Algae

The Marine iguana which is a reptile is only found on the Galápagos Islands. They are herbivores and feed mostly on the algae on the rocks they lay on near the shore. The males, which are larger than the females, may grow to 4 feet or more. Iguanas seem to prefer rocky shores but may also be found in mangrove swamps and beaches. The iguanas can dive over 9 m down into the water. The lava lizard is a reptile which are native to South America. There are around 20 recognized species but only 7 of…

Crown-of-thorns Starfish or COTS are marine invertebrates that are responsible for approximately 42 percent of the loss of coral on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (Cranston, 2015). Plagues of this starfish have destructed coral reefs world wide. Scientists have identified fossil evidence dating back to millions of years ago, however outbreaks have only been detected in the last 50 years (Cranston, 2015). They are characterised by their venomous thorns and are capable of piercing through…

deadly neurotoxin has been found in many new shellfish. Phytoplankton produces a natural acid called Domoic acids which in small doses it's harmless. However, when it is produced in excess it becomes poisonous to people. "The shellfish that eat these algae blooms don't seem to be affected by the toxin," said Morgaine McKibben, a Ph.D. student at the University of Oregon. But when other animals eat the shellfish they are affected in a very negative way. When it is ingested, it can…

The book, Coral Reefs, by Simon Rose, presents that categories of coral reefs, what coral reefs are home to, and the dangers that they may face. Coral reefs are made up of coral polyps that attach and multiply to a limestone skeleton called a calicle. Coral reefs are categorized in three ways, which is by their type. 1. Fringed reef, 2. Barrier reef, 3. Atolls. The fringed reef either borderers the shore near a lagoon, or it will be directly attached, next is the barrier reef. The barrier reef,…

Biodiversity Essay How can the great barrier reef be protected for the future generation? The great barrier reef is a stunning 2,600 km stretch of some of the most amazing coral reefs in the world. It is so big it is visible from space. The reef is approximately the same area as Japan, Malaysia or even Germany(Great Barrier Reef). It is a huge part of the world but also a huge part of people's lives. Latest estimates suggests that the great barrier reef makes up to $30 billion each year in…

Coral bleaching events endangers the sustainability of major coral reef ecosystems around the world, such as the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the Florida Keys and the Coral Triangle Area. The loss of symbiotic algae and/or their pigment lead the bleaching of corals [2]. Moreover, the mass bleaching phenomena degrade the valuable ecosystem services of coral reefs, which are home to 25% of all known marine species and provide approximately $375 billion per year in goods and services around the world…

Reef, in the Great Barrier Reef, is a beautiful organisation of coral and rocks naturally formed into the shape of a heart. The reef was created by hundreds of years of dead coral building up in a massive, underwater stone wall, which has then grown algae and new coral, which reproduces, dies and grows year by year. The Heart Reef is a beautiful array of stunning coral formations, naturally shaped into a heart. Surrounded by bright blue, crystal clear water, the heart shape stands out from…

Introduction Eutrophication is a condition in an aquatic ecosystem where high nutrient concentrations stimulate blooms of algae (e.g., phytoplankton). Eutrophication is a natural process that occurs to all lakes over time as the weathering of rocks and soils from the surrounding area that leads to an accumulation of nutrients in the water. It can also be caused by run-offs of fertilisers. Three of the key components of modern fertilisers are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. After a rainy…

Shelldon Clamsworth is a coral farmer, that lives on the outskirts of the Grand Reef. Coral farmers harvest coral, a valued resource in the reef, for King Shellington. The life of a coral farmer is hard, not only harvesting coral, but fighting to survive the brutal currents on the outskirts of the reef, and the creatures that lurk there. Not a day goes by that Shelldon has to fight off some sort of crab or fish. Shelldon had the appearance that most coral farmers did, rugged, with bland colors…

Lemna is a free- floating aquatic plant from the duckweed family, that consists of small, individual thalli (Tkalec et.al, 2001). Lemna are small, fast growing plants and they develop dense mats on ponds, especially when enough light and nutrients are available (Gérard et.al, 2014). Salt is the most toxic substance, as it causes an inhibition of plant growth and a decrease in nutrient uptake (Chang et.al, 2012). Salt stress induces the production of abscisic acid (ABA), a plant stress hormone,…