Coral reefs are in short terms underwater structure made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to submerged rocks or other hard surfaces along the edges of islands or continents. This larvae are polyps that produce calcium carbonate, which turns into a hard exoskeleton that provides protection and support for the polyp's body. As a polyp grows it continues to secrete calcium carbonate, this results in that the reef keeps growing. Each polyp links itself together with other polyps to form the reef. Most of a coral reef is actually dead skeletal material. The top layer is usually the only part of the structure that lives. The top layer mostly consists of so called soft corals. The polyps work in symbiosis with the Coralline algae which are also an important part of the reef. The alga deposit limestone in layers over the reef. The limestone strengthens it and protects it from the waves of the sea. As the corals expands and forms reefs they can take three different shapes: Fringing reefs, the most common one, project seaward directly from the shore, forming borders along the shore and around islands. Barrier reefs also border shorelines, but at a greater distance. They are separated from land by a lagoon of open, deep water. If a fringing reef forms around a volcanic island that subsides completely below sea level while the coral continues to grow upward and an atoll has been formed. Atolls are usually circular with a central lagoon as the barrier reefs. Parts of the reef may arise as islands, and gaps in the reef provide access to the central lagoon. Most coral reefs are between 5000 and 10000 years old and they grow very slowly. On average they grow about 2,5 c...
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...umped into the oceans, many off these damadges coral reefs in one or another way. We need to think about that most of the waste we produce will eventually reach the oceans sooner or later. Many of this waste products like agrochemicals, sewage and oil pollution are poisoning reefs. Sewage and runoff from farming, increase the level of nitrogen in seawater, causing an overgrowth of algea which covers the corals so they get cut of from the sun light. Mining, farming, logging and construction causes erosion and this lead to increased sediment in rivers. This will also cover or ’‘smother’’ the corals, the destruction of mangrove forests is exacerbating this problem. Global warming has already led to that increased levels of coral bleching, and this is because corlas cannot survive if the water temperature is too high. Is this the end for an already stressed ecosystem?
Earth, an endless source of wonder and beauty, produced the Great Barrier Reef. Hustling and bustling, the Reef thrives like a busy city, teeming with life. Sheltering thousands, corals, maintain the well-being of the Reef; however, the world threatens its nature and delicacy. Populations growing and technological advances increasing, the world becomes more and more disconnected with the natural world, posing an alarming risk for the planet we live on. Although many organizations try to keep the oceans clean, because of human interference and unnatural occurrences, the Great Barrier Reef needs scientific help to adapt corals to new conditions for means of survival, putting pressure on the Australian government to save their ocean environment.
The increase in ocean temperatures are causing the reef to die out; reefs structures don’t have the ability to keep up pace with the ever so changing climate 4. Rigel suggests that coral reefs will eventually die out from the erosion of the warm ocean4. The increase in climate change is leading to ocean acidification. Much of the gases that enter our air from pollution also dissolves into the ocean. With this occurring, corals cannot absorb the calcium they need to maintain their skeletons. The stony skeletons that support coral reefs will dissolve. If nothing is done to stop so much carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere, this will increase and more and more coral reefs will be destroyed and die
Corals provide shelter for nearly one quarter of all known marine species. The reefs are home to over 4000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of other forms of plant and animal life. Living coral reefs are the foundation of marine life, and this also means that they are essential for human life, but all over the world they are dead or dying because people are destroying them at a very fast rate. Already 10% have been lost, and there are predictions that 705 of all corals on the planet will be destroyed in 20 to 40 years unless people stop doing what they are doing now – i.e., pollution, sewage, erosion, cyanide fishing, bad tourism.
There are two kinds of Coral reefs, warm, shallow water reefs that require lots of sunlight and cold, deep ocean water reefs. All natural reefs are a combination of sedimentary rock and calcium carbonate. When we think of coral reefs we imagine the bright, sunny, white sand beaches of the Caribbean but the deep water reefs are inhabited by cold water coral. These coral reefs are created by carbonate secreting animals like black coral, hard coral and octocoral which are the type of coral you will find in the gulf (Georgian). Invertebrates such as algae, sponges and bryozoans, bivalves are some different types of organisms that build these reefs as well. Each of these reef builders are an important part of the reef ecosystem (Science).
A. Global 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.
Humans have a very large effect on the ecosystems of coral reefs. Sensitivity of coral reefs causes them to be more susceptible to harmful anthropogenic practices. Some of these are sedimentation, global warming, recreational activities, poison fishing, blast fishing practices, water pollution, and coral mining. All of these very different practices can effectively end up with the same results; the mortality of coral reefs around the world. Coral reefs are an important ecosystem of the world, and support many different industries and millions of people.
Such faults are like walking on the coral without a care, dropping anchors on the coral, dragging diving gear over them, breaking them and taking them home as souvenirs and knocking and grounding boats on them. But these are just a few examples of how humans treat the reef. Also things like pollution such as sewerage, oil spills, sunscreen, fertilisers and pesticides damage the reef; it spreads though the water then kills off living creatures. Prawn trawling destroys up to ten times more creatures than are actually harvested. Endangered marine turtles are still dying in nets; huge areas of seafloor are laid waste by destructive trawl
Soft corals are grouped in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, and order Alcyonacea. Their distinguishing characteristic is that their polyps always bear eight tentacles which are on both edges fringed by rows of pinnules (Fabricius and De’ath, 2002). The common name “soft coral” comes from the fact that they have no massive external skeleton as compared to the more commonly studied hard corals.
Reefs in their simplest form are composed of rock, coral or sand and are made through an abiotic, biotic, or man-made process. Much like canyons, most reefs are made through an abiotic process. They are naturally made from deposition and erosion caused by waves and other environmental factors. Some of the most popular forms of reefs are coral reefs which are created through a biotic, not to be confused with abiotic, process. Coral reefs are located in tropical waters and are developed through the infestation of coral and calcareous algae along the edges of reefs, atolls, and islands. There are also artificial reefs which are man-made and used enhance the physical complexity of a featureless sea bottom. Artificial reefs attract a diverse collection of organisms, especially fish.
Oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface. The talk of climate change can often seem to focus on what is happening in our atmosphere, but there is a lot of change going on in our oceans. The oceans have absorbed 90% of the excess heat and 28% of the carbon pollution generated by human consumption of fossil fuels (Nuccitelli 2015). The purpose of this paper is to show how the effects of climate change effect the coral reefs in our oceans, with a focus on the coral reef systems in the Caribbean and of the Great Barrier Reef. The Caribbean coral reefs are well known to have suffered more damage between the two reef systems. That’s not to say that the Great Barrier Reef has not suffered its own damage. It has and will continue to suffer in the future.
This article discusses how important the organisms symbiotic with coral reefs are, as well as how important coral reefs are to our environment. Also explained is how natural and non natural things things like hurricanes and overfishing affects them. A study is quoted about how water acidity also plays a role in the bleaching of corals. Lastly, restoration and conservation efforts are discussed and how we could possibly help our oceans.
Coral reefs are well known for their colorful array of marvelous sights including a parade of exotic flora and fauna. They are said to be the foundation for a quarter of marine species, and are a crucial support for human life as well. The coral reef ecosystem is a diverse collection of species (ranging from microscopic to larger-than-life in size) that interact with each other and their physical environment. If any piece of a coral reef is harmed or removed the entire community can be seriously affected, even to the point of collapse. Unfortunately, human impact has resulted in long-term stresses that, unlike the short-term stress of natural disasters, coral reefs are not as capable to recover from. “Approximately half of the world’s coral reef ecosystem resources are considered by scientists to be in 'poor' or 'fair' condition and have declined over time due to several anthropogenic threats” (“Status of Corals” par. 2). Through poorly administered commercial practices, carelessness and ignorance among the common people, and human aggravated natural processes coral reef destruction has become a serious issue afflicting the world’s biodiversity and it’s intricate biosphere mechanics (“Human Impact on the Great Barrier Reef” 1) (“What Are Coral Reefs?” 1).
A statistic released by the Marine Science Education Project of the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education States that “…Reefs subject to land-based pollution (sewage, sedimentation, and or industrial pollution) show 30–50% reduced diversity at 3 m, and 40–60% reduced diversity at 10 m depth relative to unpolluted comparison reefs in each region.” This statistic is alarming because it shows just how much pollution can affect a certain environment. Not only does it affect the environment but it also affects animals, plants and people.
Located in tropical ocean waters, coral reefs provide priceless resources to both human and marine life. The leading natural cause of destruction among the coral reefs is global warming. Other natural causes are earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons. The destruction to the coral reefs from these natural disasters is minimal compared to the dangers caused by man. Man-made destruction has a much wider impact on the health of the coral reefs. This destruction includes over-fishing, damage from anchors, aquarium industry, overgrowth of seaweed, and being smothered by sediments.
In conclusion, I would like to say that before writing this paper, I had no idea how important coral reefs were to the earth. I have learned a lot and I think that if more people were informed about the positive capabilities of them, humans wouldn't be so careless about them.