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Eve Chase
October 11, 2016
Independent Research G/T pd.2
Hypothesis
The Ocean vs. the World: Coral Reefs Decline
Research Question:
Why are coral reefs declining and how does this affect our future?
Hypothesis:
Coral reefs decline are negatively affecting the ocean and humans.
History of Coral Reef Decline:
Coral reefs have been declining and rising since dinosaurs were alive. There have been
global warmings and coolings leading up into todays recent history and there have been mass
bleachings and deaths of coral reefs. Most corals can survive the bleachings, but some have been
wiped out. The only problem behind these bleaching of coral reefs is that now, in recent
documented data, coral has been declining much faster than ever before. But the problem for the
coral isnt just bleaching; it is human tampering. Phil Dustin, a marine biologist of the College of
Charleston has studied the coral decline for years, watching and recording data from Florida
reefs and he explains humans are the ultimate blame, "Ive seen what happens when natural
disasters such as hurricanes hit the coral reefs. They fully recover. Humans contaminate the
coral, shielding the coral from nutrients. For decades humans have ruined coral with run-off

chemicals from lawns and sewage dumps. Reefs have at least 30-40% less coral than they used
to, damaging the populations of fish.
Losing coral reefs has major effects. With the decline of coral reefs, fish species have
been damaged. Research done by the World Resources Institute have data concluding that 75%
of coral reefs are at risk of damage and death in the next 30 years. NASA has conducted studies
in the past two decades by launching satellites in space to document corals decline. Coral reefs
and their decline has been ongoing for centuries, but studies have been gaining recent attention
within the last 30 years.
Rationale:
My topic of research is important to me and most marine biologists, but it should be to
almost everyone. I picked this topic to dissect the causes and effects of the decline of coral reefs.
Coral reefs decline is caused by humans, and it effects humans. With the loss of so many coral
reefs, there is a lower supply of fish and a constant decrease of species. This means with the
decrease of fish, fishing markets will go down. We will have a limited amount of resource and
jobs will be at fault. Contaminating our own waters with pollution, waste, and sewage will
damage the future of the ocean and humans.
Basis of Hypothesis:
The basis of the hypothesis is to focus on the decline of coral reefs. I have seen a major
increase in eco-friendly products in recent years and have noticed publications on stopping
pollution in our oceans. In looking into the subject, I realized that our oceans are deteriorating,
and quickly. I recognized that we, humans, are at fault for this, but we can also save this

dilemma. I hope to find answers of why the corals are being harmed and how, and then the
answer of how to fix this problem.

Operational Definitions:

Declining: the population of coral reefs dying off or bleached, not being able to provide

nutrients or contain them.

Negatively: species of fish declining, jobs sabotage, decline of freshwater

Descriptors Used for Literature Research:

Coral reef decline

Coral reef effects
Coral reef bleaching
Ocean pollution

References
Cho, R. (2011, June 13). Losing our coral reefs. Retrieved October 12, 2016, from State of the
planet website: http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/06/13/losing-our-coral-reefs/
National Ocean Service. (2011, December 8). Pollution can smother coral reefs, lower water
quality, and make corals more susceptible to disease. Retrieved October 11, 2016, from
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary website:
http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/corals/pollution.html
National Ocean Service. (2016, March 17). What is coral bleaching? Retrieved October 11, 2016,
from http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html