Coral Reefs and Costal Communities by Caitlin

Coral Reefs and Costal Communities by Caitlin - December 2023 Scholarship Essay

Flooding is increasing globally for a variety of reasons, as such it is important that work being done to decrease flooding is approached through a variety of methods. One method that I am passionate about is addressing flooding through the building up of healthy coral reefs. As a student studying environmental sciences at an international school located in Hawaii, I have become increasingly aware of the effects of flooding and coastal erosion. I have seen it as the coasts of Oahu steadily degrade; I have heard much about it from many of my close friends and classmates whose homes, located on island nations, are continuously affected by flooding due to rising ocean levels. Furthermore, my family in the mainland United States is experiencing flood risks due to snowmelt after a winter of record snowfall.

Coral reefs substantially reduce the effects of erosion and the risk of flooding by creating a barrier, where waves break, away from the shore. This disperses the wave energy before it reaches the coast and thus protects the land. Unfortunately, as coral reefs degrade their ability to protect coastal communities from storm surges and flooding lessens. Without extensive restoration of coral species, reefs will continue to decline and flooding will worsen.

For over a year I have eagerly worked with a small team in leading an ongoing research project studying the density and abundance of stony coral, as it relates to spawning. Over the last two years, the spawning of two nearby reefs has been tracked and we have discovered low levels of coral reproduction in these areas. Likewise, coral abundance and density on the windward shores of Oahu, near my university, have been steadily decreasing over the last sixty years. In an effort to aid in the restoration of these reefs, this project is connecting coral density and abundance to spawning. The research being done will aid in future restoration efforts with the hope of finding a threshold for the amount of coral needed to be restored in an area before it can reproduce in a self-sufficient manner.

Through my time spent on this project, I have become aware of the crucial role coral reefs play in the health of our planet. I look forward to continuing with this project through my undergraduate studies. Additionally, I am seeking opportunities to aid in coral restoration and look forward to furthering my understanding of coral through my undergraduate as well as post-graduate education. I am passionate about research projects such as this one, that focus on the study and restoration of stony corals; without them, coral reefs have little chance of survival. With the loss of these reefs, wave action and storm surges will greater affect coastal communities due to increased flooding.