The article “Forecasted Coral Reef Decline in Marine Biodiversity Hotspots under Climate Change” examines the suitability of habitats for coral reef development and growth concerning mainly the factor of thermal tolerance. Coral reefs are home to many species and these habitats are key for maintaining biodiversity, yet under climate change this highly diverse system is very vulnerable, especially to changing sea surface temperatures. A slight increase in sea surface temperature can lead to mass…
explored the effects of an anchoring event on a coral reef at Crab Cove in the British Virgin Islands. With an increase in tourism, recreational boat traffic has increased and some boaters don’t think about where their anchor is going when they throw it overboard. On July 7th, 2004, a 50 meter vessel named the Holo-Kai anchored overnight on the reef. The heavy chains and three anchors used to hold the Holo-Kai in place caused damage to 1.5 hectares of the reef. Immediately after the anchor was…
Coral Reefs A coral (disambiguation) reef is a community of living organisms. It is made up of plants, fish, and plenty other creatures. When I think of coral reefs I think of neon colors, and beautiful colorful dancing plants of the sea. Coral reefs are a submerged structure made up of many different corals, or small marine invertebrates. Coral reefs are some of the diverse ecosystems in the world. Twenty-five percent of all marine life is actually home to it. Coral reefs have said to be the…
The devastation of both coral reefs and kelp forests can vary in strength depending on their biogeography. After the initial acute event that wipes out either the reef or the forest occurs, it is usually the water quality or fish population that determines whether they can recover. Both these processes’ strength depends on where they occur, and the biogeography of the area they are in. Coral reefs that are not located by a ravine run off do not have the issue of sewage, or fertilizer run offs.…
fish when picturing coral reefs, what they do not take into account is destroyed, bleached coral reefs with dying species of fish due to this destruction. This is why we need organizations who will put forth the effort necessary to rebuild and preserve these coral reefs. Many of these organizations lack in their abilities to help the coral reefs as result of the ineffective membership requirements that many of these organizations have. In distinction, the International Coral Reef Initiative…
the glorious opportunity of seeing beautiful reefs, before they had been destroyed, must be truly devastated to see the decline of those reefs in such a short lifetime. Reefs support the human population with their health, economics, food, pleasure and the beauty of the ecosystem (Sheppard 20). Coral reefs are a very reliant source of food and protection for marine animals and are even a source of economic and coastal protection for human beings. The reefs are an area for spawning and feeding…
1. Introduction 1.1 Coral Decline Coral reef is a highly diverse ecosystem that provides many environmental, economical and social benefits to humans (Barker & Roberts 2004; Hughes et al. 2010). Approximately 20% of coral has been lost worldwide (Wilkinson 2006) with an 80% loss in the Caribbean basin (Jackson et al. 2014). Due to this decline steps must be taken to conserve and restore the marine ecosystems. The most prominent causes of decline are global warming (Hoegh-Guldberg 1999),…
impairments in fish exposed to elevated CO2” Coral reefs are having a problem with pH levels and they are dying some places around the world right now, because of it. This is not only affecting the coral reefs, but the animals that live in them and survive with them. There is a Scientific Study called “Study links altered brain chemistry, behavioral impairments in fish exposed to elevated CO2” which discusses the behavior and neurological impairments of coral reef fish due to more CO2 and acidic…
book, Coral Reefs, by Simon Rose, presents that categories of coral reefs, what coral reefs are home to, and the dangers that they may face. Coral reefs are made up of coral polyps that attach and multiply to a limestone skeleton called a calicle. Coral reefs are categorized in three ways, which is by their type. 1. Fringed reef, 2. Barrier reef, 3. Atolls. The fringed reef either borderers the shore near a lagoon, or it will be directly attached, next is the barrier reef. The barrier reef, on…
In recent years, the world’s coral reefs have suffered tremendous losses in abundance as the effect that human consumption has on the environment increases. Coral reef degradation is highly influenced by food production practices such as fishing, agriculture, and animal agriculture. These human disturbances on the environment, both direct and indirect, have had lasting effects on both coral reefs and their composing ecosystems. Coral reefs serve a crucial role in the shaping of the oceans…