifications for coral species. However, one of her main talking points was the danger that ocean acidification carries into the environment of coral reefs. As the ocean acidifies (due to rising carbon dioxide levels), it stimulates the coral reefs to break down, thus decreasing the calcification process of corals. Calcium carbonate, coral reefs primary constituent, is vitally important in maintaining the structure and integrity of coral reefs and as it breaks down, so too does the habitat, mating grounds, and feeding grounds of many species of marine animals. As coral reefs continue to disintegrate, they lose their symbiotic algae, a process known as bleaching. The algae grows on the coral, protected by its structure. The coral provides the algae with the compounds they need for photosynthesis, while the algae provides the coral with oxygen and other compounds they need for survival. Bleaching is yet another consequence of ocean acidification and climate change.

Unfortunately, it seemed like it might be too late for many coral reefs worldwide. After all, the process of calcification and reef formation can take hundreds of years, and within increasing carbon dioxide in the air and ocean, many reefs are still subject to ocean acidification. However, Dr. Yates also shared some of her exciting discoveries with the USGS, that may provide the key to coral habitat maintenance. One of her most exciting revelations was the discovery of a refuge for reef-building corals in mangrove habitats of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thirty different species of coral were found growing on and around the roots of the red mangrove trees there. The mangroves serve many the coral in many ways, chief among them being protecting them from harmful UV rays and helping to maintain an ideal water pH. Overall, the mangroves offer an invaluable solution: keeping reef-building corals alive and healthy. While it is not yet known whether other mangrove areas in the world might be home to coral species, it certainly improves the future of coral worldwide.

Any guest speaker that visits Santa Fe is passionate and engaging, but Dr. Kimberely Yates certainly held and maintained my interest. She introduced coral reefs and the problems they face in a way that demanded attention and made the issue relevant to everyone. The importance of their conservation and re-establishment was not lost on anyone; we understood that if they begin to degrade, so too will the system of other organisms that depends on their fruition for survival.