Sunscreen-like Film: A Solution to the Great Barrier Reef Coral Bleaching (Research Paper Sample)

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Sunscreen-like Film: A Solution to the Great Barrier Reef Coral Bleaching
When you hear the word underwater, you will most likely picture a vibrant coral reef teeming with ocean life. From schools of fishes swimming around to a colorful sea slug taking its time to move through the diverse underwater ecosystem. The corals, though they may look like plants, are animals, living and coexisting with abundant biodiversity. Corals are marine invertebrates living in compact colonies of polyps—with sizes ranging from as small as a pinhead to as big as a basketball. These serve as the habitat to countless marine animals, all living together in symbiosis.
Around the world, coral reefs—or the rainforests of the sea—are facing tremendous pressure ecologically and climate change is one of its colossal adversaries. Climate change is the greatest environmental threat humanity is currently facing, and is taking its toll on marine life. Different marine animals are experiencing sudden temperature changes in their habitat that can cause permanent damage and mortality. As for the corals, they experience bleaching episodes as a reaction to the rapidly changing ocean temperatures.