Question

Corals grow in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Investigate whether: (a) do predominant coral species have seasonal phenology that would be shifted by climate change, and (b) would this have an indirect effect on other species? (e.g. mutualisms)

Answer 1

(a) Do predominant coral species have seasonal phenology that would be shifted by climate change?

Yes coral reefs have seasonal phenology that is affected by climate change as the sea water is warmed up which causes coral leaching. Due to climate change glaciers are melting which increase the water level that as a result increases the amount of sedimentation on corals that might lead to eutrophication due to excessive microalage growth on corals.

Also the corals undergo mass spawning where several coral species come together at a place and release there gametes in the water. If the temperature of water is high then the gametes might nor survive and if they did then the offspring will not be able to adapt such high temperature.

b) Would this have an indirect effect on other species? (e.g. mutualisms)

Yes this will have an indirect effect on all the species that live in association with the corals. Mostly sea anemone and clown fish live on these coral reefs, they will be in danger if the coral reefs cannot reproduce properly or if their leaching continued.