Coral reefs Essays

Imagine the very thing which keeps you alive is drained from you. This is what coral reefs around the world endure each day. Due to both human and environmental factors, coral reefs are dying out at an alarming rate but just because they have become bleached, that does not mean an absolute death sentence to the reed. If you have ever been on a beach trip, you have more than likely seen and/or explored a coral reef. You have seen the beauty that they are capable of holding and all of the life that

Coral reef destruction Last year, scientists remarked the "unprecedented" collapse of Florida's reef, that expands along the south-eastern part of the state of Florida. This ecosysten, that was the only barrier reef in the continental US, was attacked by bleaching in 2014 and 2015 and is now is "beginning to dissolve away", according to Chris Langdon, a coral expert at the University of Miami. More than 80% of shallow water reefs of Christmas Island have died and it has been shown by pictures released

Utilizing the evolutionary history of Coral Reefs: to go forward, we must look back Demi Mills, School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex With the future of coral reefs being uncertain, and 2015 set to experience the third global bleaching event with an El Niño predicted to rival that of 1998. The future of these highly biodiverse ecosystems is what researchers are rapidly attempting uncover. Piecing together, and unlocking mechanisms involved in a coral species plasticity to adapt and/or

Evolutionary history of Coral Reefs, to go forward we must go back With the future of coral reefs being uncertain, and 2015 set to experience an El Nino to rival that of 1998, the future of these highly biodiverse ecosystems is something that researchers are rapidly trying figure out. Piecing together, and unlocking mechanisms involved in a coral species ability to adapt and or acclimatise, illustrate how some species of coral are more resilient to stress and answers as to what gives them this resilience

wearing sunscreen and going to the beach it would lead to the destruction of coral reefs! I will keep that in mind the next time I go to the beach. In addition, would you have any suggestions for substitutes that may not have such a harmful effect on the environment? Also, for those who have sensitive skin but love the beach, would you think that their tradeoff for personal pleasure is greater than the preservation of coral reefs? If so, how could we argue a proposition for them to protect their skin

Coral reefs. By: Valentina Sarria. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and complex habitats. They are one of the most interesting and colorful ecosystems found in the marine environment. They are very unique in many different ways and a crucial support for human life. They play also a very important role in the marine life such as giving shelter and food for millions of species including fishes, crabs, or shrimps. They support 33% of marine fish species. They also have specific and certain

In the past few decades, a major concern has arisen concerning the drastic deterioration of coral reefs. Many more people are becoming familiar with earth’s systems, as well as learning of the impact they have on coral reefs. The impacts human beings have are not always so positive, and if inappropriate exploitation continues, certain ecosystems, such as the coral reefs, may be permanently lost. In response to concerns, many environmental activist groups have stood up in a fight to preserve the

affecting the coral reef. The coral reefs are threatened because there is an increase of dissolved concentrations of carbon dioxide. Threats to the coral reef due to the carbon dioxide are ocean acidification and ocean warming. Ocean Acidification is when the pH levels of the ocean decreases due to an increase of carbon dioxide. This is affecting the coral reef because over the years it “to a loss of carbonate ions, which are required for all marine calcifiers, including corals, to build their

responsible for a majority of the coral reef destruction occurring throughout the world. This creature consists of 13-16 arms that allow it to easily latch itself onto its prey. Crown of thorns starfish also contain a venomous spikey exterior that help protect them from predators that may be searching for an easy prey during their four to six-hour feed. These starfish consume coral by extruding its stomach and secretes emulsifying enzymes the will aid in digesting of the coral polyps and nutrients. After

1.) Corals are colonial organisms that are composed of individual polyps, which form coral reefs. There are three types of coral reefs; fringing, barrier, and atoll. Fringing coral reefs grow along the shore in shallow water while barrier reefs are separated from the shore by a deep lagoon. Atolls surround a lagoon and are circular. The two types of coral that make us these reefs are soft coral and hard coral. Soft corals have spiracle based skeletons while hard corals have calcium-based skeletons

Abstract- Coral reefs make up a high percentage of the biodiversity found within the ocean. Countries that have coral reefs along their coastline greatly benefit economically from the use of coral reefs. The overuse of dive sites, land based pollution, destructive fishing, and climate change coral reefs have been steadily declining. The loss of coral reefs will be felt worldwide by a reduction in billions of dollars to the world’s gross domestic product. There is a strong need for proper management

Abstract Belize’s coral reef is a beautiful ecosystem, comprising of approximately 500 species of fish. It is one of the largest reefs in the world, second to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The reef serves as a natural break from water waves. In 1998, two seemingly unrelated events occurred that destroyed Belize’s coral reef. In November, Hurricane Mitch, blew in and tore away part of the reef leaving behind some corals, known as the “standing dead”. After that, El Niño came along and brought warmer

Coral reefs are involute and various environment. They are maybe a standout amongst the most captivating and brilliant biological communities to be found in the marine environment. They are extremely remarkable from numerous points of view. coral reefs play numerous weight shafts in the marine world. They must have particular conditions to be made, and to survive. Heaps of diverse ocean life depend on reefs for territory and wellsprings of victuals, including some risked species. Coral reefs are

Introduction In order for a coral reef to be productive and healthy, the water quality in the ocean should be maintained. Water quality not only affects coral reefs, but the other organisms that live on it and are involved with the natural food chain. Some of the factors that can influence water quality are nutrients, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, light, and chlorophyll present. Water is essential to every living organism because it helps with respiration, maintaining body

and Trends of Caribbean Coral Reefs: 1970-2012, a report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the United Nations Environment Program, Caribbean coral reefs have been declining at an alarming rate. Specimen populations found in Caribbean coral reefs have been stable for at least 125 thousand years, until the 1980s (Jackson 2001). In this essay, I will focus on the responses and measures taken to combat coral reef degradation. A large focus

Coral reefs are dying at an alarming rate thanks to many factors, mostly caused by humans. For instance, when we pollute the earth and our oceans by burning greenhouse gases, we cause climate change. This affects the coral as they can’t withstand the water raising by only a few degrees. This often causes coral bleaching, which kills these animals. Also, storms can destroy reefs, also often caused by humans affecting the environment. Around 50% of our coral has died, and this has a major impact on

one-sixth of the original coral cover left, most Caribbean coral reefs may disappear in the next 20 years. This statistics according to the latest report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). First of all, as we know nearly two-thirds of coral reefs in the Caribbean are threatened by human activities. For example of human activities that effect the coral reefs are coastal development

It is important that coral reefs recover once they have been damaged, some of the consequences are; less diverse reef communities, decline in fisheries, tourism and coastal protection (Hoegh-Guldberg et al, 2007). There are 5 potential predictors for how well a coral reef will recover after bleaching (Graham, Nash & Kool, 2011). Firstly, the reef characteristic, if the skeleton of the reef is still present it is likely to maintain ecological processes and therefore recover rapidly (Graham, Nash &

Coral reefs are undeniably important for numerous reasons. They are ecologically important by supporting and providing habitat for marine community, act as wave-breakers to protect the shores from strong currents, generate income for humans and provide many other ecosystem services (Sutton 1985, Demirbilek and Nwogu 2007, Moberg and Folke 1999). Yet, corals reefs around the world are increasingly being destroyed at an unprecedented rate through overfishing, fish-bombing, increasing coastal development

Coral Reefs are important to our society because they support bustling diverse ecosystems that provide shelter to a fourth of all identified marine species and act as natural barriers, which protect the coastline from the ocean’s pounding waves. Coral reef ecosystems help to benefit economies by providing protection against erosion, cultivating fisheries, creating and sustaining tourism activities, offering substances for medical uses, and providing a diversity of culture and aesthetics to communities