Authors: Sahiti Bulusu; Sources: , Unsplash

Coral Reefs and Ocean Acidification

INTRODUCTION

Coral reefs are dying due to ocean acidification every day.

“There are ecosystems like coral reefs [at risk] through ocean acidification. Those are valuable things that we should protect” – Bill Gates

 

ACTIVITY 1

Make your own Coral reef

Materials: playdough/ clay, pipe cleaners, paint/markers, glue (optional: plastic animals)// Duration: 10 -15minutes

  • Roll up balls to make rocks and poke holes in them to make coral. Paint as desired

  • Place pipe cleaners in some of the rocks and cut them to various sizes. Insert them to about half an inch, and glue them so that they stick!

  • While the clay is drying, decorate the paper to make it look like the ocean

  • Glue the rocks and coral onto the paper along with the animals.

LESSON

Coral reefs are an important part of ocean ecosystems and are being damaged due to ocean acidification. By reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, eutrophication can be combatted. Though many think that air pollution does not affect water bodies, oceans are actually the main absorbers of greenhouse gases, and this is now negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems, including the coral reefs. 

 
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