Conservation, climate change, and interdisciplinary collaborations

Abstract

Human-caused pollutants are continuing to show their impacts on the environment. For decades, scientists have been studying these effects and what they mean for life on Earth. Such effects on nature include increased species extinction rates and climate change. However, these two elements are interconnected, and as a result, an interdisciplinary approach to conservation is necessary to solve these problems. Coral conservation is a prominent issue in both the media and the lab. Thus, using coral to explore an interdisciplinary approach allows scientists and the public to see what each discipline can bring to the table in determining how to effectively proceed in conservation efforts. Though generally there are a continually increasing number of scientific disciplines, this article will focus on marine biology, cell biology, ecology, physics, chemistry, conservation, environmental science, and climate science.