...Coral reefs occupy only 0.2% of the ocean floor, yet they are the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems known today, and support over 25% of all marine organisms (Yip). Due to the massive amount of marine species that populate coral reef habitats, maintaining healthy reefs is crucial for the continuation of marine biodiversity. In past years, the increase of mortality rates in coral has been caused by a number of factors, including wide-spread stress and disease. In the Indo-Pacific, coral reefs have been declining at a rate of approximately 2% per year for the last 20 years (Yip). Coral reef fish biodiversity is crucial for the sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem, as well as for the ability of the coral reefs to provide services...
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...recommends) steps that could help to build a stronger support system for the reef management and also advance the efficiency of the already existing conservation techniques. International researchers and scientists – Shankar Aswani, Rhodes University (Africa), Peter J. Mumby, University of Queensland (Australia), Andrew C. Baker, University of Miami (USA), Patrick Christie, University of Washington (USA), Laurence J. McCook, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Australia), Robert S. Steneck, University of Maine (USA) and Robert H. Richmond, University...
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...named global ecosystem – 15 Coral Reefs are a unique ecosystem, which usually grow in conditions where the temperate is around 24c and in less than 25m depth of water. Coral reefs are homes to over 25% of known sea creatures and are an invaluable service for the local population as a source of food and income. Coral Reefs are under huge stress due to the impact that human activities are having and in fact already 1/5 of the world’s coral reefs are so damaged that they are beyond repair. A global threat, which is affecting all fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs, is global warming. Firstly, the average increase in global temperatures is leading to an increased rate of ice cap melting. The melting of the ice caps releases more fresh water into the oceans, reducing salinity. The increased water volume is also increasing sea level rise; coral reefs find it difficult to survive in over 27m depth of water. The increase in sea temperatures can also change the nutrient flow. Coral bleaching is a devastating side effect of global warming which affects the corals. Coral bleaching is permanent damage and is occurring globally. The effects of the bleaching are worsened during El Nino years; in 1990 almost 50% of the worlds coral reefs were severely damaged. The most damaged reefs were in the Persian Gulf where 65% had been destroyed, followed by reefs in South Asia where 45% and 38% respectively, were considered destroyed. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia also witnessed a bleaching...
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...to a Coral Reef Early Warning System station in Discovery Bay, Jamaica, utilized in conducting ocean acidification studies near coral reef areas [edit]Australia Main article: Environmental threats to the Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system.[46][47][48][49] The reef is located in the Coral Sea. A large part of the reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Particular environmental pressures include runoff, salinity fluctuations, climate change, cyclic crown-of-thorns outbreaks, overfishing, and spills or improper ballast discharge. [edit]Southeast Asia See also: Southeast Asia coral reefs Southeast Asian coral reefs are at risk from damaging fishing practices (such as cyanide and blast fishing), overfishing, sedimentation, pollution and bleaching. Activities including education, regulation and the establishment of marine protected areas help protect these reefs. [edit]Indonesia Indonesia is home to one third of the world's corals covering nearly 85,000 square kilometres (33,000 sq mi) and one quarter of its fish species. Indonesia's coral reefs are located in the heart of the Coral Triangle and have fallen victim to destructive fishing, tourism and bleaching. Data from 414 reef monitoring stations in 2000 found that only 6% are in excellent condition, while 24% are in good condition, and approximately 70% are in poor to fair condition.[50] [edit]Philippines In 2007, Reef Check, the world's largest reef conservation organization...
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...Introduction The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia and The Tubbataha Reef (TR) in the Philippines are two renowned reef systems in the world. These reefs are vital to both the environment and the people who live near it, either by providing a habitat for fish, food source for communities, or tourism and other income sources. However, both of these face a great threat to their survival, this threat is coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is a growing issue for most reefs around the world, this is when coral turn white, or bleach, as they either die or become dormant. To try and manage this, governments initiate laws and restrictions to save the reef, yet people still continue to damage it both intentionally and unintentionally. Issue to Reef’s coral bleaching is the issue The issue to reefs is the human induced climate change that causes the water temperature and ocean acidification to rise. These cause the coral to be unable to live so it releases a substance called zooxanthellae, the substance which gives the coral colour, leaving the coral with a ‘bleached’ look. Another factor for coral bleaching is ocean acidification, this is when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The ocean has already absorbed 1/3 of the carbon dioxide and ½ of the fossil fuels from factories and other human activities....
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...Northwestern University, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium Abstract Coral samples were obtained from Shedd Aquarium to investigate the symbiotic relationship between the corals and their zooxanthellae under environmental stress. The zooxanthellae DNA were extracted, amplified, and sequenced. The sequences were then analyzed using Sequencher 5.0 and BioEdit where they were aligned individually and then against other sequences found in previous literature research. The aligned sequences were run in Genbank using the BLAST function to identify the zooxanthellae at the subclade level. Further research into current literature was done with the best matched subclades to our sequences to further investigate the thermal resilience of the zooxanthellae. It was found that thylakoid membrane lipid compositions as well as lipid energy reserves are correlated to bleaching susceptibility. Clade D symbionts have higher lipid energy reserves, allotting for more thermal resilience in comparison to clade C as well as increased abundances in D symbiont types among reefs after bleaching events. Bleaching susceptibility was also found to have variation within clades. More research is needed to fully understand the coral-zooxanthellae relationship and acclimatization under stress. Introduction Coral reefs harbor over a fourth of all marine species and therefore are one of the most biologically diverse systems of the oceans (Gills, 2010). The coral community is comprised of a collection of biological communities...
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...Coral reefs are the epicenter for immense amounts of biodiversity, and are a key player in the survival of an entire ecosystem. They provide various marine animals with food, protection, and shelter which keep generations of species alive.[1] Furthermore, coral reefs are an integral part of sustaining human life through serving as a food source (i.e. fish, mollusks, etc.) as well as a marine space for eco-tourism which provides economic benefits.[2] Unfortunately, because of human impact of coral reefs, these ecosystems are becoming increasingly degraded and in need of conservation. The biggest threats include "overfishing, destructive fishing practices, and sedimentation and pollution from land-based sources."[3] This in conjunction with increased carbon in oceans, coral bleaching, and diseases, there are no pristine reefs anywhere in the world.[4] In fact, up to 88% of coral reefs in Southeast Asia are now threatened, with 50% of those reefs at either "high" or "very high" risk of disappearing which directly effects biodiversity and survival of species dependent on coral.[5] This is especially harmful to island nations such as Samoa, Indonesia, and the Philippines because many people depend on the coral reef ecosystems to feed their families and to make a living. However, many fisherman are unable to catch as many fish as they used to, so they are increasingly using cyanide and dynamite in fishing, which further degrades the coral reef ecosystem.[6] This perpetuation of bad...
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...Climate change implications for the Pacific Islands Across the planet now we see ever more flood, ever more drought, ever more storms. People are dying, communities are being wrecked and local plants and species are being wiped away — the impacts we’re already witnessing from climate change are unlike anything we have ever seen before. There is report that identifies small island states as being the most vulnerable countries of the world to the adverse impacts of climate change. The Pacific is in fact without a doubt one of the world’s most vulnerable regions when it comes to risk of disaster due to climate change, particularly several of the low-lying coral islands. Climate change is already affecting Pacific Islands with dramatic revenue loss across sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forestry, tourism and other industry-related sectors. Some of the projected impacts of climate change on main sectors that specifically apply to the Pacific Islands are listed below. (reference here) Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change, with high temperature levels reducing yields of desirable crops and changes in precipitation patterns increasing crop failures (reference here). Pacific islands are constantly being exposed to these threats of climate change and we have already witnessed the effects of these threats. For example the different weather variations occurring in different parts of the pacific islands, low levels of our crops and forestry production...
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...Coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. They occupy less than 1% of the worlds ocean surface, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for 25% of all marine species, including fishes, molluscs, echinoderms and sponges. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, particularly in the Pacific Ocean. Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services to tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection. The annual global economic value of coral reefs has been estimated at $375 billion. It is believed to have emerged more than 540 million years ago. New species originate 50% faster in coral reefs than in any other habitats. The fossil records show that reefs have been remarkably successful in surviving through large environmental disturbances. However the combination of drastic environmental changes that we're seeing today, such as degraded water quality, depleted fish stocks, coral bleaching, ocean acidification and loss of habitat causes them to be under great threat. Coral reefs are perhaps one of the greatest but, least known of wonders of our world. There are three different kinds of coral reefs. There are fringing, barrier, and atoll. Fringing reefs are attached to margins of an island or continent, rough, table like surface, as much as 1 kilometer wide. On their seaward side they slope steeply to the ocean floor. Fringing reefs grow in shallow water near the shore and prefer dry climates with limited river runoff. There are...
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...international policies to help protect coral reefs? Section 1: Coral Reefs are an important ecosystem that our planet needs to function correctly. Coral is a living organism that forms in colonies which can stretch out for hundreds of miles long and are then called coral reefs. These coral reefs are habitats for a large number of marine species. There are about 600,000 km of coral reef worldwide (State of the Reefs). Most reefs today are about 8,000 years old, and there are records of some being as much as 2.5 million years old (Dimitrov). The ecosystems of coral reefs have the “largest (amount) biodiversity per unit of area on earth” (Dimitrov). Scientists have discovered 93,000 coral reef species; however some estimate that there could be from 950,000 to as much as 9 million different species of coral reef (Dimitrov). Coral reefs are the second largest ecosystem next to tropical rainforests on Earth. The deterioration of coral reefs is a huge warning sign for everyone internationally to implement more policies on coral reef conservation. The problem that is happening internationally is the deterioration of coral reefs. Coral reefs are one of the most endangered ecosystems worldwide. For the first time in history they will be included on the World Conservation Union’s red list of threatened species (Oliver). According to the United Nations Environment Program and the Nature Conservancy, “around 30 percent of the world's coral reefs are already damaged, some irreparably...
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...levels of biodiversity (15) Both physical and human factors influence biodiversity. On a global scale, climatic and soil fertility influences affect levels of biodiversity, although often human factors influence biodiversity at a local scale and increasingly globally. Biomes and large scale ecosystems such as coral reefs are influenced by limiting factors such as salinity of water which should remain constant, temperatures between 25 and 29 degrees C and adequate sunlight so turbidity level are low. The Great Barrier reef is home to 5,000 species of molluscs, 1,800 species of fish, 125 species of sharks. The age and size of an ecosystem is important in supporting high levels of biodiversity. On the island of Borneo, a biodiversity hotspot, has a number of endemic species and sustains high levels of biodiversity as there is range of altitudes supporting different niches and the size of the area supports many predators. At the local scale, threats from human activity such as deforestation can severely influence biodiversity levels. In Borneo, pristine rainforest was removed for timber and mineral exploitation and the result was a wasteland of yellow grass with low biodiversity. However, human factors can also benefit biodiversity as replanting of native species fertilized by cow urine has subsequently increased biodiversity in the area and the area has been designated an Orang Utang protected area. Minsmere in Suffolk is an RSPB reserve where biodiversity levels have...
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...Describe the conditions which provide the best environment for the growth of coral and explain how coral may be threatened by changes to those conditions. A coral reef provides one of the most important natural habitats in the world, sheltering enormous amounts of biodiversity with its solid calcium carbonate skeleton. More than 25 percent of all fish biodiversity on the planet Earth is associated with the coral reef ecosystem. Coral reefs require fairly specific environmental conditions in order to thrive. Coral reefs and the zooxanthellae algae living within the cell walls of coral polyps must have adequate sunlight and warm salt water - water that gets no colder than 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius).Optimal conditions for coral growth require water temperatures between 73.4 and 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit (23 to 29 degrees Celsius). Coral reefs survive best in the waters between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south of the equator, mostly in the Pacific and Indian oceans. They also thrive in clear waters with little or no floating particles that can filter out or block direct sunlight. Shallow-water coral grows approximately 3.9 inches (9.9 centimeters) per year, given these optimal conditions. For example, the coasts alongside Oman are an ideal place for coral growth. While tropical shallow-water coral reefs have been studied much more extensively, there are also species of coral that live in deep-water conditions, from about 50 to 2,000 meters (about 165...
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...energy flow among organisms of a food chain in a particular ecosystem. Select an ecosystem, such as a temperate forest, desert biome, or the Everglades. For the ecosystem, I chose The Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Determine the interdependency of life in your ecosystem by examining its organisms. Include the following: List the organisms that can be found in your ecosystem. 1. Dolphin 2. Green Sea Turtle 3. Tiger Shark 4. Trevallies 5. Cardinal Fish 6. Manta Ray 7. Remora 8. Giant Triton 9. Crown of Thorns Starfish 10. Hard Coral 11. Zooxanthelleae 12. Sea Slugs 13. Sea Sponges 14. Spanish Dancer 15. Sea Grasses 16. Barracuda 17. Parrot Fish 18. Algae 19. Scorpion Fish 20. Goby 21. Saddled Butterfly Fish 22. Sea Anemones 23. Clownfish 24. Long Nosed Butterfly Fish 25. Barred Rabbit Fish 26. Branching Coral 27. Jellyfish 28. Coneshells 29. Bluestriped Fangblenny 30. Lizzard Fish 31. Phytoplankton 32. Coralline algae 33. Filamentous Turfalgae 34. Many species of seaweed 35. Bacteria (PBS evolution, 2003) * What is the benefit of this biodiversity? The Great Barrier Reef is well known for its vast biodiversity. Biodiversity is the variety of organisms that can be found to fulfill and the vital niches in an ecosystem. Each of the thousands of organisms are in a delicate balance with one and other, in that populations changes...
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...Using named examples assess the severity of global and local threats to biodiversity Biodiversity refers to the variety of species within an ecosystem and is something which is under increasing threats on both a local and global scale. An example of a global threat to biodiversity is desertification. Desertification is the process by which fertile, arable, land loses nutrients and life becoming barren. The Sahel region is an area which has been massively affected by desertification, especially since the 1950’s when farmers and other locals began to move into the areas which were habitable and used them as farmland. The farmers allowed their cattle to graze freely which resulted in overgrazing and thus having a severe impact on the biodiversity of the land as many plant species were grazed out of an area by the livestock. This loss of plant life due to over grazing has not only resulted in the immediate short term damage to biodiversity but also long term damage as the top soil loses all anchorage from the plant roots causing it to blow away or be washed away leaving bare rock which plants can’t grow on naturally in the future. Due to both the short and long term effects of desertification I believe it is one of the most severe threats to biodiversity on a global scale. Another global threat to biodiversity is climate change. Climate change is the changing of global temperatures over a long term scale, primarily caused by the greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse...
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...3.1.1 Factors influencing biodiversity Globally, biodiversity levels vary widely across land and oceans. Both physical and human factors influence levels of biodiversity and these factors operate at a variety of scales from local to global. Global physical factors such as variations in climate, play a major role in controlling the presence or absence of limiting factors, such as: • Temperature • Availability of light • Humidity • Nutrient supply • etc. An absence of limiting factors leads to high levels of primary productivity and the energy produced leads to high levels of biodiversity. Conversely, where limiting factors are strongly evident, e.g. in cold temperatures such as the Arctic, arid regions like deserts, darkness, etc. this will lead to low levels of biodiversity. The size of the area is another key factor, as the larger the continuous area the more species that can flourish in it. Hence the recent ‘size matters’ mantra, and the creation of huge transnational conservation areas such as the Peace Parks of Africa. Locally, there are numerous factors that may have an impact on biodiversity: • Disturbance from a natural disaster e.g. hurricanes, volcanoes, tsunamis on both land and ocean ecosystems, Asian tsunami 2004 – destroyed some mangrove forests • Quasi-natural disasters, e.g. wildfires (Victoria, Australia 2009), hunting, fishing, slash and burn farming • Eutrophication from high-tech agricultures Physical factors Human factors • Climate, e...
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