Coral Reefs!3/25/10

By:RobAn Williams

No, not Christopher Reeve!

Not to be confused with Chris Reeve…

http://www.nirvanaclub.com/news/reeve.jpg

Purpose

• Coral reefs contain 25% of all ocean fish• Most destruction to coral reefs is manmade

(some is caused by hurricanes and storms.) – More than a quarter of the earth’s coral reefs

have been destroyed by humans.

Organization

• What are coral reefs• Organisms in reefs• Types of coral reefs• Coral reef biodiversity• Threats to coral reefs• Great Barrier Reef• Protection and

Restoration

What are coral Reefs?!

• Coral is a stony substance that is made of the skeletons of certain kinds of tiny sea animals called polyps.

• Polyps produce limestone at their base, which makes coral hollow and acts as a hiding place when predators come.

• Vary in shape, size and color.• Need warm water, sunlight, and clear, shallow water

to survive.

Organisms in Reefs

• Sponges, sea slugs, crustaceans, marine snails, sea stars, and fish.

http://student.britannica.com/comptons/art/print?id=55468&articleTypeId=0

Three Types of Coral Reefs…

• Fringing Reefs: Border shorelines of continents and islands in tropical seas.

• Barrier Reefs: Form when land masses sink, and fringing reefs separate from shorelines.

• Atoll Reefs: Surround a central lagoon.

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals/media/coral05a_480.jpg

Coral Reef Biodiversity

• Food source for coastal communities.• Sources of beach sand.• 1 million species of marine life make up its ecosystem.

http://www.eco-asia.info/content/sites/default/files/images/tr-wakatobi-underwater.jpg

Threats

• Overfishing

http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/06-07/fishing-cycle.gif

Another Threat

• Pollution– Enters through oil spills,

acid rain, and hazardous waste, and exhaust from boats.

– Kills reefs from poisons and heavy metals.

– Enters the coral through polyps and kills them.

http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/envir_education/envir_explorer/images/explorer_4_01.gif

…MORE THREATS!

• Global Warming– Heat created by global warming evaporates water

leaving coral reefs above the water’s surface.– Once coral reefs are above water they cannot

breathe, and die.

http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2007/11/28/damaged-coral-reef_6697.jpg

SO MANY THREATS!

• Coral Bleaching• Ocean Acidification• Coral Mining

• Threatened Species– Over 200 species (33%) are

endangered .– 10 years ago only 2% were

endangered.– Warmer sea temperatures

lead to sudden sicknesses.

http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=29474

Great Barrier Reef

• Largest coral reef in the world.

• Made up of 3,000 coral reefs and 900 islands (1616 miles).

• Off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

• Home of many species of birds, whales, fish, sea turtles, and stingrays.

• Large tourist area for scuba divers.

• Native home to the Black Marlin.

http://www.dianibeach.co.uk/Black_Marlin.jpg

Conclusion

• Little ways to make a difference– Conserve water– Reduce pollution– Use organic fertilizers – Practice save diving

MuLtIpLe ChOiCe QuEsTiOn

• Which type of coral reef surrounds a central lagoon?

• A) Fringing reef• B) Barrier reef• C) Atoll reef

C) Atoll reef

References• Walsh, Bryan. July 11, 2008. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1821971,00.html

• Lad, Kashmira. July 1, 2008. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-the-great-barrier-reef.html• The Nature Conservancy. http://www.nature.org/joinanddonate/rescuereef/explore/help.html• Protecting the Home We Live In. 2002. http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/coral_reef.htm

• United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/eco_coral.html

• Sea World/Busch Gardens. 2002. http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/coral/coralcr.html

• Picture References• http://www.nirvanaclub.com/news/reeve.jpg

• Britannica Student Encyclopedia. http://student.britannica.com/comptons/art/print?id=55468&articleTypeId=0

• NOAA. March 25, 2008. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals/media/coral05a_480.jpg• EcoAsia. http://www.eco-asia.info/content/sites/default/files/images/tr-wakatobi-underwater.jpg• Grinning Planet. September 14, 2008. http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/06-07/fishing-cycle.gif

• Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department. http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/envir_education/envir_explorer/images/explorer_4_01.gif

• InstaBlogs. November 28, 2007. http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2007/11/28/damaged-coral-reef_6697.jpg

• Pixdaus. http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=29474• Kenya Travel Guide. 2006. http://www.dianibeach.co.uk/Black_Marlin.jpg