Status
Presently, coral reefs around the world are in a scary state. While researchers have just begun to thoroughly search these reefs for potential sources of medicine to help mankind, the awful truth is that we may never find some sources of medicine because we will have killed them before discovering them.
The main problem with which coral reefs are currently faced is the human-driven acidification pollution of the ocean. As humans continue to increase the amount of carbon dioxide released into the environment, oceans and other bodies of water are taking in this carbon and reacting with the element, releasing protons into the ocean and thus, acidifying the water. This reaction also decreases the number of carbonate ions available to react with calcium and form calcium carbonate, one of the main compounds that make up the reefs, therefore weakening their composition and limiting their growth. If humans do not actively seek to make changes to their everyday lifestyles in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions, the probability that these coral reefs will perish will increase, and the many potential medicinal uses that these corals may possess will never be discovered. While some ecologists believe that new drugs are 300-400 times more likely to be found in the ocean rather than on land, these chances will quickly diminish if humans continue to kill the most biodiverse ecosystem on our planet. |