The Importance Of The Great Barrier Reef In Australia

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, but massive coral bleaching has stripped the corals of their natural beauty. Less than 50% of the original reef remains. Pollution, habitat change, and global warming is causing the colorful reef to turn a pale grey color. The Great Barrier Reef needs all the attention it can get to restore itself back to its original liveliness. The world-famous coral reef is not only in grave danger, but each day, it is getting closer and closer to complete destruction.

The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland in Australia and has many creatures living in it. It is the largest coral reef system in the world, and it is so large that

One problem is El Niño, which makes the water hotter than the corals are used to, and hot, still water for long periods of time creates heat stress the corals cannot survive with (Howard). When the water is too warm for the coral’s main food source, algae, it becomes toxic to the coral, resulting in the coral extracting it. When this happens, it gets rid of all color from the coral tissue, leaving behind a transparent skeleton. This process is called bleaching. If the coral goes too long without the algae, it will basically starve itself to death. To keep the corals alive, the change in water temperature must happen quickly (Netburn). This means everyone must do their part or else the Great Barrier Reef’s salvation will be out of reach by

The carbon dioxide in the air rises due to fossil fuel emissions; therefore, more of the gas goes into the ocean’s water. That makes the coral’s habitat more acidic, which can make it harder for reef-building creatures to build up the hard skeletons. And if that isn 't bad enough, the runoff chemicals from farms and lawns are adding to the problem by changing the water’s natural composition. A oil spill in 2010, caused by a Chinese coal-carrying ship, went through the coral reef, leaving almost 2 miles of oil to mix with the ocean water (Zimmerman). As more and more water is becoming contaminated with pesticides and chemicals, it is becoming even harder to stop the corals from dying. Thankfully, there are solutions that can help restore the Great Barrier Reef.

Just as there are several causes to the habitat change of the Great Barrier Reef, there are ways to put the progressing depletion to a stop. One effective solution is to cut farm pollution, or at least keep it from the oceans. Using organic fertilizers instead of harmful chemicals can keep the coral’s water fresh from the dangerous pesticides. If everybody follows pesticide regulations and follows the laws, it mill make a difference for the coral reef. With everyone 's help, we can all conserve and replenish the Great Barrier