Module Two Google Earth Exercises: Galapagos Islands

Most reef-building corals contain photosynthetic algae, termed zooxanthellae, that live in their tissues. The corals and algae have a mutualistic association. The coral provides the algae a environment and compound

Corals build colonies that secrete calcium carbonate to form ocean reefs. When they're healthy, coral reefs provide shelter and food for animals all along the food chain, including the top: us. Across the planet, half a billion people rely, directly and indirectly, on corals for their living. That's why what happens to the 9,000-year-old Great Barrier Reef, as well as to other reefs worldwide, is critical. The floods in Queensland have hurt the Great Barrier Reef by funnelling into the ocean vast plumes of freshwater and agricultural runoff that could severely damage the coral. Besides the extreme rain that sparked the floods, rising ocean temperatures, changes to the ocean's chemistry and the global trade in natural resources — all symptoms of our fossil-fuel economy — are waging a multiform war on the marine

Oceans are important when it comes to slowing down climate change, they absorbs heat and greenhouse gases but it becomes more acidic dues to carbon dioxide (Dorey, 2015). By 2045, the pH level of seawater is expected to reach 7.8, which is slightly more acidic than normal and many sea creatures will not survive in this condition (Dorey, 2015). The acidification makes it difficult for sea creatures with external shells or skeletons to develop their structures, creatures such as corals, planktons, and crabs may even start to dissolve when the pH levels are too high (Dorey, 2015). This poses a major threat to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, affecting the food chain from plankton to the fish at the top, and ultimately damaging the ecosystem. Coral reefs are sensitive even to the slightest changes in ocean temperatures, along with the ocean’s acidity, the coral reefs are unable to grow properly nor survive storms, resulting in the mortality of certain areas of the Great Barrier Reef (Dorey, 2015). It is expected that 95% of the existing coral reefs may be lost by 2050, and creatures that rely on the reefs for shelter will suffer (Dorey, 2015). Australia’s loss in its ocean resources and Great Barrier Reef will impact the ecosystems, affecting all life as climate change occurs too

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef zone in Australia and it is now being suffered by the coral bleaching. The coral reefs usually have colorful outfits and it provides a great habitat to many of ocean creatures. Nonetheless the many coral reefs in Great Barrier Reef are deforming to be white colored. There are microscopic plant cells in symbiosis with coral reefs, which requires the sun’s energy. However, since the temperature went up, the balance of symbiosis goes out, so the coral reefs releases the plant cells to the water and it makes its white color. The video states that anything that helps the climate change will also helps the coral bleaching. The coral reef zones like Great Barrier Reef are deeply related to the ocean ecosystem, so the if the destruction goes on and on, in close future our eyes might not able to see that magnificently beautiful corals anymore and many of ocean creatures. The destruction of one ecosystem doesn’t only hazardous to those creatures in that ecosystem, but it gives dangers to all ecosystem and could lead to another destruction of other

Unit 4 Chapters 2-4 are about physical geography, humans, and cultures. Physical Geography is the branch of geography dealing with natural features and processes. The way it works together is mainly by physical geography. One happens naturally as the other evolves, and one lives a harder life than the other. Physical geography has had its effects on humans and its culture/society, but what came out of it was amazing.

The Great Barrier Reef is a vast organic structure that has existed longer than man. It has always been present underneath the water surface near the coast of Australia, harboring many different types of sea creatures. Over the past few decades, the reef has slowly been dying. Humans have been negatively affecting it for a while now, although they may not have known it at that time. We, as humans, have the duty to correct our mistake and take responsibility for our actions by doing everything in our power to nourish and tend to the reef. Governments all across the globe have come together to collaborate and discuss what they can do to save the reef from extinction. Many solutions have been talked about and some have been put into place, but the effects of these won’t be seen until a number of years later. We must wait and hope that our ignorance up until this point won’t destroy an iconic landmark before we can try and save it.

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is experiencing bleaching. According to France-Presse, bleaching of a reef is “coral...that has been stressed by the heat” (France-Presse). When a coral has been “stressed by heat,” (France-Presse) the coral discards the algae that lives within itself which causes the coral to be more susceptible to disease. It can take up to several decades for a coral to recover from bleaching. Because of that fact that most coral does not have enough time to recover, it dies.

Firstly the islands are recognized as containing outstanding examples of ongoing geological processes occurring in an essentially undisturbed environment, with particular emphasis on physical developments. Secondly they are appreciated, not only for ongoing processes, but specifically for the evolutionary developments that are apparent within the undisturbed property: intact ecosystems provide opportunities for ecological research, investigating population dynamics and interactions of plant and animal species, as well as monitoring the health and stability of the larger southern

Coral reef ecosystems around the globe are threatened by human interferences and climate change. This has led to many scientists conducting studies on global coral reef ecosystems to gain a better understanding of the cause and effects of coral reef damage. In both Hodgson’s (1999) and Carpenter et al.’s (2008) studies, they are aware of the continuous degradation of global coral reef ecosystems. Hodgson's study involved conducting a survey on global coral reef ecosystems to see whether human actions were affecting the health of supposed pristine Coral reefs. Carpenter et al. incorporated Hodgson’s study into a compiled study about the possible extinction of reef building corals due to climate change and anthropogenic effects. Carpenter’s

A coral reef is a ridge formed in shallow ocean water by accumulated calcium-containing exoskeletons of coral animals, certain red algae, and mollusks. Coral reefs are tropical, forming only where surface waters are never cooler than 20° C (68° F).

These animals live in compact colonies of many identical individual polyps which have soft-bodies. At their base is a hard, protective limestone skeleton composed of calcium carbonate. The reef begins when a polyp attaches itself to a rock on the sea floor, then divides, or buds into thousands of clones (National Geographic). The skeletal structure of hard corals are normally white, but due to zooxanthellae algae which reside within the soft tissues of corals, corals obtain color. The most prolific corals live above 90 feet, close to the surface in tropical waters where the sun's rays can reach the algae, noted by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). During the day the zooxanthellae, also known as algae, photosynthesize. It is a mutualistic relationship between coral and algae. The algae benefits from photosynthesis because the nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon dioxide which is respired from the coral polyp is needed to grow. The coral itself benefits from the energy the algae provides. By night the polyps can feed

Arranging the world based upon the organizations land masses are a part of has many strengths. Firstly, land would not be as divided, compared to the current countries that make up our world. For example in my map, all the Southeast Asian nations and Australia are grouped together as one country. This eliminates possible political arguments between the land masses because they all share one government. Another benefit of having the world organized this way is that it allows for the spread of resources and helps trade flourish. For example, Africa and the Arab nations are grouped together as one country. This means that resources, specifically oil, can easily move throughout the country to reach part of Africa that would normally not benefit

The zooxanthellae gives some of it’s the food it had produced from photosynthesis to the coral. Because coral can only grow where a light source is abundant and frequent, the coral also offers a great source of sunlight for the zooxanthellae. (“Coral, Carbon Dioxide, and Calcification”)

While on the Galápagos Islands, Darwin kept notebooks about all the species there, and he noticed the variety of tortoises on the island who were essential in explaining his theory of evolution. There are several species of tortoise present on the Galápagos Islands that are all very closely related, but slightly different. There are eleven presently surviving subspecies of Galápagos tortoises; furthermore, six of the eleven are found on different islands in the archipelago, and the other five are all found on a single island on five separate volcanoes with their own mini-ecosystems (PNAS). Although all of the species of Galápagos tortoise is different, they each have small differences that can include maximum adult size, shell shape, and the length of the neck and limbs. The tortoises of the islands are most closely related to the Chaco tortoises along the western coast of South America, and they most likely came to the Galápagos by “rafting” across the water (PNAS). Similar to the tortoises, Darwin observed that the Finches on the islands also had changed to match the environment. Spread among the islands were fourteen subspecies of finch whose

Climate and topography are two very important factors that may influence industries profitability and productivity. Is important for business leaders to recognize how climate and topography factors impacts different industries. Recognizing climate and topography could be of assistance for businesses venturing into the global business environment arena. Climate and topography are factors of huge importance when determining location and strategic planning. One of the industries most affected by climate and topography is the transportation industry.