Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.Miami Beach, Florida is known for its art deco flair and turquoise waters. But just off the coast of this colorful city lies an underwater world in decline.Florida’s coral reef spans nearly 563 kilometers (350 miles) and is home to some 40 species of corals that not only provide food and shelter for aquatic life, but also help protect coastal communities from storm damage.Like other coral reefs, over the last few decades, this vibrant ecosystem has been suffering from the effects of climate change, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently reporting a fourth global mass bleaching event – the second in the last decade.Bleaching happens when the corals become stressed due to changes in their environment and expel the colorful algae living on them. The corals turn white and begin to weaken.“If the bleaching goes on for an extended amount of time, the corals die,” says Diego Lirman, associate professor of marine biology and ecology at the University of Miami.Lirman runs the Rescue a Reef lab, which aims to help conserve and restore this valuable yet vulnerable habitat. “Coastal ecosystems protect our shorelines against the impacts of storms and waves,” Lirman says. “They’re the speed bumps of the ocean.”Off the coast of North Miami Beach, he leads an underwater experiment that combines natural corals with an artificial structure – creating a hybrid reef that he hopes will mimic the effects of a real one.“Speed bumps of the ocean”Increasingly, artificial reefs are being implemented all over the world to help restore marine ecosystems – from 3D-printed tiles to sunken ships. Studies suggest that man-made structures can be effective, but factors like location, design and place …
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[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnEditor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.Miami Beach, Florida is known for its art deco flair and turquoise waters. But just off the coast of this colorful city lies an underwater world in decline.Florida’s coral reef spans nearly 563 kilometers (350 miles) and is home to some 40 species of corals that not only provide food and shelter for aquatic life, but also help protect coastal communities from storm damage.Like other coral reefs, over the last few decades, this vibrant ecosystem has been suffering from the effects of climate change, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently reporting a fourth global mass bleaching event – the second in the last decade.Bleaching happens when the corals become stressed due to changes in their environment and expel the colorful algae living on them. The corals turn white and begin to weaken.“If the bleaching goes on for an extended amount of time, the corals die,” says Diego Lirman, associate professor of marine biology and ecology at the University of Miami.Lirman runs the Rescue a Reef lab, which aims to help conserve and restore this valuable yet vulnerable habitat. “Coastal ecosystems protect our shorelines against the impacts of storms and waves,” Lirman says. “They’re the speed bumps of the ocean.”Off the coast of North Miami Beach, he leads an underwater experiment that combines natural corals with an artificial structure – creating a hybrid reef that he hopes will mimic the effects of a real one.“Speed bumps of the ocean”Increasingly, artificial reefs are being implemented all over the world to help restore marine ecosystems – from 3D-printed tiles to sunken ships. Studies suggest that man-made structures can be effective, but factors like location, design and place …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]
