Great Barrier Reef Research Paper

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.

Consequently, there are two important factors that contribute to the ignorance of the Great Barrier Reef ‘s impacts. First, Mr. Hunt’s

The coral reef surveyors were instructed to find the best sites that they believed had the most living coral and were thought to be least affected by human activities. This would allow Hodgson to determine if human activities were having an appreciable effect on the supposed pristine coral reefs, which were distant from urban centers. The invertebrate survey was undertaken at two depth intervals of 3m and 10m. Four 0.5 m wide by 20 m long belts were placed on the coral reef. Over a period of 3-5 minutes the observers counted the number of invertebrates found on the belts. The coral survey was performed, by placing four 20 m long belts on the coral substrate. At 0.5 m intervals the substrate on which the belts were lying was examined and recorded.

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 around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the world. It extends more than 1,300 miles through the coral sea off northeastern Australia and it is even visible from outer space. It is also home to more than 400 types of coral and 1,500 species such as the tropical fish, birds, dolphins, and reptiles. The reef is not only home to the coral but it is also breeding ground for humpback whales and a habitat for endangered species. The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a protected site by the World Heritage Trust in 1981 to help maintain it’s beauty allowing for tourists to keep wanting to visit, which greatly affects the economy in Australia and more specifically to keep the marine life alive. However, the reef is undergoing huge

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, is the most damaged coral reefs in the recent years. The biggest record of coral bleaching in history happened around March this past year. One way reserves are a positive impact on coral reefs is protecting them from the daily threat of humans it receives. “Coral reefs face numerous man-made threats, including development, pollution, global warming, unsustainable fishing practices, and marine debris” (Chapman). Reserves can be made in order to protect the coral reefs, do research on how to protect the reefs that are not in a reserve, and prevent coral bleaching. A reserve in Hawaii did just this back in 2000 in order to manage the coral reefs around the area. Technology now can be used positively to overcome the dangerous causes of global warming. The reserve should be used as an example to the human race to present the artificial facts of what each person does to the planet with their daily activities. In order to achieve protection to coral reefs through technology, is putting the work and effort to make a clean, green, and happy environment for not only the coral reefs but the entire environment surrounding

Given the facts, circumstances and strategies, the unfortunate future of the Great Barrier Reef appears bleak. This largest living biodiversity, beginning with the smallest organisms to the largest whale, suffers a trickle effect of destruction caused by human activity, pollution, industry, climate change and Mother Nature. In the meantime teams of scientists, private organizations along with governments over the world invest time, money and resources in an attempt to rescue this natural

The increasing population of the Crown of Thorn’s starfish (COTS) is currently a hot topic, especially with regards to the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef. The COTS feeds on the living coral using its hundreds of sucking tubes within its arms, and its eating habits are not sustainable and too much coral is being consumed. This is a major contributor of the decline in coral cover at the Great Barrier Reef (Lucas, 2013). This is one of the main causes of coral cover decline along with cyclones, pollutant discharge from the land, coastal development and climate change affects. (The conservation 2012).

Marine ecosystems can be split into coastal and ocean habitats. Coastal habitats extend from the shoreline at the beach to the edge of the continental shelf, way out further than swimming distance. These habitats are home to many kinds of life including fish, corals, birds and even bacteria. All these organisms are part of a long and complex food web and all depend on each other to survive. These ecosystems also provide a vast number of animals with protection from predators and are also extremely important to humans by providing a rich source of food and income through fishing and aquatic activities. They also support species by providing humans with half the oxygen we breathe to survive and they can support species that serve as animal feed, fertilizers, additives in food, make-up and medicines. Other organisms of this habitat aid in protection and structure such as mangroves and seagrasses which protect the coastline from wave action and erosion.

year of operation, the collaborative project is their crafty response to the decline of coral reefs in the world’s oceans, due to global warming and ocean acidification.

The COral Reef Airborne Laboratory, or CORAL, is a water mission in the biosphere that will attempt to measure the condition of certain coral reefs and create empirical models that show the relationship between the condition of these reefs and other factors using both field and air observations. The biogeophysical factors being observed include biodiversity, sea surface temperature, photosynthetically available radiation, aragonite saturation state, significant wave height, and the threat levels of coastal development, marine pollution, overfishing, watershed pollution, and integrated local threat (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, n.d.). CORAL will help marine biologists monitor the condition of coral reefs and predict the future of those reefs with both field and air observation.

The Great Barrier Reef oil spill occurred on the 29th of May 2010, when the Chinese bulk coal carrier, MV Shen Neng 1 ran aground the east of Rockhampton in Central Queensland, Australia. The ship struck into the reef causing it to scrape along the reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s seven natural wonders and is the largest reef system and the biggest living structure on the planet. It covers an impressive area of 344, 400 square kilometers and is so large that it can be seen from space. It includes the world’s largest collection of corals with more than 400 different kinds of corals, coral sponges, mollusks, rays, dolphins, over 1500 species of tropical fish, more than 200 types of birds, around 20 types of reptiles including sea turtles and giant clams over 120 years old. The Great Barrier Reef is composed of 3,000 individual reef systems, 600 tropical islands and about 300 coral cays. In the past three decades, it has lost half its coral cover, pollution has caused deadly

Despite coral reefs covering less than .2% of the ocean’s area, they support 25% of the marine fish species. The reefs also provide 25% of the fish caught in developing countries as well as employ millions of fishermen to get the job done (Reaser 1502). Although coral reefs may not support everyone directly, they support surrounding countries. In the Maldives, tourism revenues amount for 45% of their gross national product. In the Caribbean, $89 billion was raised in 1990. Florida’s reefs bring in $1.6 billion every year (Reaser 1502). The Great Barrier Reef in Australia brings in $1.5 billion annually (Munday 263). Unfortunately, the coral reef tourist industry will lose money where coral reefs are affected. Coral reefs protect ocean shores as well as reduce storm damage, erosion, and flooding due to intense waves. Over time, reefs have formed lagoons and calm shore lines that provide a habitat for numerous species (Reaser 1502). Because of the strong dependence on coral reefs by humans and nonhumans, awareness of their danger should be raised! Shoreline erosion will increase because corals won’t be strong enough to withstand intense waves due to lack of skeletal growth. Our shorelines will be dirtier and less safe without reefs to protect humans and nonhumans from intense waves which may cause destruction (Reaser 1502).