Check out some interesting articles like this one: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/01/25/coral.year.ap/index.html
Then talk to Lily! Coral reefs are sometimes referred to as "cradles of the ocean". How will global warming adversely effect these beautiful and diverse ecosystems? What effect will reef destruction have on humans? Research the issue and post your best 250 words here on or before 11am, Friday, February 1, 2008.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
24 comments:
Coral reefs are very important ecosystems. Reefs have a high biodiversity that serves as a storage bank of rich genetic resources. They are a source of food and medicine, and they protect the coast from wave erosion. They provide protection and shelter for many different species of fish. Without coral reefs, these fish are left homeless with nowhere to live. The varieties that form reefs are typically restricted to relatively shallow, warm tropical waters between latitudes 30° north and 30° south. Clean, clear water is essential to their health. Coral Reefs are home to over 25 percent of all marine life and are among the world's most fragile and endangered ecosystems. In the last few decades over 35 million acres of Coral Reefs have been destroyed. When corals are faced with high temperature, ultraviolet light or other environmental changes, they lose their symbiotic algal cells, and appear white. Depending on the intensity and duration of the stress, the corals may die. And coral are very important in controlling how much carbon dioxide is in the ocean. Coral polyp turns carbon dioxide in the water into a limestone shell. Without coral, the amount of carbon dioxide in the water would rise dramatically and that would affect all living things on Earth. In addition barrier reefs provide a barrier between the ocean and the shore, and slow down the water before it gets to shore so the currents and waves won’t be as strong. I believe that coral reefs are a very important part of the earth and if we continue to destroy these ecosystems, we are in turn destroying our own.
Although the existence of global warming is still debated by some, it is clear that there are strong environmental changes, including in coral reefs.
Global Warming is global increase in temperature, supposedly (I must not use certainty because there is a possibility that there is no Global Warming, it’s just a phase in Earth’s cycle) to more ultraviolet-absorbing substances, like carbon dioxide, in the air. Increased carbon dioxide in the air leads to more carbon dioxide in the water, which creates carbonic acid (H2CO3). Increased temperatures in the ocean also lead to the death of symbiotic bacteria to its coral polyp host, or coral bleaching. Acidic rain, however, doesn’t affect coral reefs much (they’re already underwater).
Coral reefs serve a number of needs in today’s community. They are major tourist attractions and thus economic sources of revenue. They are sources of many kinds of fish and underwater organisms (which are being exploited anyway). Coral also is incorporated into various island structures, such as an atoll (atolls are reefs that form above an island. The island sinks down, but the reef stays grows to stay close to the surface). They are also a regular area of research for marine biologists—the number of species in a reef makes it a very unique ecosystem.
All of this is at risk if Global Warming continues. However, other threats to reefs exists as well-dynamite fishing, pollution, imported species. Etc.
The coral reef ecosystems are often referred to as the cradle of the ocean because they are the home of millions of fish. Here, fish consume algae surrounding the coral reef thus creating a well balanced ecosystem. The rate at which algae populations grow is greater than that at which coral reefs grow. If there are no fish present to eat algae, the algae population will increase, posing a threat to the coral population. Modern day Global Warming is causing these beautiful ecosystems to disappear, leaving behind either bleached or dead coral reefs. Zooxanthellae are the microorganisms which live on the surface of the corals, giving it both color and essential nutrients. When ocean temperatures rise, these organisms will escape the coral in hope to find a cooler environment, thus leaving the coral white, or bleached. When these microorganisms do not return, the corals will not be provided with the nutrients and will most likely die. Scientists are predicting that hurricane seasons will be accompanied with more vigorous hurricanes. These massive wind storms will cause many corals to lose essential parts and sometimes even be ripped out of the ocean bottom. Nutrient-rich land sediments can also be carried into the ocean, causing rapid algae growths. As the human population continuously rises, so does the demand for more effective fishing methods. Today, fishers from all over the world are using harvesting methods which collect more fish than can be replaced, harming these very fragile ecosystems. When large nets are placed into the ocean near coral reefs, the corals are harmed physically because of their fragile state, causing them to lose branches. When these ecosystems are harmed, many fish will not have a home anymore and humans will start to experience shortages of marine foods. If Global Warming is not slowed down immediately, these beautiful and diverse ecosystems will vanish from the oceans, leaving behind home-less fish.
Global warming is negatively impacting the world whether we acknowledge it or not, it has become evident all over the world, including under water. Researchers have recently recognized that over the years the amount of coral in the world is decreasing at a scary rate. As the world is growing warmer, the amount of CO2 under water is increasing which slowly killing off the coral. The heat seems to be hurting the coral just as much as the CO2 is, the heat does not allow the algae to grow which does not allow the coral to carry out all of the necessary functions to survive. Studies have shown that coral has a better chance of survival if the water is cooler, global warming jeopardizes this natural balance between the temperature of the water and the lifespan of coral. Once the algae is lost, then the process of coral bleaching begins, which is when the coral slowly dies and looses its color. The coral dying does not only affect coral, it strongly affects small fish that used coral to hide from predators in. If the fish are unable to seek protection then the larger fish will die out soon as well as a direct result of over fishing the smaller fish. This would be very noticeable to people because fish would be very hard to find and it would be difficult for us to survive without the essential vitamins in fish. After reading several passages and talking to Lily about coral, it is evident that we need to do something rapidly in order to save the small amount of living coral.
Global Warming: It has many negative effects on our environment, ranging from melting of the ice caps, displaced wildlife, and most recently publicized: the disruption of coral reef habitats. Global warming affects these habitats negatively in many ways. First, the increase in temperature can exceed the tolerance of many reefs. Reefs cannot tolerate any range of temperature; like many other organisms, they have their limit. Unfortunately, their limit is not very flexible. A slight change in water temperature of one to two degrees can cause a stress among the coral. With the increasing presence of global warming, water temperature increases, and thus as more stress is applied on the coral, then the coral releases more zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae are microscopic organisms that bring nutrients and color to the coral. The releasing of these organisms is called coral bleaching, and leads to the destruction of coral worldwide. Many would consider this destruction irrelevant to our daily lives, but in reality it does matter to us. Without coral in the oceans, many countries that rely economically on eco tourism would suffer greatly. Also, since reefs are home to many fish, the ruin of them would result in a loss of home for the large percentage of baby fish. Baby fish, and many other fish that live in the coral, are food to bigger fish, which humans eat. Displaced little fish would soon die out without a habitat, leaving bigger fish without a source of food, resulting in a fish shortage for humans. The whole cycle would be disrupted.
The coral reef is one of the most fascinating, animated ecosystem on the planet. However, with the rise of global warming, the future of the coral reefs to survive as healthy, flourishing ecosystems is doubtful. As the word’s carbon emissions continue to increase, carbon dioxide coupled with warmer ocean temperatures are leading to increasingly devastating effects on the coral. If carbon levels continue to increase, it was recently predicted in the journal, Science, that the emissions could kill of the reefs by 2050. The catastrophic result global warming has had on coral is due to the bleaching it causes. Even a one degree increase in temperature can lead to bleaching of the coral. Rapid rises of carbon have led to increases in acid levels in the ocean, which interferes with the coral’s ability to calcify their skeleton and causes the incapacity for the coral to grow. Not only is global warming causing destructive effects on coral reefs, but as the coral reefs die out, humans will be impacted too. One in six people worldwide depend on fish as their primary source of protein. With the destruction of the reefs the population of fish in the ocean will decline since with every five percent loss of coral reefs up to 500,000 tons of fish are killed. Coral reefs also play a crucial role in protecting the coastlines from storms by acting as a natural wavebreaker. The beauty and diversity of life that the coral reefs encompass has created them into being tourist attractions. Coral-reef related tourism brings in tens of billions of dollars yearly. Since many third-world economies situated near coral reefs have economies become heavily dependent on the income coral tourism and fishing has brought in, the economies of such countries would suffer great losses if the coral was entirely destroyed. Especially since the destruction of the coral reefs will play a significant impact on the lives of humans, more preventive steps should be taken to protect the coral reefs.
Over the past few years, coral reefs have become increasingly threatened by global warming. The reefs are very important ecosystems, for many reasons, one is that reefs are biologically diverse meaning there are many different kinds of animals and plants that live inside them. If the reefs were to die, then the organisms living within would as well. Also, Reefs are very stable, and provide a protective barrier around many islands and coasts. Without the reefs these islands and coasts will erode away into the ocean. For these and many other reasons, we must work to save these beautiful reefs that have taken thousands of years to form growing at about 1 centimeter per year. Corals have an upper limit of temperatures that they can withstand, with the warming of the oceans, they cannot survive in the warmer temperatures. Clive Wilkinson coordinator of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network also said that added carbon dioxide in the ocean water is creating the "soda water" effect, increasing the acidity of the water and making it harder for corals to form their shells. Also, the harvesting methods of many fish such as dynamite fishing (where the waters are blasted, the fish are stunned and then netted by the fisherman) destroys the integrity of the reefs. Many people do not feel that this destruction is serious and that it would affect them, but it would. Many countries rely on eco-tourism to sustain a major part of their economy, without these reefs, the countries would suffer a serious blow. Also, many people love to eat fish, of which the coral reefs are their home, and if the fishes’ homes are destroyed, then they become much scarcer and suddenly the fish industry is collapsing. The issue of the coral reefs is a very serious one and we all need to do as much as possible to help support the preservation of these wondrous reefs.
Along with global warming’s many well- known negative effects, one lesser known effect is its role in the destruction of coral reefs. Coral can not live in high temperatures, and with global warming raising the ocean’s temperature, coral have been dying all over. This prolonged rise in ocean temperature forces coral colonies to push out their beneficial, food- producing algae in a process known as coral bleaching. Coral bleaching turns coral from bright, vibrant colours to an eerie white. While coral can recover from this bleached state, it is very rare that they do. As a result of the death of these reefs, fish have lost much food and shelter and therefore fish diversity has decreased by half in some areas. The excess of carbon dioxide found in ocean water due to global warming, also has a negative effect on coral because it increases the acidity of the water, making it difficult for corals to form their shells. These two factors are very damaging to coral health and are causing coral death worldwide. For example, in 1998, global warming caused Indian Ocean surface temperatures to increase to unparalleled levels, killing off more than 90% of the Seychelles coral.
The destruction of these reefs not only hurt the reefs themselves, but also humans. Coral reefs are huge tourist attraction and if they are destroyed, many people in the tourism business will lose their job. Another problem that the destruction of coral reefs will have on humans is a lack of fish. Fish are a major food staple for many people in the world, and many fish live in reefs. If there are no healthy reefs to home the fish, then it will be difficult for them to survive, resulting in a lack of fish all over the world. Global warming must be lessened immediately or there will be many negative consequences.
Coral reefs, also known as “cradles of the ocean,” create some of the most beautiful ecosystems on this earth. However, the coral reefs of our world are dying, and fast. First thing is that coral reefs need clean water, and what is human society doing: dumping our wastes into the oceans. Another thing that has an even greater impact on coral reefs is global warming. As the air of our planet becomes warmer, so do the temperatures of our oceans. Scientists have discovered that in the last one hundred years the ocean temperatures have raised about one degree in Fahrenheit, and they predict that the ocean temperatures might raise around two degrees Fahrenheit over the current century. This has devastating effects on coral reefs around the world. As the ocean temperatures raise they are forced to release their symbiotic, food-producing algae in a process which is known as bleaching. This causes the coral to turn a ghostly white. While it is possible for coral reefs can recover from bleaching, most don’t. The destruction of coral reefs can directly and indirectly affect humans and the food chain. The coral reef plays a major niche in the marine ecosystem, if the number of coral reef deaths increases than it will greatly affect the food chain. Many species are adapted to live in coral reefs and if they are destroyed than fish that we consume will also surly be affect. Also coral reefs serve as a major block to massive storm surf in places like the Caribbean Sea and the mid-Atlantic. If they are destroyed than they no longer serve as that barrier, this could cause massive erosion and the destruction of much beachfront property and beaches around the world.
Coral Reefs are referred to “the Cradle of the Ocean” because that is where a huge portion of aquatic life spends its youth, many fish are raised there in their infancy because, due to the abundance of life and colors they cannot be easily found by predators so it has become advantageous for them to be raised their because they live longer. But due to the recent rise in global temperature coral reefs are being adversely affected, for example in 1998 due to raised temperatures in the water caused by El Nino 16% of the worlds coral reefs were lost. The reason that the raised temperature has such an effect on coral reefs is because of bleaching; bleaching is a process by which coral colonies expel algae that produce food, which leave them with a shortage of food.
In turn the bleaching will produce an adverse effect on humans because with out coral reefs many species of fish lose their homes and begin to die off resulting in a lower diversity of fish; with less fish means less fish to be fished by man taking away a main agricultural source of economy. Also besides the agricultural economic effect is the tourist effect on the countries of the islands because for many of these countries tourism is the main cog on their economic wheel, but a good part of the tourist attraction is people wanting to see the coral reefs.
Global warming is obviously affecting the entire planet including the oceans and the coral reefs. These precious ecosystems are in grave danger due to the delicate conditions they need to survive. Coral reefs can only withstand up to certain temperatures and with the increasing overall temperature of the globe, that is pushing many coral reef systems closer to the limit. Also, the addition of extra carbon dioxide into the oceans has a negative affect on the water by making it more acidic which inhibits the growth of coral shells. One of the most prominent warming periods that affected the coral reefs was in 1998 when the temperatures reached 32 degrees centrigrade. The debilitating effects this temperature spike had on the reefs includes death of teh coral itself, decrease in tropical fish population, and a drop in species diversity. The problems that arise from humans are extreme and will only aid in our sestruction of the Earth. Since coral helps to keep down the levels of carbon dioxide in water, the death of reefs will cause a huge spike in the concentration of carbon dioxide worldwide. Also, entire countries depend on coral reefs as their main source of income because of the tourist attraction and fishing opportunities preovided. 50 percent of the fisheries in the United States rely hevaily on coral reefs and globally, many more countries get fish there too. Coral reefs also provide many valuable medicines and research opportunities that cannot be found elsewhere. The coral reef are in increasing danger and need to be protected and restored immediately if there is any chance they will sruvive.
The coral reefs are known as the “cradles of the ocean.” Within these reefs there are diverse species of fish and aquatic plants. The coral reefs only cover 1% of the Earth’s surface but play a vital role. In the coral reefs there are many fish that live there plus it is a supply of food, medicine, and protection for us. But these reefs are very fragile. Just a change in the environment can upset their delicate balance. When corals are stressed by high temperature, ultraviolet light or other environmental changes, they lose their symbiotic algal cells, and appear white. Depending on the intensity of the stress it can make the corals die. In the last few decades over 35 million acres of Coral Reefs have been obliterated. With Global warming in the next few decades 70% of the coral reefs will be destroyed. Corals are so sensitive that a degree or two can cause coral reefs to become bleached. Inside each of the coral there is zooxanthellae which give a coral the essential nutrients it needs to survive. Once these microorganisms are gone then the corals die. But why should we care about the coral reefs? How do they affect us? Coral reefs supply humans with many things which can not be obtainable from anywhere else. For example coral reefs protect the coast from wave erosion. If the coral reefs were to be destroyed then the shorelines would erode. There wouldn’t be any protection for people who live near oceans. Agricultural land and beaches would be destroyed. If there weren’t any reefs then parts of Florida would be under water. Also, the reefs are used in medicine that helps diseases such as cancer, HIV, cardiovascular diseases and ulcers. There are people who make a living off the coral reefs. About 500 million people need the coral reefs as a way to earn a living and to provide food. The coral reefs may not seem important to some people but they have a huge influence on humans and geographic features.
Global Warming doesn't exist.... What a lie! If someone were to take a close enough look at the coral reefs, they would realize that it was having a significant effect on the marine life which had once inhabited the area so happily. Now with the high amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere we could use as much coral as is possible to help slow the destruction of the ozone. Coral helps lower the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by the ocean animals, since it works as the trees for the ocean. As more of the coral dies, more of the carbon dioxide is released into our atmosphere and continues to warm the earth, killer even more coral and hurting the environment. The coral reefs are home to millions of marine life. It houses over 25 percent of the animals living in the sea. Most people who took high school biology can make the simply connection I'm getting to, if we continue to kill coral, we will continue to destroy our marine wild life, and if we kill the marine life, then our entire seafood source will soon be limited if not depleted. This will cause many people to have a complete change in lifestyles and a lot of people to lose jobs. People need to finally realize that nature has as much of an effect on us, as we do on nature. If we let this part of the earth get destroyed, then we lose a part of the world we have created. So even someone cared nothing for the environment, maybe they would care about the world
Global warming has been very controversial in the recent past. Politicians like Al Gore and the Green Party have been fighting for the environment, but media coverage has caused some of the less “interesting” facts slip through the cracks. One of these facts is the effects of global warming on the coral reefs located around the world. Every reef has been shrinking due to problems such as ocean acidification and the warming of the ocean. Acidification, which is caused by the amount of CO2 in the water, is a direct cause of the pollution going on in the world today. This CO2 comes from the atmosphere, and when it reacts with water, it forms carbonic acid, which is slightly acidic and damages the organisms in the coral reefs, as well as the coral polyps that create the actual reef structure. The other effect of this CO2, the “greenhouse effect,” has been raising temperatures at larger increments every year. Though it does not necessarily effect humanity (because hey, who doesn’t like better beach weather?), the more sensitive ecosystems like the coral reefs and the polar areas are being damaged severely. The warm atmosphere has caused the oceanic waters to warm, causing a process known as coral bleaching. The temperature rise, when combined with higher light intensity, kills symbiotic algae known as zooxanthallae. Without these algae, the coral polyps do not have enough energy to survive, and perish. Many communities, especially poor and third-world countries, depend on the sea as a means of food, and without its organisms, it is very possible that they would starve. Humankind as a whole needs to reevaluate what its doing to the environment before the repercussions are felt. Only with careful planning and even more careful execution will we have a chance of avoided this seemingly inevitable consequence.
The coral reefs are such a beautiful part of the world and provide a necessary relationship with many different undersea species. The warming climate is threatening the coral reefs as well as the increase in carbon dioxide levels. Because more and more trees are being cut down daily the carbon dioxide levels are rising. The carbon dioxide is making the water more acidic which is making it more difficult for the coral to form its shell. When the climate warms the increase in temperature and the UV rays reach the coral and complete the process of coral bleaching which causes them to loose their color and die. The effects of the carbon dioxide levels and the warming climate are even being seen in some of the most pure and pristine places like the Caribbean island of Bonaire. Scientist Mark Patterson has said that "We're seeing more dead and dying coral than we should be." When the health of the coral is threatened the existence of thousands of other species is endangered as well. Because of this there will be a loss of biodiversity in oceanic life. The reefs also protect the costal line from extremely large waves and ocean currents, another main effect on humans is the decrease in tourism levels if more coral is dying.
Coral reefs used to be one of the most abundant ecosystems on earth, and now their numbers are reaching record lows. Many enjoy them, though most are ignorant to what is occurring beneath the ocean’s surface. People don’t want to put forth the effort to help this cause because they clearly don’t understand the importance of it. The disappearing coral reefs may, however, have an impact on human life on earth as well. The corals are decreasing in number because of the pollution of the earth’s oceans, there are various amounts of carbon dioxide being released into the water throughout the world causing what scientists call the “soda water” effect. Due to the carbon dioxide levels in the water, the acidity increases and the corals aren’t able to form their protective shells. Some particular ocean areas are seeing more of a problem than others, though those that were thought to have been “safe” are now under inspection because scientists have learned that they are in danger too. This is affecting humans as well because of the upset that decreasing corals are causing to the balance of ocean life. Most of the fish that inhabit the ocean are born on coral reefs, without them, even our food chain is upset. Humans eat the large fish that inhabit the ocean and those survive on the small fish born on coral reefs. Another way in which humans are affected is the economy. Tourism in certain places such as Bonaire and various other islands will decrease. That is what some of these places thrive on and without it their economy will suffer. Also many large ports cities make money on exporting fish, their economies will begin to suffer as a result of the decreasing corals as well.
Coral reefs are incredible ecosystems that are inhabited by numerous diverse aquatic species. However, these "cradles of the ocean" are gradually deteriorating due to the effects of Global Warming. Because coral reefs can not tolerate high temperatures, the increasing temperature of the ocean has contributed to the discoloration of the reefs. Ultraviolet life has also resulted in coral reef discoloration, which occurs when corals lose their symbiotic algal cells and appear white.Unfortunately; humans are also the cause of coral reef degradation. Due to the value and beauty of these reefs, many divers blow them up with explosives in order to kill the aquatic life in the reefs and sell them to expensive seafood restaurants. If these divers were aware of the significance of coral reefs, they would use safer methods for catching fish. Coral reefs not only shelter many of the fish species in the ocean, but also provide jobs for humans who work at coral reef tourist sites and preservation areas. Currently, over seventy percent of the Earth’s coral reefs have been destroyed, which poses a significant problem for the aquatic life that relies on these reefs for protection from predators. In order to preserve the remaining coral reefs, numerous organizations have been established and are working to revive these ecosystems. Numerous websites have also been created in order to raise awareness of reef destruction, and hopefully these methods will provide solutions to this significant issue. However, if Global Warming and human destruction persists, the remaining coral reefs will not survive. Ironically, we are attempting to solve a problem that we started.
The coral reef is an important and fragile part of our environment. Unfortunately the changing climate and people are destroying the “cradle of the reef”. Coral is a sensitive habitat for fish that cannot take a lot of abuse. As the oceans warm from the coral dies. This can be harmful to people because of the supply of fish used for food, tourism that coral attracts, and the food chain. Coral reefs are called the “cradle of the ocean” because it is the location in which most fish mature, so they can be protected for big fish until they are big enough to survive. Without the coral reefs young fish are being eaten at a faster rate before they can reproduce. This leaves less fish to be eaten by people and cuts down the fish population, so other fish have a harder time finding enough fish to survive. More fish die without enough food, causing birds that eat fish to die. These populations begin to decrease, disrupting the entire food chain. Not only are the coral reefs important for raising fish, but also some of the most beautiful fish live in the coral reefs. This attracts tourism to tropical countries and helps boost their economies. As the coral dies the fish can no longer live in the reef and coral turns white. Coral bleaching is when the coral turns white. Tourists don’t usually pay money to see white dying coral and they also pay to see fish, which they won’t see at dead coral. So coral reefs are not only important for our economy but they are also important for the economies of tropical countries.
The coral reef is an important and fragile part of our environment. Unfortunately the changing climate and people are destroying the “cradle of the reef”. Coral is a sensitive habitat for fish that cannot take a lot of abuse. As the oceans warm from the coral dies. This can be harmful to people because of the supply of fish used for food, tourism that coral attracts, and the food chain. Coral reefs are called the “cradle of the ocean” because it is the location in which most fish mature, so they can be protected for big fish until they are big enough to survive. Without the coral reefs young fish are being eaten at a faster rate before they can reproduce. This leaves less fish to be eaten by people and cuts down the fish population, so other fish have a harder time finding enough fish to survive. More fish die without enough food, causing birds that eat fish to die. These populations begin to decrease, disrupting the entire food chain. Not only are the coral reefs important for raising fish, but also some of the most beautiful fish live in the coral reefs. This attracts tourism to tropical countries and helps boost their economies. As the coral dies the fish can no longer live in the reef and coral turns white. Coral bleaching is when the coral turns white. Tourists don’t usually pay money to see white dying coral and they also pay to see fish, which they won’t see at dead coral. So coral reefs are not only important for our economy but they are also important for the economies of tropical countries.
Over the years, global warming has had incredible and increasing detrimental effect on the health of coral reefs. Being home to over twenty five percent of all marine life, coral reefs are among the most beautiful and diverse communities on earth they are currently being destroyed by global warming which is arguably a human induced happening. When coral is exposed to environmentally stressful factors, such as the increased ocean temperatures that come with global warming coral bleaching a main cause of coral death occurs. Coral bleaching is the process whereby the coral colonies lose their color and life due to their symbiotic zooxanthellae being expelled. When the temperature of the sea is greater than the tolerance threshold of the coral for some time, the zooxanthellae carry out too much photosynthesis, and this leads the polyps to actively reject these algae which consequently bleaches the coral and inhibits it from performing functions vital to sustaining itself and thus causes it to die. The global heating process which is affecting both the atmosphere and the oceans of the world and might involve an increase of as much as 3 degrees Celsius over the next 50 years constitutes a serious threat to the survival of the coral, since this would mean that the tolerance limits of the coral would be overstepped. It is predicted that over half of the world’s coral reefs may die within the next 40 years unless urgent measures are taken to protect them from climate change. Since coral reefs are so important to the marine ecosystem in regards to balance and habitat, if these wonderful animals die the whole ocean would suffer irreversible consequences. It is for the most part disregarded but the death of coral would also affect humans greatly. In many places, reefs are utilized as tourist attractions, and when treated properly they help the economy greatly if the coral were to die that whole aspect of tourism would be taken away. Also since reefs (nick name the “cradle of the ocean”) are home to a variety of marine life there death would result in an unprecedented loss of habitat for fish and thus the fish would be with out shelter and have a much higher death rate which in turn would effect the diet of the larger fish that eat those fish and the population of the fish that we humans eat would also decrease affecting the whole fishing industry and again the economy and essentially our lives in general.
It is obvious that coral reefs provide a significant foundation for aquatic life as the home, shelter, and producer for many organisms. However global warming is a threatening force resulting from high temperatures and carbon dioxide levels. Hence, leaving our ecosystems with a decrease in population of algae creating a ripple effect decreasing various other organism populations due to lack of shelter and food supply because these reefs are being destroyed. As a result our ecosystems are being ravaged and ultimately when this ecosystem is effected it will lead to destroying ecosystems on land as well it's the cycle of life that will ultimately be damaged and in all actuality we are hurting ourselves just as much as the coral reefs.
abigail...
i tink that all of you really knowm what you are talking about, and i really would like it if you guys write more often with info that we could use for info for school.
thnks!
abigail...
i tink that all of you really knowm what you are talking about, and i really would like it if you guys write more often with info that we could use for info for school.
thanks!
SURE THING!
Post a Comment