NOAA/NSTA Web Seminar: Coral Ecosystems: Land-based Pollution Threats to Coral Reefs LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP Thursday, May 8, 2008.

NOAA/NSTA Web Seminar:

Coral Ecosystems:

Land-based Pollution Threats to Coral Reefs

LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Land-based Pollution Threats to Coral Reefs

Presented by Kathy Chaston Coral & Coastal Management Specialist NOAA’s National Ocean Service

Office of Ocean & Coastal Resource Management

Outline

• Coral biology

• Value of coral reefs

• Land-based pollution impacts

• Management actions

• Teaching resources

Outline

• Coral biology

• Value of coral reefs

• Land-based pollution impacts

• Management actions

• Teaching resources

What is coral?

Plant Animal Both?

Coral is as an animal with an algal symbiont

Source: NOAA

Reef building corals require: • Warm water: 75 – 85 Fahrenheit degrees• Light: Shallow and sediment free waters• Salinity: 34 – 37 ppt

PCS

Coral reef distribution

Source:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals/media/supp_coral05a.html

Let’s pause for

2 questions

Outline

• Coral biology

• Value of coral reefs

• Known effects of land-based pollution

• Management actions

• Teaching resources

Coral reefs are valuable

• Biodiversity• Fisheries• Shoreline protection• Pharmaceuticals• Tourism • Education• Culture • Social values

Coral reefs: rainforests of the sea

How many species of fish live on reefs?

A. 40

B. 400

C. 4000

PCS

Coral reefs protect the shore-line

Reefs are important economically

Hawaii:• Net benefits = $360 million year • Overall asset value MHI = $10 billion

Study by: Cesar & van Beukering 2004

Many threats to Coral Reefs

Key threats to US reefs:

• Over-fishing

• Land-based sources of pollution

• Recreational overuse/misuse

• Lack of public awareness

• Climate change & coral bleaching

• Disease

Key threats to US reefs:

• Over-fishing

• Land-based sources of pollution

• Recreational overuse/misuse

• Lack of public awareness

• Climate change & coral bleaching

• Disease

Let’s pause for

2 questions

Outline

• Coral biology

• Value of coral reefs

• Land-based pollution impacts

• Management actions

• Teaching resources

Land and sea are connected

Photo’s courtesy of Malama Maunalua

Many sources of land-based pollution

Models estimate that 22% of all coral reefs world-wide are at high or medium threat from inland pollution and soil erosion.

(Bryant et al. 1998).

USGS

Runoff threatens coral reefs globally

Runoff impacts growth & survival of hard coral colonies

Bill Walsh DAR

Any idea’s how runoff impacts coral growth and survival?

Two volunteers?

1.

2.

Sediments reduce light and decrease coral growth

Sediments smother coral & sloughing wastes energy

Photo’s courtesy of Bill Walsh

Runoff effects coral

reproduction & recruitment

• Coral settlement rates are near zero on sediment covered surfaces • Sediment tolerance is lower in new recruits

Honolua Bay, Maui

Runoff effects reef community structure

Let’s pause for

2 questions

Outline

• Coral biology

• Value of coral reefs

• Land-based pollution impacts

• Management actions

• Teaching resources

Managing land-based pollution

• US Coral Reef Task Force formed

• Addressing key threats to reefs is a national priority

• Development of local action strategies

More information: http://coralreef.gov

Hawaii’s Local Action Strategy:

A collaborative multi-agency and community approach to protect Hawaii’s coral reefs

Sustainable Living Institute of Maui

Taking action to:

• Reduce pollutant loads

• Increase understanding through scientific research & monitoring

• Increase awareness

Outline

• Coral biology

• Value of coral reefs

• Known effects of land-based pollution

• Management actions

• Teaching resources

Lesson Plans & Curriculum

http://www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/education

http://www.hawaiireef.net/teachers/teachers.shtml

http://www.hawaiianatolls.org/teachers/NavChange.php

http://www.epa.gov/adopt/resources/

Activities

http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian/welcome.html

Educational materials

International Year of the Reef

http://www.iyor.org

Other educational materials available from NOAA and NSTA

Science Objects (4): Coral Reef Ecosystems

Web Seminar Archives (2): Today’s and April 10’s

SciPack: Coral Reef Ecosystems

SciGuide: Coral Ecosystems

Journal Articles

http://learningcenter.nsta.org

Funding

• NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)

• Program was established in 2002 to create environmentally literate students and teachers through education.

• http://www.csc.noaa.gov/psc/bwet.html

• http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/bwet/welcome.html

Thank you

NASA logo

Thanks to our presenter, Kathy Chaston and to

NOAA for sponsoring this program

http://www.elluminate.com

Elluminate logo

http://learningcenter.nsta.org

NLC screenshot

National Science Teachers AssociationGerry Wheeler, Executive Director

Frank Owens, Associate Executive Director Conferences and Programs

Al Byers, Assistant Executive Director e-Learning

LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP

NSTA Web SeminarsFlavio Mendez, Director

Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator