Coral Reefs

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Coral ReefsThe Threats and The Solutions

Olivia Lahaie

Coral Reefs The term ‘coral reefs” is

normally given to the ecosystem where colas and there symbiotic algae cohabitate.

Along with these organisms live many other species that thrive in the reef.

Coral reefs are the most bio diverse ecosystems on earth, with more genetic diversity then the tropical rain forest.

Farming and Mining Practices

BP Oil Spill Pesticide Runoff

Oil Spills

Oil spills can have very harmful effects on coral that are not always immediately apparent.

Direct contact to the oil can cause coral death as well as indirect contact over long periods of time.

Oil slicks mainly cause decreased photosynthesis, growth, and reproduction.

Recovery of the reef depends on many things, such as the associated communities of the reef, but can still take years or decades.

Farming runoff

Nutrients in the fertilizers used by farmers, such as nitrogen and phosphorous runoff into the ocean.

This overflow of nutrient can cause algae blooms.

These blooms block sunlight from the reef, and use up much of the oxygen in the water which decreases biodiversity.

The Solutions

Farming Pesticides and fertilizers are

still a problem now because of excessive use in the past.

Stricter pesticide laws are helping greatly.

New ecofriendly fertilizers are really the only option besides refraining from using them at all.

Mining Oil spills are an unlikely but

unfortunate part of offshore mining when it does occur.

As far as preventing the problem, the only thing for it is to enforce stricter policies

A policy that has been used is tapping into a oil reserve in two places to relieve pressure if one of the rigs starts leaking.

Fishing Over fishing has a very big

impact on coral reef ecosystems, particularly on The Great Barrier Reef.

Over fishing can cause major shifts in the ecosystem as well as charge average fish size and abundance.

Coral reefs specific needs for oxygen, nutrients and salt are all maintained by the fish and other organisms that live in the reef.

When the ecosystem changes the reef is severely effected.

Over Fishing

Solution

As stated earlier, over fishing is a extremely large issue in Australia on the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia has implemented many strict fishing laws to help the drowning fish population.

Other implement such as “no-take areas” in the Florida keys and other preserve are helping replenish the fish populations.

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WORKS CITED Coral Reef Info, S. (n.d.). Coral Reef. Retrieved from

http:/www.coralreefinfo.com/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2011, May 13). How does an oil spill affect coral reefs? Retrieved from http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/facts/coral_oilspill.html

University of Michigan. (n.d.). Over-Fishing. In Human impact on the great barrier reef. Retrieved from http:/sitemaker.umich.edu/gc2sec7labgroup3/over-fishing

University of Michigan. (n.d.). Pollution. In Human impact on the great barrier reef. Retrieved from http:/sitemaker.umich.edu/gc2sec7labgroup3/pollution