The lands and seas of Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia/Oceania are no longer what they used to be. Animals are becoming endangered, the Great Barrier reef is dying, and the land has become eroded due to human impact. The main causes of loss in biodiversity include invasive species, deforestation, land and water use change, over hunting, pollution, and climate change.
Southeast Asia and Oceania regions supports areas of significant biodiversity, endemic wildlife and a major proportion of the world’s threatened species. Development and expansion along with rapid economic growth within the region has resulted in regional decline in biodiversity (Iwmi, 13). Human-induced disturbance of natural ecosystems can alter species composition and ecological processes.
Southeast Asia’s benefits of its marine ecosystem services however, have been eroding since the mid-1960s as
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Moderate to extensive bleaching were reported throughout Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, bleaching started in early 1998 in West Sumatra resulting in over ninety percent mortality. It then spread to other reefs throughout the country causing decreases in live coral cover ranging from thirty to ninety percent (Chao, 44). Then in Australia the Great Barrier Reef, a surveyor discovered up to 50 percent mortality in the reef from coral bleaching near Cape York, Australia. “Scientists have predicted that nearly half of these reefs (more than 4,600 square miles or 12,000 square kilometers, or more than five percent of reefs) could disappear forever” (National Geographic). As the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises due to emissions of fossil fuels, the gas dissolves into the ocean. Which causes the pH of the water to lower, causing it to become more acidic, which can make it harder for reef-building organisms to construct their hard
As atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, global warming will increase ocean temperatures and, along with that, the frequency and severity of bleaching events. In 2010, one of the hottest years in recorded human history, reefs bleached throughout the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean and off the coasts of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Without the necessary reduction in the production of emissions, the death of the Great Barrier Reef will result in 6 billion dollars less in the economy and the loss of more than 50,000 jobs, If the oceans' corals were to collapse, the whole food chain will
The scale and pace of change is dramatic; for example, the extinction of species is occurring at around 100-fold pre-human rates4. The population sizes of vertebrate species have, on average, declined by half over the last 45 years5. More than 2.3 million km2 of primary forest has been felled since 20006. About
Forests have been cut, crops planted, pastures seeded, and urban areas paved. One of the most troubling consequences of human modification of ecosystems is an ongoing loss of species and therefore a loss of biodiversity around the world. The current extinctions have a human cause: habitat loss (such as clearing of tropical rainforests); the introduction of invasive species; unregulated hunting and fishing; and pollution of water, air, and
Some of the ways we have extinguished species include, climate change, air pollution causing ocean acidification, accidental imports of plants animals or fungi, fragmenting and destroying habitats, and poaching and killing animals for resources. I agree with Kolbert. We humans are making the planet difficult for other species to live in. One of the ways that we are killing species is accidental or intentional imports of plants and animals. Kolbert talked about the Pangea.
The governments new reef plan with help preserve the Great Barrier reefs species and wildlife.
has risen to around 3.2 millimetres per year, although it does vary from year to
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 natural formations that host around twenty-five percent of the world’s marine species, however, these reefs are majorly threatened (“Air”). The Great Barrier Reef in particular is an important marine location, home to major marine diversity with over 3,000 reefs over 1,400 miles (“Great” World Book). The Great Barrier Reef is a limestone formation made of coral polyps and algae, and lays off the coast of Queensland, Australia. For many years, this reef has been exposed to several threats. The threats facing the Great Barrier Reef include pollution, invasive species, and climate change.
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.
One of the world’s largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef is biologically rich and diverse and is Australia’s most remarkable, valued and remarkable environmental resources (Australian government). As the world’s most comprehensive coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef is a site of unparalleled natural beauty on the north-east coast of Australia (unesco).
C: Even though an abundance of research is being conducted by scientists in order to help save the coral reef, their efforts seem to be getting nowhere due to the ignorance of people who do not know how bad the problem truly is. E: Scientists are currently using Google Maps technology to take pictures of the reefs to showcase the severity of the problem (Chasing Coral). A: This makes pictures of the reef’s condition accessible to anyone anywhere on earth, therefore making education about the reef more accessible. E: NOAA is transforming the ways reefs are researched by using satellites to detect where bleaching is occurring and at what level (Chasing Coral). A: By doing this, NOAA is providing useful information to scientists
The main cause of the loss of biodiversity can be attributed to the influence of human beings on the world's ecosystem
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the greatest wonders of the world. From it’s breathtaking wildlife and its and beautiful coral the Great Barrier Reef has truly a alluring quality. Which is probably why over 2 million people visit it each year, but not only people visit this natural wonder near Queensland Australia. There are over 1500 species of fish that live in and visit this marvelous place in addition to 215 different species of birds. After all the animals know of some of the best places to visit.
There are many ways in which humans contribute and cause biodiversity loss and homo sapien dominance over most the globe (Johns, 2010) is considered a primary driver of the 6th mass extinction. Personally, directly and indirectly my lifestyle and choices influence biodiversity loss in many ways that I do and
“Earth’s biodiversity, the profusion of plants and animals that work together to support life continues to shrink” (Karaim 498). Species are going extinct at a faster rate than scientists have ever seen. Endangered species range from plants and