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.
The sheer enormity of the Great Barrier Reef, in addition to its great age, are two of the most well-known features of this natural phenomenon. It is composed of living coral, dead coral, algae, sponges, fish, snakes and thousands of other species, both plants and animals (2011). Currently, no evidence has been discovered as to when the first human contact occurred at the reef, but the Aboriginal population may have been the first, due to their occupation of Australia for over 40,000 years (Lunar).
The Port Noarlunga Reef is Adelaide’s main attraction. The reef exists on the eastern side of Gulf St Vincent discovered in 1971 and used for about 36 years. This narrow reef is a sandstone reef as it was formed by sand dunes. The reef is 1.6km long and lying 400m offshore. The reef is separated to two where on one of the sides the species are protected and is a reserve while the other side is where the species are not endangered which includes a mix of heterotrophs and autotrophs. In this part of the reef you can fish or do activities such as boating, snorkelling, Scuba diving, swimming, and recreational fishing. Many focus on snorkelling and Scuba diving, which makes Port Noarlunga reef special and attracts 170,000 visitors per year. The ability to interact with the species and swim and snorkel or scuba dive makes the experience much more natural and fun and hence makes this place Adelaide number one attraction. There is also a underwater trail where this gives education to the youth and also enhances the experience in marine ecosystem.
The Great Barrier Reef is iconic. It has a central place in Australian culture and psyche, and a visit to the reef is reliably rated among the top three must do experiences in international surveys. The Great Barrier Reef has continued to evoke wonder and awe in visitors, from the earliest European explorers negotiating the “monstrous labyrinth of coral” by sailing ship, to the thousands of tourists who arrive annually to experience one of the natural wonders of the world.
Consequently, there are two important factors that contribute to the ignorance of the Great Barrier Reef ‘s impacts. First, Mr. Hunt’s
While government officials looked the other way, half of the coral has disappeared from along the length of the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, vast areas of the reef’s coral have suffered serious degradation. It isn’t surprising that the area’s unique level of biodiversity is being threatened by the damage as well.
The mission is called CORAL and it “...combines aerial surveys using imaging spectrometer technology…with ‘in-water validation’ provided by CSIRO and the University of Queensland” (“NASA begins study of the Great Barrier Reef” 1). A:Dr. Tim Malthus, research leader of CSIRO’s coastal monitoring, modeling, and informatics group, believes that a larger understanding of the reef will help researchers gain a better understanding of how it can be protected (“NASA begins study of the Great Barrier Reef” 2). E: CORAL is unlike any research done ever before because it will study the health of corals in the Torres Strait along with surveying large sections of the reef (“NASA begins study of the Great Barrier Reef” 2). Dr Tim Malthus stated that the Torres Strait is a “complex high tide area that has been historically less studied “ and by researching it, scientists might gain more information about the causes of decline in that area. In order to gain this unstudied data, CORAL will describe coral reef condition and measure three key places of reef health where data is currently limited: composition, primary productivity,
Australia’s scientists have released its comprehensive map of the Great Barrier Reef’s bleached corals revealing that less than 36% of the areas explored have not been severely bleached yet. The bleaching is caused by abnormally hot waters due to El Niño and climate change. These high temperatures cause corals’ symbiotic algae, which is their crucial food source, to become scarce and toxic, forcing the corals to expel it. Removing the algae turns the coral bone white and the coral begins to starve. Of the 911 individual reefs that researchers surveyed, a large 93%-843 reefs-experienced some kind of bleaching. Furthermore, the Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 different kinds of fish, 6 of the worlds remain seven marine turtle species
While traveling through the spectacular continent of Australia you will find yourself discovering many local beauties.The Great Barrier Reef is the largest and most known coral reef ecosystem in all of the world. This massive reef covers over 1800 miles or approximately 2000 kilometers and thrives in the untouched and undeveloped waters of the pacific ocean. This incredible reef contains thousands of different species including coral, fish, birds, reptiles and so much more. Among many of Australia's flourishing tourist attractions the Great Barrier reef tops all others. Not only is this location a beautiful spot to look at it offers many attractions above and below the water. Snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing,
A group of researchers aimed to quantify regional and global patterns of decline as everyone seemed to know coral reefs were declined but not at what rate. Previous studies gathered qualitative data that was difficult to combine into a comprehensive understanding of what global coral reef patterns are like. They amassed and analyzed data on coral reef cover from 1968-2004 in the Indo-Pacific ocean which has 75% of the world’s coral population. The researchers presented their data with the intention of informing the public to effect better coral management and restoration practices. Their hypothesis was that coral reef decline would occur all over due to the ocean-wide increase in temperature and that it vary between areas depending on nearby
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).
Not only is the massive array of species recognised as special, the opportunities that the marine park offer to get into the water with the marine wonderland and its inhabitants are one of the reasons that Ningaloo has gained such considerable attention. People can swim with whale sharks, watch whales and see turtles laying eggs, then the eggs hatching. The people who live, venture and experience Ningaloo Marine Park recognise the value, beauty and rarity of the location and continue to research and preserve the reef. In contrast to tourism, the local aboriginal people have been living on the land for the last 35,000 years and hold the earliest know records of marine resource use in
First of all The Great Barrier Reef was discovered in, June 11, 1770. It has been around for more than 500,000 years old that brings back to when the dinosaurs were alive. Captain James Cook, the British explorer with an amazing discovering of the Great Barrier Reef by sudden an impact. His ship, the Endeavour, ran around the Reef on June 11, 1770. Today we use this reef for snorkeling or fishing.
Keats compares Madeline as a mermaid standing in her stripped clothing like sea-weed. He has the skills to change the words into a picture. In this Mary Arseneau says "Madeline, Mermaids, and Medusas" further empowers Madeline as a precursor of La Belle Dame and Lamia, who trap men from ordinary reality into ethereal realms of imagination and artifice, and ruin their lives. Porphyro is impressed to see the beauty of her chamber and he compares it with paradise. James Boulger describes, “Madeline’s room is the scene for the performance of the mysteries and the miracle ... a fit source for such a sacred action” (Stillinger, 1999, p. 63). She approaches it "like a mission'd spirit” (194), kneels, prays, and prepares her body for a love sacrifice.
Imagine yourself observing one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. Thousands of species of plants and animals provide a dizzying array of color and motion. Massive structures provide a canopy that shelters hundreds of exotic species in a myriad of microclimates. As land-based observers, we almost automatically assume that this is a description of the rich ecosystem of a tropical rainforest. However, if we take ourselves off the safety of dry land and immerse ourselves in the ocean, we will find an equally dynamic environment in the depths of our world’s coral reefs. As a Zoology major, I quickly decided to explore this biological component of the ocean environment. In the following paper, I will provide a general overview of coral