Coral Reef Research Paper

One of the most diverse and biologically rich marine ecosystems is the coral reef. Almost every ecosystem has a greater purpose, coral reef are no exception. For instance they serve as barriers for hurricanes, and other catastrophic storms, their chemicals treat diseases, and one of the most important function is they are a major source of food for humans. But that is just the benefits for humans, they provide shelter and food for numerous organisms, such as fish, turtles, dolphins, and several other marine life.

The Great Barrier Reef is an oceanic/costal ecosystem off the coastline of Port Douglas, Australia. There are man costal systems that are significant to the role of the Reef including coral reefs, wetlands, and rainforests etc. The reef consists of many diverse corals and is a home for over 1,500 different species of fish. The reef is unique for many distinctive reasons; a reason that is unique is that it is acknowledged as one of the most imperative biological possessions. The Reef is a complex ecosystem with numerous organisms trusting on each other for nourishment and endurance. Broadly all collections of maritime plants and animals are extravagantly signified in the Reef. The animals range from dugongs

Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystem on the planet. There are more than 25,000 known species of organisms and countless others that have yet to be identified (Helvarg, 2000). Reefs thrive on the shallow edge of tropical seas, most often on the eastern edge of continents along warm water currents that brush the coasts. Reefs cannot live in cold waters and are limited by ocean depth and available sunlight. Coral is the foundation of the reef community, providing a three-dimensional structure where thousands of species of vertebrates and invertebrates live and feed. Some species of coral are hard, while others soft. Some are branched, yet others are compact and rounded. Coral is made up of large

has risen to around 3.2 millimetres per year, although it does vary from year to

The Great Barrier Reef, the largest known reef in the world, is a majestic and beautiful attraction for tourists who visit Queensland, Australia and are looking for an adventure. Many people go to scuba dive, snorkel, or swim in the crystal clear water. There are many more unforgettable experiences that can be done at the Great Barrier Reef, which can be seen from space. The reef is home to a variety of organisms, has many threats that affect it, but in the end, overcomes all of them to thrive and become more beautiful than before.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef ecosystem. This reef is located off of the coast of Queensland, Australia in the Coral Sea. The system is made up of about 2,900 individual reefs. It is the worlds biggest single structure made of living organisms. This reef system is so large it can be seen from outer space!

The Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world, is supposed to be larger than the Great Wall of China. The 1800-mile stretch of marine life is supposed to be the only living thing on Earth visible from space, with the world’s largest collection of corals, molluscs, rays, dolphins, and more than 1500 species of tropical fish. The reef should feature sea turtles and giant clams over 120 years old, humpback whales migrating from the Antarctic, and endangered species such as sea cows. However, just because it should doesn’t mean that it always will be. Its natural beauty has attracted tourists in the masses, but ironically, the treasured reefs are steadily perishing at their hands.

In today’s world, pollution and climate change have created dangerous living conditions for many people and will continue to cause problems across the globe for years to come. For many years, scientists have tried to find ways to decrease levels of carbon dioxide in the air, but most are ultimately too expensive or fail to work. Possibly, the best way to decrease these levels is to have plants take the carbon dioxide out of the air, planting trees and other plants along buildings in a vertical forest could be the most efficient way.

Coral Reefs ecosystems only covered two tracks up to the 1970-80’s and they were biological and geological. From those years, we have been able to study and learn more about coral reefs. We have found that these reefs exist and a continued form such as none reef-building coral ecosystems can have fast structures being built. There is still quite a bit of things we will need to learn such as determining if coral communities are dependent on the abilities of reef building. They are used for structure and providing space to the ecosystem of the reef itself, having biodiversity, and to support the reef in all capabilities. Coral reefs are one of the most distinguish ecosystem in the world, but these are getting threatened by ocean acidification.

From the Great Barrier Reef to the Caribbean, coral reefs all over the world are in great danger, and can soon be an ecosystem of the past. As shown in Figure 1 (SEOS), in an eight-year span, the amount of coral bleaching around the world has increased. Many studies conducted by international and national groups have concluded that coral bleaching is occurring rapidly, and if continued, can lead to reduced growth rates and reproductive capacity in bleached corals, changes in overall coral composition affects the livelihood of a variety of fish and invertebrates because they rely heavily on it for food, shelter, and other basic

When looking at the word coral reef bleaching one might have a visual image of a red coral reef graphic t-shirt which has ventured in the wash well over the normal limit. In reality coral reef bleaching is when a coral reef expels the algae living in its tissues due to stress in the coral. The stress in the coral can be caused by warmer water temperature, a change in water lighting, or a lack or abundance of nutrients in the reef. At this point you are probably wondering what all this has to due with the changing climate of the earth. The answer to that question will be answered later on in the paper. Before going any farther I would like to mention (a very big word which I can not pronounce) zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae is the relation between

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

Coral reefs have been undergoing global degradation due to increasing natural and anthropogenic impacts for at least the last half-century. The intensity and frequency of stressors, including global climate change, have rapidly increased in number over recent years (Hughes & Connell 1999; Hoegh-Guldberg et al. 2007; Pandolfi et al. 2011). Frequent disturbances such as hurricanes/cyclones, predation outbreaks, diseases and mass bleaching events eat-away at the percent of living coral cover and without recovery, the available space is colonized by sponges, soft corals, and macroalgae. These alternative organisms are often competitive dominants in less than ideal conditions (Norström et al. 2009). The transition is termed a phase-shift from

Consisting of less than 1% of the world oceans, the coral reefs are ancient animals comprising of thin calcium carbonate deposits within the photic layer. Aside from its biologically diverse ecosystems, coral reefs are major source of food for millions and provides habitats and nursery areas for many marine organisms. Coral reefs also act as a physical buffer to protect the coastlines from tropical storms and erosion. In addition, many local communities rely on coral reefs to generate an income through activities such as fishing and diving. However, 75% of the coral reefs are under threat from induced impacts of humans and climate change (Burke, et al., 2011). This essay looks at the human impacts constantly being inflicted on coral reefs.

In the news reporters often talk about the effects of global warming as if they are anywhere from five to one-hundred years off in the future. Those dangers like unpredictable and catastrophic weather patterns may not pose a major threat to human populations yet. However, for the inhabitants of earth’s coral reefs, the planet’s constant warming immediately endangers thousands of species. While coral reefs occupy only a small fraction of the ocean’s floor, they account for roughly one fourth of the world’s marine life. Coral itself, which in large part comprises coral reefs is made up of thousands of tiny polyps that cling together and secrete a hard outer coating binding the individual polyps together (Jaap, 212-213). Generally coral make up the vast majority of all reefs, but soft bodied organisms like anemones litter the sea bed as well. Coral reefs’ seemingly eternal balance with man is now in jeopardy, as small things like clownfish infertility and massive coral population loss begin to snowball, eventually leading to human casualties. These vibrant structures made up of millions of years of development do not face potential threats from global warming. The existing threats are imminent.