What affect will Global Warming have on the Cleaner Wrasse?
Global Warming can have a great affect on the reef. Direct impacts that Climate Change can have on the reef include:
Increased water temperature
Increased sea level
Increased severity of storms and cyclones
Ocean acidification
Changed rainfall and runoff
Cleaner Wrasse greatly depend on coral as a habitat, as well as a place to eat parasites off of infected coral-dependent fish. Global warming causes Coral Bleaching, which, if severe enough can cause coral to die. Also, global warming causes a rise in acidity of the sea water, which makes already fragile coral skeletons to be weakened and become more susceptible to damage. If global warming continues and coral is damaged, Cleaner Wrasse's habitat will be damaged. Also, if coral dies, numbers of fish who depend on coral for habitat and food will drop, thus the number of Parasitic Copepods who were attached to these coral-dependent fish will also drop and the Cleaner Wrasse may have to look for another primary food source.
Increased water temperature
Increased sea level
Increased severity of storms and cyclones
Ocean acidification
Changed rainfall and runoff
Cleaner Wrasse greatly depend on coral as a habitat, as well as a place to eat parasites off of infected coral-dependent fish. Global warming causes Coral Bleaching, which, if severe enough can cause coral to die. Also, global warming causes a rise in acidity of the sea water, which makes already fragile coral skeletons to be weakened and become more susceptible to damage. If global warming continues and coral is damaged, Cleaner Wrasse's habitat will be damaged. Also, if coral dies, numbers of fish who depend on coral for habitat and food will drop, thus the number of Parasitic Copepods who were attached to these coral-dependent fish will also drop and the Cleaner Wrasse may have to look for another primary food source.