Coral Reef Destruction Nick Ganem & Grant Shobar.

Coral Reef Coral Reef DestructionDestruction

Nick Ganem & Grant Nick Ganem & Grant ShobarShobar

InformationInformation

Coral Reefs house over 75% of ocean lifeCoral Reefs house over 75% of ocean life

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef. It The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef. It is on the entire western coast of Australiais on the entire western coast of Australia

Coral Reefs can be found in tropical waters and in Coral Reefs can be found in tropical waters and in deep water were there are enough nutrientsdeep water were there are enough nutrients

There are three types of reefs, atolls, fringing, and There are three types of reefs, atolls, fringing, and Barrier.Barrier.

InformationInformationCoral reefs hold Coral reefs hold numerous animals numerous animals including whales, including whales, turtles, and fishturtles, and fish

InformationInformation

DISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTION

Coral Reef BleachingCoral Reef Bleaching

• Bleaching happens when weather change Bleaching happens when weather change causes coral to lose it’s pigmentation.causes coral to lose it’s pigmentation.

• Other reasons they bleach is because of Other reasons they bleach is because of wind, low tide air exposure, or starvationwind, low tide air exposure, or starvation

But. . .

We cause Bleaching We cause Bleaching

When we fish for food underwater, When we fish for food underwater, we use poisoning methods to stun we use poisoning methods to stun

the fish. It kills the coral because the the fish. It kills the coral because the poison contains bleach. poison contains bleach.

Healthy CoralBleached Coral

Acidic WatersAcidic Waters

The effects of Acidic Waters:The effects of Acidic Waters:•When carbon dioxide wastes are When carbon dioxide wastes are

dumped into the ocean, they can dissolve dumped into the ocean, they can dissolve and become carbon acidand become carbon acid

•Acidic waters break down on the Acidic waters break down on the limestone structures of corallimestone structures of coral

•Acidic waters take a long time to Acidic waters take a long time to disintegrate and can cause enormous disintegrate and can cause enormous

damage to the reefsdamage to the reefs

Over Fishing and Coral Over Fishing and Coral MiningMining

Over FishingOver FishingWe over fish for food We over fish for food

and trade. This and trade. This damages animals damages animals

population numbers population numbers and other animals die and other animals die needlessly because needlessly because

they could get caught they could get caught in nets. in nets.

Coral MiningCoral MiningCoral mining is when we Coral mining is when we

mine for the limestone mine for the limestone structures of the coral, structures of the coral,

jewelry, souvenirs, jewelry, souvenirs, and medicine. This and medicine. This

closes coastal towns, closes coastal towns, hotels, and beaches.hotels, and beaches.

Some People Think That It’s Some People Think That It’s Okay!Okay!Some people may say that we have to use bleach to catch fish. Some people may say that we have to use bleach to catch fish.

But, we could use less destructive methods, or go old fashion with But, we could use less destructive methods, or go old fashion with nets, not disturbing the coral. nets, not disturbing the coral.

We may need to mine for limestone for construction uses.We may need to mine for limestone for construction uses.

But, we could use different deposits of lime stone because 1/3 of the But, we could use different deposits of lime stone because 1/3 of the earth’s surface is limestone, or use cement or wood.earth’s surface is limestone, or use cement or wood.

But, what if we need to fish for food?But, what if we need to fish for food?

We can still eat seafood, but we have to monitor each catch and use We can still eat seafood, but we have to monitor each catch and use less destructive methods because many animals die needlessly in less destructive methods because many animals die needlessly in nets. nets.

Even though the reefs are being destroyed…

You can still help!

How you can help:How you can help:• Conserve water:Conserve water: The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater will pollute our oceans. The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater will pollute our oceans. • Help reduce pollution:Help reduce pollution: Walk, bike or ride the bus. Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry Walk, bike or ride the bus. Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry

raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs. destruction of reefs.

• Use only ecological or organic fertilizers:Use only ecological or organic fertilizers: Although you may live thousands of miles from a Although you may live thousands of miles from a coral reef ecosystem, these products flow into the water system, pollute the ocean, and can harm coral reef ecosystem, these products flow into the water system, pollute the ocean, and can harm coral reefs and marine life. coral reefs and marine life.

• Dispose of your trash properly:Dispose of your trash properly: Don't leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the Don't leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish. beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish.

• Support reef-friendly businesses:Support reef-friendly businesses: Ask the fishing, boating, hotel, aquarium, dive or snorkeling Ask the fishing, boating, hotel, aquarium, dive or snorkeling operators how they protect the reef. Be sure they care for the living reef ecosystem and ask if the operators how they protect the reef. Be sure they care for the living reef ecosystem and ask if the organization responsible is part of a coral reef ecosystem management effort. organization responsible is part of a coral reef ecosystem management effort.

• Plant a tree:Plant a tree: Trees reduce runoff into the oceans. You will also contribute to reversing the warming Trees reduce runoff into the oceans. You will also contribute to reversing the warming of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans. Help us Plant a Billion. of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans. Help us Plant a Billion.

• Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling:Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling: Do not touch the reef or anchor your Do not touch the reef or anchor your boat on the reef. Contact with the coral will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on boat on the reef. Contact with the coral will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on the reef can kill it, so look for sandy bottom or use moorings if available. the reef can kill it, so look for sandy bottom or use moorings if available.

• Volunteer for a coral reef cleanup:Volunteer for a coral reef cleanup: You don't live near a coral reef? Then do what many people You don't live near a coral reef? Then do what many people do with their vacation: visit a coral reef. Spend an afternoon enjoying the beauty of one of the most do with their vacation: visit a coral reef. Spend an afternoon enjoying the beauty of one of the most diverse ecosystems on the Earth. diverse ecosystems on the Earth.

• Contact your government representatives:Contact your government representatives: Demand they take action to protect coral reefs, Demand they take action to protect coral reefs, stop sewage pollution of our oceans, expand marine protected areas and take steps to reverse stop sewage pollution of our oceans, expand marine protected areas and take steps to reverse global warming. global warming.

• Spread the word:Spread the word: Remember your own excitement at learning how important the planet's coral Remember your own excitement at learning how important the planet's coral reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem. Share this excitement and encourage others to reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem. Share this excitement and encourage others to get involved.get involved.

CitationCitation• http://www.nature.org/greenliving/gogreen/coralreeftips/

•en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef

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•www.icran.org/pdf/CoralMiningIssueBrief.pdf •en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overfishing

•http://www.google.com/imghp

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•<http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.

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