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Bleaching of corals on the Great Barrier Reef: differential susceptibilities among taxa
global warming effects
the effects of global warming
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The Effects of Global Warming on the Great Barrier Reef Introduction Coral reefs around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef. What is a Coral Reef? A coral reef is a ridge formed in shallow ocean water by accumulated calcium-containing exoskeletons of coral animals, certain red algae, and mollusks. Coral reefs are tropical, forming only where surface waters are never cooler than 20° C (68° F). The only difference between a barrier reef and a coral reef is that a barrier reef occurs farther offshore, with a channel or lagoon between it and the shore. The outer layer of a reef consists of living animals, or polyps, of coral. Single-celled algae called zooxanthellae live within the coral polyps, and a skeleton containing filamentous green algae surrounds them. The photosynthetic zooxanthellae and green algae transfer food energy directly to the coral polyps, while acquiring scarce nutrients from the coral. The numerous micro habitats of coral reefs and the high biological productivity support a great diversity of other life. The Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is a chain of coral reefs in the Coral Sea, off the northeastern coast of Australia. The largest reef in the world, it extends about 1250 mi from Mackay, Queensland to the Torres Strait (between Australia and New Guinea.) The Great Barrier Reef is home to a remarkable number of organisms. The coral itself is made up of the skeletons of tiny, flowerlike water animals called polyps, held together by a limestone substance produced by a type of algae. Hundreds... ... middle of paper ... ...bal Warming kills Great Barrier Reef coral http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/exterel/news/981008News/8.10.coral.html Coral bleaching http://www.uvi.edu/coral.reefer/bleach.htm Coral Reef http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=050FE000 Coral reefs in peril worldwide http://usatoday.com/life/science/environ/lse011.htm Coral 'stress' worsening, expert says http://www.msnbc.com/news/287041.asp?cp1=1 Global warming http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=03CCE000 Greenpeace reports threat to Great Barrier Reef http://www.wwinternational.com/pages/updatecontent/Reef.html Protecting Coral Reefs http://coralreef.gov/how.html What are Some Solutions to Global Warming http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/9520/whattodo.html What are the Causes of Global Warming? http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/9520/causes.html
Kühlmann, Dietrich H. H. (1985) Living Coral Reefs of the World. New York: Arco Publishing, Inc.
Coral reefs are often thought of being “rainforests of the ocean” as they create a large diversity. A select type of coral control this diversity a symbiotic relationship with plankton. The distinct type of plankton are called zooxanthellae. This symbiotic relationship between hosts and partners that use photosynthesis, allow coral to skyrocket in seas where nutrients are poor and send calcium carbonate down to the bottom of the ocean in order to build reefs up in size (Toller et al. 2001).
When you think of the Gulf of Mexico the first thing you don’t think of is coral reefs. You don’t even think of it as place to go surfing. If you ask a surfer what a reef is, they would probably say something that gets in my way while surfing. Reefs being either large or small, have grown for over thousands of years. The build-up of limestone or calcite have given way to magnificent structures that many marine animals call home (Science). Reefs are communities in the ocean where more than hundreds of different ocean species live (Moran). These reefs in the ocean become a community that live alongside each other which allows them to grow. Whether the reef is a place to live, find shelter or a place eat, the reefs of the Gulf of Mexico are truly a wondrous site (Robertson).
In the article called “Recent Ocean Heat Waves Have "Forever" Altered Great Barrier Reef” The author talks about how the heat wave’s changing corals reefs on great barrier in Australia. The article starts by talking about recently in great barrier corals reefs is changing so much then before due to high heat waves. In fact, not only reefs but they were major infect on corals then before. The scientist suggests between March and November most of the corals reefs died within eight month. Most of them causing by essential change that mix with hundreds of different reefs due to high heat waves. The authors indicated that almost every parts of reefs has deeply affected in great barriers. The article clearly states the facts that, the transformation are the result of a huge coral because of lightening event that transported by high
On a June evening in 1770, British explorer, Captain James Cook heard the irritable screeching of wood against stone. Little did he know, he had just discovered the Great Barrier Reef! Off the coast of Queensland, Australia in the Coral Sea, the GBR is the world's largest reef system, it can even be seen from space! It is approximately 35 million hectares, which equals about 70 million football fields. The GBR hosts an extremely diverse array of marine life from mollusks to fish to sea and shore birds. Attracting about 2 million people per year, the GBR generates AU$4-5 billion annually. A coral reef forms underwater when thousands of tiny animals, called polyps, establish a colony. How did this series of reefs become the Great Barrier Reef?
With over 2,900 individual reefs the Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest reef system. The Great Barrier Reef is located off shore of Queensland, Australia and is about 1,400 miles long. It is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, and more than 400 species of coral.
Around the world, their are beautiful places called “the seven wonders of the natural world”. These sites are fantastic because of there fascinating views and the fact that they were naturally made, not by humans. One of these seven natural wonders of the natural world is the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Great Barrier Reef was formed by corals growing on submerged islands. The sea level then continued to rise, “leading to more corals growing and forming.” (Zimmerman). The Great Barrier Reef is “a mosaic of 2,900 individual reefs” and can be “seen from space and is not only the world's largest coral reef system but also the largest structure
When coral reefs are thought of, warm images of vibrant multi-colored creatures and corals emerge from our imaginations. Mental pictures of a bustling biodiversity of animals, invertebrates, and plants congregate around the coral reef that acts as a glue holding together the shallow waters of the underwater realm. Yet, many of the worlds most beautiful and important coral re...
The leading natural cause of destruction among the coral reefs is global warming. Global warming causes the bleaching of coral reefs to occur. Bleaching is a response to stress by the coral reef that happens when the water becomes to warm. The coral then put out a brownish zooxanthelle which causes them to lose their color. Without the zooxanthelle, the corals cannot provide nourishment for itself and th...
Coral reefs are underwater ecosystems. They provide home many different types of fish and underwater animals. Most coral reefs are found near the equator between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south latitude. From looking at coral reefs no two look the same. They remind me of a tiny forest. Coral reefs provide habitat and shelter for many animals living underwater. Fish also eat the algae from the coral.
A good way to imagine a coral reef is to think of it as a bustling city or community, with the buildings made of coral, and thousands of inhabitants coming and going, carrying out their business. In this sense, a coral reef is like a metropolis under the sea.
Coral is a type of invertebrate that is made up of lots of polyps and they grow very slowly. They are related to sea anemones and jelly fish. Coral gets its color from zooxanthellae (zoh-oh-zan-thell-ee), which is algae. Climate change and pollution can cause stress on the algae, which could lead to coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is when the coral turns white. Coral lives in tropical waters throughout the world. They take up less than 1% of the worlds surface. The biggest coral reef in the world is the Great Barrier Reef which is in Australia. Coral reefs are home to 25% of marine life such as sponges, sea slugs, oysters, crabs, shrimp, sea worms, starfish, sea urchins, sea anemones, sea turtles and a lot of species of fish.
The Great Barrier Reef is an exemplary model of the famous exotic coral reef seen in a copy of the National Geographic or the popular animated film Finding Nemo. Located on the coast of Australia, it is known as the “largest biological organism in the world” (“Human Impact on the Great Barrier Reef” par. 1). The idea bears that coral reefs are again not an assortment of organisms functioning separately but rather working together to thrive. The groups of coral that are seen in t...
Coral Reefs need to be preserved for many reasons. In this paper I will discuss a
A coral reef is scientifically defined as limestone ridges that are created out of coral animals. These types of tiny animals are called coral polyps. Overtime, coral polys produce and accumulate into limestone. Inside the cracks and chinks of the limestone reside thousands of species. Since there are so many diverse species that live in the limestone, coral reefs make up some of the most diverse ecosystems on the Earth. These ecosystems can only function in clear, warm salt water, which is usually located in tropical regions. These reefs are usually located in shallow waters so that they are close to the surface. They are situated in this environment so that there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis which is important for the growth and development of the reefs.