ECOSYSTEMS AT RISK – CASE STUDY 2 PART 1: CORAL REEFS – OVERVIEW Coral reefs are often referred to as “the rainforests of the sea” because of they form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Its massive structure is formed from coral polyps (tiny animals that live in colonies) that support approximately 25% of all known marine species by providing essential habitats. Factors affecting reef development and survival include temperature‚ light‚ sedimentation and salinity of the water. Without
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This is a piece of expository writing about coral reefs. I taught it fitting to write on coral reefs because they are so important and are getting destroyed every day. Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals‚ which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. Living coral reefs are the foundation for many marine species
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The oceans today are 30 percent more acidic than they were at the time of the Industrial Revolution. This interferes with the way that corals produce calcium carbonate‚ and it becomes difficult to build reefs. Oil spills are a major issue‚ and in recent accidents; ships hit coral reefs off India and spilt oil‚ causing reef damage. Surface currents are more rapid than the currents of the deep sea‚ limiting the ability of the deeper plumes (oil) to spread widely; oil and chemicals will diffuse as
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Coral Reefs‚ Our Disappearing Beauty Coral reefs are one of nature’s riches ecosystems with a diverse existence of life which is ultimately quite complex. They are a colorful ecosystem that plays an important role in the marine world and the human world as well. They are home to countless plants and animals‚ a source of food‚ medicines and one of the unique wonders of our world. While they might bring the image of life near a tropical paradise‚ there is much more to the coral reef than
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atmospheric heat‚ the Arabian/Persian Gulf was inflicted with coral bleaching (caused by detachment of algae from coral due to increased ocean temperature) and disease‚ as studied by Bernhard Riegl and Sam Purkis. This is a large-scale issue that could have been prevented by a limitation of greenhouse gas emissions. Riegl and
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Coral Bleaching Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services to tourism‚ fisheries and shoreline protection and often called “rainforests of the sea”. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals‚ which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. Coral reefs grow best in warm‚ shallow‚ clear‚ sunny and agitated waters. However‚ coral reefs are fragile ecosystems‚ partly because they are very sensitive to water temperature. They are under threat from climate change‚ oceanic acidification‚ blast
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value of Coral Reefs to Caribbean society and culture. Coral Reefs are the home of more than one quarter of all known marine fish species and tens of thousands of other species. The Caribbean coral reefs are vital and valuable natural resources that contain a wealth of biodiversity including over 60 species of coral and 1‚500 different species of fish – many of which are found nowhere else on earth. Coral reefs provide both a good and a service to many Caribbean islands. These coral reefs are
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Coral reefs have been dubbed the “rainforests of the oceans”‚ because of the rich diversity of life they support‚ as more than one quarter of all marine animals depend upon coral reefs. Coral reefs are also a source of food and income for millions of people. The coral reef ecosystems benefit humans commercially‚ recreationally and environmentally. Without them many tourism based industries would collapse‚ treatments or cures for some illnesses would disappear‚ and the countless organisms they support
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Pitch: This article is written to inform the reader of the issues pose by crown of thorns starfish on coral reefs. The target audience is the general public who may view coral reefs as a tourist destination. There is a need to warn about crown of thorns as research shows that it causes more destruction to corals reefs than bleaching or other disturbances. More details on how these starfish population boomed are given in the article‚ revealing both natural and anthropogenic factors. The article however
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Bleaching Away the Beauty of Coral Reefs Pretend you are about to go scuba diving in the ocean. You jump in the water and begin to sink down. As you start surveying the coral reefs around you‚ something catches your eye. The coral has turned white‚ and no longer moves with life. This whiteness seems to have spread over a large area of the reef. You no longer see the colorful branches swaying in the current‚ or the schools of tropical fish swimming through the leaves. This death-ridden reef
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