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Great Barrier Reef Research Paper

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Stretching along the northeastern coast of Australia, an enormous ecosystem with over 200 species of coral and many types of aquatic animals is busy at work every single day. This national marine park is the largest coral reef in the world, and with lots of sights to see, it attracts many visitors. The Great Barrier Reef, covering 386,109 square miles, more than half the size of Alaska (Kummer 15), is known for being a symbol of exploration and the only one of this size.

The reef is important and special for many reasons. The Australian economy is benefited very much by it from tourism. Two million visitors come to see it each year and spend about two billion dollars there (Kummer 67). The Great Barrier Reef protects the coast of Queensland …show more content…

The reef’s huge foundation of coral was also created millions of years ago by the coral polyps, and the oldest part of the reef is estimated to be about 20 to 25 million years old. The first European discovery of the reef was entirely by chance. On June 11th, 1770, the first recording of the Great Barrier Reef on a European nautical map occurred. Later that year, Cook’s Passage was discovered and it was the safest way through the reef without damage to the boat or shipwreck. The Aborigines of Northern Australia call it Waga Gaboo, which means “the great reef” (Hoffman 220 & 221). These aboriginal people used the Great Barrier Reef to survive off of around 20,000 years ago (Kummer 45). Some species that live on the reef, like turtles or crocodiles, have been living there since prehistoric times. More recently though, the Great Barrier Reef has had outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. These starfish are an invasive species that are dangerous to the reef. The first documented outbreak was in 1962, and three other major ones have occurred. The second one was in the 1970s, third in the early 1990s, and the fourth was just in 2010! In 1981, the Great Barrier Reef reached World Heritage status and it was the first coral reef ever to do so. Then, in 2007, it was placed on the National Heritage List …show more content…

The reef’s fish are slowly but surely declining due to overfishing, and the Australian Parliament passed a law that prohibits fishing in ⅓ of the reef, but it is still an issue (Kummer 76). The fish and other animals are being threatened by coastal runoff of wastes toxic to them, coral bleaching, and the invasions of crown-of-thorns starfish. The coral bleaching is caused by wastes in the water and the sun. This is slowly making the coral decline, and the GBRMPA is trying everything they can to prevent this (75). As for the crown-of-thorns starfish, outbreaks of them occur about every 17 years, and half of the coral decline is because of them (“About”). During the 1960s, plans were made for mining and drilling on the reef. These plans were never followed through with, but it is unclear whether it will happen in the future or not. This could damage the reef, and the GBRMPA is still trying to shut the plan down today (Kummer 55). Lastly, the Great Barrier Reef lies in a tropical zone threatened by typhoons frequently. These typhoons really damage the coral and the animals that live on the reef. The future of the Great Barrier Reef is unclear, but the GBRMPA is still managing it with great care today (Hoffman

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