...Coral reefs are one of the biological cornerstones of the ocean and are fundamental to many marine ecosystems worldwide. Whilst they have countless uses to socioeconomic and tourism sectors globally, their role in the biological sense is of far greater value. By looking at their importance to the biology of the oceans, a greater understanding of the level in which they need to be protected can be formed. One of their key characteristics is their ability to provide shelter and protection to countless marine organisms. This is done so efficiently that entire ecosystems form solely around coral reefs and the habitats they create. These reefs also act as a vital buffer for waves and strong ocean conditions. By dissipating the wave energy, they...
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...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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...Protect Coral Reefs Those who love to snorkel or dive know how beautiful coral reefs are up close. These vibrant ecosystems are the homes and breeding grounds of multiple sea creatures. However, due to pollution and human activity, about 20% of coral reefs in the world have been damaged beyond repair. The bright side is, if we all take action today, we can still protect the remaining reefs in our oceans. Scientists and conservation groups are working double time to use their expertise in saving our seas and coral reefs. Even if you aren't an expert, you can still do a lot to join the movement. 1. Cut your carbon footprint. Climate change is a leading cause of coral reef deaths. Lessen your amount of carbon emissions by walking,...
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...A current problem impacting the island of Tonga is the coral reef is being damaged. One solution to this problem is using our water supply for things we need and not for things not needed. According to coral reef.gov, the text states don't leave unwanted or nets in or out of the water. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and fish. This shows that if people leave unwanted fishing gear on or off of the shore of Tonga or any kind of litter pollutions in the water, it can harm both the fish and coral reef. This shows that if people leave unwanted fishing gear on or off shore of tonga or any kind of litter will pollute in the water, and can harm both the fish and coral reefs. According to coral reef, the text states the...
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...Coral reef's are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, inhabiting around 25% of all marine species; 4000 of which are fish and another 800 are hard coral (Reaka-Kudla, 1997). Many different factors by both human and natural causes propose threats to the coral reef's. Some of which, if carried on, could mean that the coral reef's will subside. Coral reef's are a major habitat for marine organisms. But if their population declined, this wouldn't just affect different species that live there, it would also affect humans as well. Many different species of fish live in the reef's that humans live off so if overfishing continues in the coral reef's then humans will have to find an alternative food source or try fishing elsewhere. However...
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...extent for these supports are the coral reef ecosystems, which are the most diverse ecosystems in the sea. “High diversity density gives rise to intense species competition and the subsequent organism capability to construct exotic defensive and offensive chemicals, many with pharmacological value” (Addey 228). Only about ten percent of reef biodiversity is known, and only a minor fraction of that ten percent has been explored for active compounds. Unfortunately, these coral reefs are facing several...
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...The first major threat to coral reefs is global warming or climate change. The warming of the oceans is detrimental for coral reefs because they are very particular about what water temperature they live in. Also the warming of the oceans causes glacier to melt, thus causing rising seas. " The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that sea level is rising at a rate of .12 inches per year—60 percent faster than the .08 inches per year it predicted in 2007" (Global Reef Threats). Rising seas causes coral reefs to be deeper in the ocean. As something gets further away from the surface it common sense that it will receive less light. This will cause the coral reefs to grow slower. This is a problem considering some coral reefs already...
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...A coral reef is a rigid of rock in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of coral. They play a major role in our environment and we don’t even recognize it. Coral reefs are essential because they provide shelter for aquatic life, they control the amount of air in the ocean water, and the reefs protect the coast from strong currents and waves. Coral reefs are facing many risk such as destruction and conservation, but through it all they are still maintaining their daily job. For example, they provide homes for many species of aquatic life. Without these coral reefs the aquatic life would be homeless. They wouldn't be able to give birth to their babies in a good ecosystem and in result of that they wouldn’t be able to survive. To get back to the point, with the many risks that coral reefs are facing they are still managing to help the fish stay out of poverty and have homes for their babies....
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...natural science research. The study discusses (and 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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...LIVING COASTAL RESOURCES OF THE ASEAN REGIONAND DATA REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT SIGNIFICANCE OF LIVING COASTAL RESOURCES Living coastal resources are found within major coastal ecosystems consisting of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, benthic systems, and estuaries or lagoons. Coastal ecosystems, particularly estuaries and inshore marine waters have the highest rate of primary production as compared to terrestrial and oceanic regions. Daily gross production rate in terms of grams of dry organic matter per square metre area for the narrow coastal band ranges from 10 to 25, with all other regions having substantially lower values (2). The coastal band conveniently thought of as the transition area between land and sea, holdsthis great diversity of ecosystems, each characterized by its own unique ecological feature. Conditions here may be harsh with wide fluctuations in temperature and salinity, but because of the abundance of food supply, these areas can and do support a high diversity of species which have become efficiently adapted to the widely fluctuating environmental conditions. These ecosystems remain productive because of tidal action which circulates food and nutrients rapidly and efficiently and at the same time washes away waste materials. They also serve as efficient nutrient traps of the continuous nutrient input washed down from land. Within these ecosystems, the autotrophic and heterotrophic layers are maintained in close contact so that energy transfer...
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...Josh Steichen M. Bermas harmful effects of chemical changes are: -acid rain -rust -chemicals in an anti spot cream reacting with a silver necklace, turning it black -exhaust fumes -spoilage of foods -chemical fertilizers 1. Global Warming Cause: Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants Our ever increasing addiction to electricity from coal burning power plants releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 40% of U.S. CO2 emissions come from electricity production, and burning coal accounts for 93% of emissions from the electric utility industry [EPA, pg. 10]. Every day, more electric gadgets flood the market, and without widespread alternative energy sources, we are highly dependent on burning coal for our personal and commercial electrical supply. 2. Global Warming Cause: Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for transportation Our modern car culture and appetite for globally sourced goods is responsible for about 33% of emissions in the U.S. [EPA pg. 8] With our population growing at an alarming rate, the demand for more cars and consumer goods means that we are increasing the use of fossil fuels for transportation and manufacturing. Our consumption is outpacing our discoveries of ways to mitigate the effects, with no end in sight to our massive consumer culture. 3. Global Warming Cause: Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such as rice paddies, and from Arctic seabeds Methane is another extremely...
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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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...life. The purpose of this paper is to provide a deeper understanding of what ocean acidification, it effects...
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...The Marine Environmental Impacts of Artificial Island Construction Dubai, UAE By Bayyinah Salahuddin Date: _______________ Approved: _________________________ Dr. Michael Orbach, Advisor Masters project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Environmental Management degree in the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences of Duke University 2006 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ﻷﺟﻞ أهﻠﻲ First, I thank Allah for making my research successful and rewarding. Next, I would like to thank my dear family for their generous, unwavering support and encouragement. Finally, I would like to thank the Student International Discussion Group and the Environmental Internship Fund at the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University for funding my research. -2- ABSTRACT In the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is building three colossal artificial islands— each in the shape of a palm tree—in the Arabian Gulf. This has prompted several other Gulf countries to construct artificial islands. To determine the impacts of the first of these Palm Islands, The Palm Jumeirah, I traveled to Dubai and interviewed governmental agencies, environmental groups, and the developer’s environmental scientists. I analyzed the island’s impacts on marine wildlife as well as the developer’s mitigation efforts and the developer’s compliance with the relevant environmental laws. The Palm Jumeirah has buried and asphyxiated wildlife, increased turbidity, and changed...
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...Brandon Parezo Environmental Science Research Paper November 23rd, 2011 Maldives The country of Maldives is officially known as the Republic of Maldives, or as many people know of it as the Maldive Islands. It is located in the Indian Ocean, island nation, and the way that it is formed is by a double chain of twenty-six atolls (1). An “atoll” is a coral island that surrounds a “lagoon” partially or completely (1). The major surrounding countries near Maldives are Sri Lanka and India, Maldives is about 430 miles from Sri Lanka and about 250 miles from India (1). The major type/s of topography for Maldives is the fact that it is a cluster of around 1,200 small islands (2). One of the islands consists of just the capital, Male, and another one of the islands serves the purpose of the nation’s airport. Besides those two islands, basically every island serves a single purpose. They have an island just to store their fuel, one for their dump yards, 199 of them for population, and 80 islands that consist of major tourist locations (2). For the Maldive Islands there really only one major language spoken, Dhivehi (1). It is a Indo-European language and it spoken by at least 350,000 people on the islands (1). The present-day script that is used on the islands is called Thanna and what is quite interesting about this is that it is written from right to left, unlike us who go from left to right (1). According to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural...
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