Ordovician Silurian Extinction

Coral reefs are about 6% of the Great Barrier Reef. However the warmer the air and the water temperature is the more corals it kill. This is a major concern because of the damages it can cause other creatures using corals as a home and protection from predators. Many sea creatures could become extinct if there are no coral reefs.

"Coral reefs… are fragile structures living within a narrow range of temperature, clarity, salinity and chemistry. Even a slight increase in ocean temperature, or increased CO2… can cause stresses such as bleaching… These stresses slow the rate of growth of the corrals… With some 60 percent of the world’s coral reefs now losing productivity, it’s becoming a global crisis and a scientific mystery."

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.

First, I am going to talk about the importance of coral reefs. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. They are home to 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard coral, and hundreds of other species. Scientists believe that there are another 1 to 8 million unidentified species (NOAA). According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, new drugs are being developed from

In summary, in order to save the future of the Barrier Reef “we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and we need to make policies to protect the Barrier Reef. We also need shift away from power sources like different coal products.” The products that most people are using to this day pollute the air and slowly and slowly and damage the different types of reefs around the world; and we need to switch to renewable energy, because it is not as harsh to the environment as other products. If we do this we can save the Future of the Barrier Reef, Fringing reef, and the Atoll reef and all of the other reefs around the world.

Preserving coastlines is important for the economy and the environment. The fact that the business world and the preservation world are on the same page is a good indicator that maintaining beaches are important for both people and animals. The data that has been collected by both parties, thus far will hopefully bring a more cost effective and more long term solution for beach replenishment. So the beach bums and the sea life may continue to enjoy one of the most beloved landscape for generations to

Finally, there are millions of species who live in the coral reef. It is used both for shelter and for a food supply. There is a vast amount of trawlers that come through each year to dredge the ocean. But think about what would happen if the coral reefs disappear. All the species that depend on the reef for shelter would die. And all the species who hunt for food there would also die. Dredging the ocean rips apart the coral reefs wether that was meant to happen or not. If the natural beauty of the reefs and the security it brings to animals dissapeared, it would be a major

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

The Triassic-Jurassic extinction occurred about 210 million years ago, killing about 80 percent of all living species (“End-Triassic Extinction”). Most species were hit hard, but there were no major full-on extinctions. Still, cephalopods, sponges, corals, reptiles, and pollen and spore producing plants were hit hard. The dinosaurs, however, were lucky and survived the extinction intact. This allowed them to reign supreme for the next geological epoch (“End-Triassic Extinction”). During the time of the Triassic-Jurassic extinction, Pangea was in the process of breaking apart. This caused major volcanic activity to occur, one of the prevailing theories as to what caused this extinction (“End-Triassic Extinction”). Like during the Permian-Triassic

Although it may not be apparent to many, coral reefs are an immense necessity to ecosystems across the globe. They act as a major source of nitrogen and other critical nutrients for the hundreds of marine food chains that live close to or in these ecosystems. Coral is proves to be a major factor is recycling these nutrients. On top of this, coral reefs are a major component when it comes looking at its assistance in carbon and nitrogen fixing (an essential process due to the rise is global warming and pollution). Coral reefs absorb nearly one-third of the carbon dioxide generated by burning fossil fuels (GCCM). Aside from the ecological benefits, there are many benefits humans gain from healthy coral reefs. Coral reefs are an enormous help when it come to hurricanes. These reefs act as a natural barrier against storm surges. The natural barriers provide protection to coastlines from damage in which intense waves and tropical storms can bring. Reefs bring in billions of dollars to not only the United States, but hundreds of countries around the globe, as well as millions of employment opportunities. Reefs can help humans in the medical field as well. In these reefs lie the potential to implement biotechnologies and develop treatments for many illnesses, both acute and fatal alike. Coral reefs most crucial impact on this earth is one that cannot be disregarded. While coral reefs merely cover a fraction of a percent of the oceanic floor, these reefs produce what is estimated

There were many minor or background extinction events at other times that left clear marks in the fossil record. Although not global, some background extinctions were just as catastrophic as mass extinctions for certain environments, and many had major impacts on coral reefs. Reefs, more than any other major type of ecosystem, leave a geological record that tracks such events. On an Earth history scale, this record does not show a process of gradual evolutionary development or improvement, but rather a stop-start response to a succession of environmental upheavals. This vulnerability of reefs to these upheavals is demonstrated many times in the fossil record, although the paleoclimatic record provides only uncertain glimpses of it - narrow windows separated by immense intervals of

Coastal erosion is known as the natural removal of land and sand caused by changing wave conditions, coastal erosion is also caused by storm events which creates a massive amount of destruction to the beach and can put building and infrastructure in potential danger (SES, 2016). Some of the factors that affect coastal erosion include: strength of waves, weather as well as human activity can all negatively impact the amount of erosion (A. Jackson, 2016). Beaches are an important part of the world’s ecosystem for they provide homes for many species of animals such as: birds, crabs, invertebrates, turtle eggs, etc. Beaches also provide services such as sediment storage and transport, wave dissipation and associated buffering against extreme weather

In some areas where there is sand and mud along the coast, the erosion can effectively worsen quicker than other places. Although it is a land change, there is no impact to human life. In areas where humans have interfered with the shoreline, more extensive precautions were taken. In some areas, concrete walls are built to stop the erosion in the area. Cairns is an area that has been effected by the human interruption severely. Where there used to be a shore full of mangroves, there is now a shore with concrete walls built in an attempt to stop the erosion. It has been said that some houses and roads have been built too close to the shoreline and that these will be reclaimed by the sea in times to come. “Roads and houses have been built on parts of the coast which will periodically be reclaimed by the sea.” (Short, 2008) This is an unfortunate consequence of the issues that people have forced upon the beaches. This is also happening in closer areas such as on the beach at Burrum Heads. Walls have been created and have been proven to be very affective in stopping the erosion. Although, if the erosion in some areas that can’t be controlled, the erosion is becoming deadly for the reefs. Coral reefs become inundated by sand and mud that has been collected and washed out to sea, this affects the coral as it makes the water thicker and murky, therefore making the water quality degrade for the reefs. The effects

Corals have existed for around 500 million years and are the second most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth (NOAA). The coral reefs are showing a decline in health due to human activities which, although well known, is often overlooked in favor of research on ecological aspects (Kittinger). Certain ocean areas that previously were home of coral species may no longer be an ideal climate for the corals to thrive. Whereas properly maintained aquariums could provide a more suitable habitat to encourage re-population (Gustavson). Two agencies that are very active, with differing viewpoints, on the coral reef conservation debate

The deterioration of coral reefs is mainly linked to human activities – 88% of coral reefs are threatened through various reasons as