Reefs

coral reefs. (Lesser, 2010) Terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems are all affected by climate change. Coral is a vital part of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, without it there would be cascading effects. Coral bleaching is primarily caused by ocean temperature increase, but can also be caused by increased sunlight exposure and pollution from runoff. In order to prevent coral bleaching, there are many actions individuals can take. Coral plays a crucial role in the Great Barrier Reefs…

Simply look up “coral” in a search engine and you are bound to find countless articles showing how our excessive release of carbon has jeopardized reefs around the world. Yet most people, after concluding the article, still do not have the full sense of what is actually happening. In this essay I plan to address how human efforts are helping coral reef communities achieve resilience in response to the increase of human carbon emissions. To establish why we even need to concern ourselves with…

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia supports over half of the hard coral species and one third of the soft coral species in the world; however, the cumulative impact of human activities such as agriculture, mining, and industrial development have caused an estimated 50% loss of coral cover (Grech et al., 2015). Ocean acidification is one of the primary causes of this loss and is arguably one of the most detrimental consequences of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. With…

drugs based on substances provided by coral reef species” (CQ Researcher). They also serve as boundaries that harbor against storms and flooding. Additionally, they provide “ecological services, including recreation, fishing, and biodiversity… worth up to “$30 billion yearly” (CQ Researcher). Coral reefs offer a significant amounts of benefits to our ecosystem and economy. It is important that we take the necessary steps to maintain healthy coral reefs. To ensure that coral bleaching doesn’t…

unintentional marine animal helpers that maintain the health of their coral reefs. They prove themselves worthy of being protective, since “They are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems and help maintain the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds”(WWF). Even with being a maintainer of the health of the coral reefs around them, it is apparently not a big enough reason to not be hunted. Hawksbills are a huge help to their coral reefs and grass beds because of their habit of eating sponges.…

removing excess salt and opening pores to cool you down. It is important for organisms to maintain homeostasis because it assists the cells in the body to function and live. If homeostasis is disrupted, it can lead to a disease or disorder. The Black Tip Reef shark responds to changes in external temperatures by migrating south to warmer waters. They need to go where the temperature fits their needs, which…

Introduction The Crown of Thorns starfish, or Acanthaster Planci, is one of the largest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. The starfish, also known as COTS, can have up to 21 arms, each with hundreds of toxic spines. They move by expanding and contracting these feet, and feed on hard coral. Abiotic features are non-living or physical factors and can have a large effect on the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and the Crown of Thorns starfish. These include water temperature and nutrients in water.…

enables species to thrive in a certain environment. Such as the A. Millepora is a type of coral species that habitat both inshore and offshore reefs ( Lema et al. 2014). By knowing the environmental location of where these species thrive can help scientist determine how these populations grow…

It is 2016 and as of now “the latest global coral reef assessment estimates that 19 percent of the world 's coral reefs are dead.” (Block). According to a graph shown (free) the trend for coral bleaching is not looking good. If this trend continues the possibility of the coral reefs demise does not seem to be too far off. The disappearance of the coral reefs are not certain, but scientists are speculating that the disappearance of coral reefs may result in the disruption of the food chain. But…

Although bleaching and other impacts of climate change can make a coral reef vulnerable and damaged, not all hope is lost. Most coral reef ecosystems can recover over time, some taking as little as 20 years and others taking more than 100 years. This does not mean that we should turn our heads on coral reefs and the damage we inflict on them, simply because they will “recover”. This recovery can only work if humans take great care in preserving them. This can be done by assisting the coral with…