Hawaiian Day Octopus Essay

Coral bleaching is not just a national problem that Australia faces alone. In the last year (2015), 12 percent of the world’s coral reefs have bleached (Howard). Since the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef, covering 133,000 square miles, and stretching 1,200 miles along the coast of Australia, it poses an incredible threat to Australia’s economy and environment (Howard). Coral bleaching is not an issue that is often plastered all over the news or brought to people’s attention often. Coral Reefs, especially the Great Barrier Reef are seen as the perfect tourist destination because reefs are known for their wide variety of marine life and beautiful bright corals one would see on brochures. However, when a coral is bleached, it loses

Primary consumers are normally herbivores therefore they feed off of producers. There is a wide variety of herbivorous animals that reside in the Great Barrier Reef. These include invertebrates such as molluscs and echinoderms, as well as certain species of fish, the most notable being the parrotfishes, surgeonfishes, rabbitfishes, rudderfishes and damselfishes. The primary consumer’s role in the Great Barrier Reef’s food chain consists of them feeding off of the primary producers such as coral, therefore transferring the energy from the producer to consumer. The primary consumer only obtains around 10% of the producer’s energy as they may not eat the whole entity or energy might be lost through waste. The population of the largest and most significant vertebrate plants feeds, including sea turtles, dugongs, have been severely decimated by the impacts of humans on the reef. The loss of these vital animals has and will more severely disturb the coral reef food web in a significant manner, although the specific impacts are not clear

The book “The Weather Makers: The History and Future Impact of Climate Change” written by Tim Flanner pertains to predicting the global warming consequence on earth and species. In chapter 9, the unraveling world, the author talks about global warming and how it can have a long-lasting and far-reaching impact on our lives. He points out the substantial and rapid change of the climate and its connection with the effects of El Nino and La Nina are also uncovered. Climate change can be a major contributor as to where species live and how they interact. The changes can also be observed by the changing migration patterns of these species. Moreover, the unexpected changes in climate can also bring about a shift in the behaviour of species such as insects, butterflies, birds, caterpillars, frogs and possums. The author illustrates an example of how in northern Mexico and southern California the increased temperature has caused the plant on which caterpillars feed to wilt earlier which eventually cause larvae to starve.

Each and everyday we see a new home being built, or a shopping mall opening, or even an apartment complex in the making, but we never think of at what expense all of this is happening. By building all of these new additions we are killing hundred of different species in the process. Humans are cutting down forests, and destroying animal’s habitats. Extinction is one of the most pressing problems we are currently facing today. Each day a new species shows up on the extinction list. A new estimate found that species die off as much as 1,000 times more frequently than they used to. One article states “human activities has obliterated nearly 900 species over the past 500 years” (Rachel Nuwer). This problem has gone completely out of control and we need to start finding a way to stop it.

The purpose of this report is to investigate the impacts of urban development on biodiversity at stumers creek dog beach. This report will include data collected from the creek including; water samples, soil samples and animal and excrement surveys in order to determine the health of the environment.

The FKNMS is located off the tip of Florida containing over 1700 islands. These chains of islands are coral reefs that are just south from the Key Biscayne and extend southwest for approximately 126miles. These islands end about 90 miles north of Cuba. These islands are not suitable for people to live on because of there size. The FKNMS covers over 2800 square nautical miles. The FKNMS was established due to the demise of the coral reefs in the Keys. Low water quality, decline in coral reef habitats, and oil drilling eventually lead President George H. Bush to establish the FKNMS on November 16, 1990. FKNMS also contains the Key Largo and Looe Key sanctuaries, which were facing the same environmental challenges.

SeaWorld is a billion dollar company based in the U.S. They specialise in the taking care of animals, such as killer whales, dolphins and sea lions. They have over 67,000 animals in their care and are rescuing more and more every day. Despite common belief, SeaWorld does not abuse the animals themselves. The workers of SeaWorld try their best every single day to look after every species of animal, and in return, are now being hassled and abused for it. Although being held in captivity is not the best way for an animal to spend their life, it has its benefits. Without these animals being cared for by SeaWorld, many of them would be dead. SeaWorld has a rescue program, in which they recuperate thousands of sick marine and land based animals every year. They do not seize healthy animals for captivity.

The cuttlefish is an amazing marine animal, one of the most intelligent invertebrates. It is not actually a fish though, it is in the category sepiida. There are over 130 different species of cuttlefish. This mollusc has a very large brain and a very unique eye. It has 8 arms and 2 tentacles that have suckers on them so they can grab their prey. Sometimes the cuttle fish will use its arms to walk across the ocean floor to hunt food and to keep away from larger predators. Their favorite food is crab, but they also eat small fish, shrimp, and some are even carnivores. They have a fin like thing that goes around their bodies so they can swim.

These creatures live in coral reefs for many reasons as I said before, for housing, for finding food and even for hiding from their predators. There are all types of different creatures with shining colors and surprising shapes.

“A crustacean is an aquatic arthropod of the class Crustacea, which comprises crabs, shrimp, barnacles, lobsters, and freshwater crayfish. The point is that lobsters are basically giant sea insects…not nice to look at. They’ll eat some live shellfish, certain kinds of injured fish, and sometimes one another.” (Wallace

The Clown Loach fish (not to be confused with the Clown Fish in Finding Nemo) is one of the most popular aquarium fish around. The reason is probably their peaceful demeanor and entertaining personality.

The Giant Pacific Octopus flourishes in the Pacific Ocean. To be specific, it is most commonly found on the West coast of North America and the East Coast of Asia (Roumanis, 2015).The Benthic part of the ocean about 330 ft. deep is said to be where most live. Like many land animals, this Octopus finds or builds a den. Once a den is found, it will stay its home until it feels threatened or needs food (Kalupa, 2012).

“Sepia apama has a bulky body, with 10 appendages (8 short, heavy arms, and 2 larger extensible tentacles)” (Aglibot). These two retractable tentacles are used for catching prey and mating, Sepia apama mate during the Southern Hemisphere winter, June to August. When mating a male's retractable tentacles are extended completely out to make themselves look bigger and they change their color very quickly to attract a mate. They eat crabs, fish, and crustaceans, which are shrimp, lobsters, krill, and barnacles. The retractable tentacles are used to eat these organisms, by grabbing the prey they hold while Sepia apama eats away with its parrot like beak. In order to catch these prey the Australian Giant Cuttlefish use camouflage to while awaiting their

The Coral Catfish is a very different sea creature. It lives in waters around 2000 feet deep. They live in Coral Reefs, and they are the only catfish that do. The Coral Catfish was discovered in 1982 in the Indo Pacific. A few facts about the Coral Catfish is they have barbells on their mouth, they have a poisonous spine, and they swim in spheres. Many people keep Coral Catfish as pets, so without them many people could not have as cool homes. Pollution affects them because when they eat human waste, it poisons them, and they

Therefore, the impact of overfishing and illegal collecting of coral may destroyed the social and economic well-being of the coastal communities who depend on fish for their way of life. Beside, it is also direct overexploitation of fish, intertebrates, and algae for food and the aquarium trade, removal of a species or group of species impacting multiple trophic levels, bycatch and mortality of nontarget species, and change from coral to algal dominance due to reduction in herbivores (Reef Resilience Organisation,