...Coral reefs occupy only 0.2% of the ocean floor, yet they are the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems known today, and support over 25% of all marine organisms (Yip). Due to the massive amount of marine species that populate coral reef habitats, maintaining healthy reefs is crucial for the continuation of marine biodiversity. In past years, the increase of mortality rates in coral has been caused by a number of factors, including wide-spread stress and disease. In the Indo-Pacific, coral reefs have been declining at a rate of approximately 2% per year for the last 20 years (Yip). Coral reef fish biodiversity is crucial for the sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem, as well as for the ability of the coral reefs to provide services...
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...recommends) steps that could help to build a stronger support system for the reef management and also advance the efficiency of the already existing conservation techniques. International researchers and scientists – Shankar Aswani, Rhodes University (Africa), Peter J. Mumby, University of Queensland (Australia), Andrew C. Baker, University of Miami (USA), Patrick Christie, University of Washington (USA), Laurence J. McCook, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Australia), Robert S. Steneck, University of Maine (USA) and Robert H. Richmond, University...
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...to a Coral Reef Early Warning System station in Discovery Bay, Jamaica, utilized in conducting ocean acidification studies near coral reef areas [edit]Australia Main article: Environmental threats to the Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system.[46][47][48][49] The reef is located in the Coral Sea. A large part of the reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Particular environmental pressures include runoff, salinity fluctuations, climate change, cyclic crown-of-thorns outbreaks, overfishing, and spills or improper ballast discharge. [edit]Southeast Asia See also: Southeast Asia coral reefs Southeast Asian coral reefs are at risk from damaging fishing practices (such as cyanide and blast fishing), overfishing, sedimentation, pollution and bleaching. Activities including education, regulation and the establishment of marine protected areas help protect these reefs. [edit]Indonesia Indonesia is home to one third of the world's corals covering nearly 85,000 square kilometres (33,000 sq mi) and one quarter of its fish species. Indonesia's coral reefs are located in the heart of the Coral Triangle and have fallen victim to destructive fishing, tourism and bleaching. Data from 414 reef monitoring stations in 2000 found that only 6% are in excellent condition, while 24% are in good condition, and approximately 70% are in poor to fair condition.[50] [edit]Philippines In 2007, Reef Check, the world's largest reef conservation organization...
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...named global ecosystem – 15 Coral Reefs are a unique ecosystem, which usually grow in conditions where the temperate is around 24c and in less than 25m depth of water. Coral reefs are homes to over 25% of known sea creatures and are an invaluable service for the local population as a source of food and income. Coral Reefs are under huge stress due to the impact that human activities are having and in fact already 1/5 of the world’s coral reefs are so damaged that they are beyond repair. A global threat, which is affecting all fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs, is global warming. Firstly, the average increase in global temperatures is leading to an increased rate of ice cap melting. The melting of the ice caps releases more fresh water into the oceans, reducing salinity. The increased water volume is also increasing sea level rise; coral reefs find it difficult to survive in over 27m depth of water. The increase in sea temperatures can also change the nutrient flow. Coral bleaching is a devastating side effect of global warming which affects the corals. Coral bleaching is permanent damage and is occurring globally. The effects of the bleaching are worsened during El Nino years; in 1990 almost 50% of the worlds coral reefs were severely damaged. The most damaged reefs were in the Persian Gulf where 65% had been destroyed, followed by reefs in South Asia where 45% and 38% respectively, were considered destroyed. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia also witnessed a bleaching...
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...Coral reefs are the epicenter for immense amounts of biodiversity, and are a key player in the survival of an entire ecosystem. They provide various marine animals with food, protection, and shelter which keep generations of species alive.[1] Furthermore, coral reefs are an integral part of sustaining human life through serving as a food source (i.e. fish, mollusks, etc.) as well as a marine space for eco-tourism which provides economic benefits.[2] Unfortunately, because of human impact of coral reefs, these ecosystems are becoming increasingly degraded and in need of conservation. The biggest threats include "overfishing, destructive fishing practices, and sedimentation and pollution from land-based sources."[3] This in conjunction with increased carbon in oceans, coral bleaching, and diseases, there are no pristine reefs anywhere in the world.[4] In fact, up to 88% of coral reefs in Southeast Asia are now threatened, with 50% of those reefs at either "high" or "very high" risk of disappearing which directly effects biodiversity and survival of species dependent on coral.[5] This is especially harmful to island nations such as Samoa, Indonesia, and the Philippines because many people depend on the coral reef ecosystems to feed their families and to make a living. However, many fisherman are unable to catch as many fish as they used to, so they are increasingly using cyanide and dynamite in fishing, which further degrades the coral reef ecosystem.[6] This perpetuation of bad...
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...Northwestern University, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium Abstract Coral samples were obtained from Shedd Aquarium to investigate the symbiotic relationship between the corals and their zooxanthellae under environmental stress. The zooxanthellae DNA were extracted, amplified, and sequenced. The sequences were then analyzed using Sequencher 5.0 and BioEdit where they were aligned individually and then against other sequences found in previous literature research. The aligned sequences were run in Genbank using the BLAST function to identify the zooxanthellae at the subclade level. Further research into current literature was done with the best matched subclades to our sequences to further investigate the thermal resilience of the zooxanthellae. It was found that thylakoid membrane lipid compositions as well as lipid energy reserves are correlated to bleaching susceptibility. Clade D symbionts have higher lipid energy reserves, allotting for more thermal resilience in comparison to clade C as well as increased abundances in D symbiont types among reefs after bleaching events. Bleaching susceptibility was also found to have variation within clades. More research is needed to fully understand the coral-zooxanthellae relationship and acclimatization under stress. Introduction Coral reefs harbor over a fourth of all marine species and therefore are one of the most biologically diverse systems of the oceans (Gills, 2010). The coral community is comprised of a collection of biological communities...
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...Coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. They occupy less than 1% of the worlds ocean surface, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for 25% of all marine species, including fishes, molluscs, echinoderms and sponges. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, particularly in the Pacific Ocean. Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services to tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection. The annual global economic value of coral reefs has been estimated at $375 billion. It is believed to have emerged more than 540 million years ago. New species originate 50% faster in coral reefs than in any other habitats. The fossil records show that reefs have been remarkably successful in surviving through large environmental disturbances. However the combination of drastic environmental changes that we're seeing today, such as degraded water quality, depleted fish stocks, coral bleaching, ocean acidification and loss of habitat causes them to be under great threat. Coral reefs are perhaps one of the greatest but, least known of wonders of our world. There are three different kinds of coral reefs. There are fringing, barrier, and atoll. Fringing reefs are attached to margins of an island or continent, rough, table like surface, as much as 1 kilometer wide. On their seaward side they slope steeply to the ocean floor. Fringing reefs grow in shallow water near the shore and prefer dry climates with limited river runoff. There are...
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...Climate change implications for the Pacific Islands Across the planet now we see ever more flood, ever more drought, ever more storms. People are dying, communities are being wrecked and local plants and species are being wiped away — the impacts we’re already witnessing from climate change are unlike anything we have ever seen before. There is report that identifies small island states as being the most vulnerable countries of the world to the adverse impacts of climate change. The Pacific is in fact without a doubt one of the world’s most vulnerable regions when it comes to risk of disaster due to climate change, particularly several of the low-lying coral islands. Climate change is already affecting Pacific Islands with dramatic revenue loss across sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forestry, tourism and other industry-related sectors. Some of the projected impacts of climate change on main sectors that specifically apply to the Pacific Islands are listed below. (reference here) Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change, with high temperature levels reducing yields of desirable crops and changes in precipitation patterns increasing crop failures (reference here). Pacific islands are constantly being exposed to these threats of climate change and we have already witnessed the effects of these threats. For example the different weather variations occurring in different parts of the pacific islands, low levels of our crops and forestry production...
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...international policies to help protect coral reefs? Section 1: Coral Reefs are an important ecosystem that our planet needs to function correctly. Coral is a living organism that forms in colonies which can stretch out for hundreds of miles long and are then called coral reefs. These coral reefs are habitats for a large number of marine species. There are about 600,000 km of coral reef worldwide (State of the Reefs). Most reefs today are about 8,000 years old, and there are records of some being as much as 2.5 million years old (Dimitrov). The ecosystems of coral reefs have the “largest (amount) biodiversity per unit of area on earth” (Dimitrov). Scientists have discovered 93,000 coral reef species; however some estimate that there could be from 950,000 to as much as 9 million different species of coral reef (Dimitrov). Coral reefs are the second largest ecosystem next to tropical rainforests on Earth. The deterioration of coral reefs is a huge warning sign for everyone internationally to implement more policies on coral reef conservation. The problem that is happening internationally is the deterioration of coral reefs. Coral reefs are one of the most endangered ecosystems worldwide. For the first time in history they will be included on the World Conservation Union’s red list of threatened species (Oliver). According to the United Nations Environment Program and the Nature Conservancy, “around 30 percent of the world's coral reefs are already damaged, some irreparably...
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...levels of biodiversity (15) Both physical and human factors influence biodiversity. On a global scale, climatic and soil fertility influences affect levels of biodiversity, although often human factors influence biodiversity at a local scale and increasingly globally. Biomes and large scale ecosystems such as coral reefs are influenced by limiting factors such as salinity of water which should remain constant, temperatures between 25 and 29 degrees C and adequate sunlight so turbidity level are low. The Great Barrier reef is home to 5,000 species of molluscs, 1,800 species of fish, 125 species of sharks. The age and size of an ecosystem is important in supporting high levels of biodiversity. On the island of Borneo, a biodiversity hotspot, has a number of endemic species and sustains high levels of biodiversity as there is range of altitudes supporting different niches and the size of the area supports many predators. At the local scale, threats from human activity such as deforestation can severely influence biodiversity levels. In Borneo, pristine rainforest was removed for timber and mineral exploitation and the result was a wasteland of yellow grass with low biodiversity. However, human factors can also benefit biodiversity as replanting of native species fertilized by cow urine has subsequently increased biodiversity in the area and the area has been designated an Orang Utang protected area. Minsmere in Suffolk is an RSPB reserve where biodiversity levels have...
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...3.1.1 Factors influencing biodiversity Globally, biodiversity levels vary widely across land and oceans. Both physical and human factors influence levels of biodiversity and these factors operate at a variety of scales from local to global. Global physical factors such as variations in climate, play a major role in controlling the presence or absence of limiting factors, such as: • Temperature • Availability of light • Humidity • Nutrient supply • etc. An absence of limiting factors leads to high levels of primary productivity and the energy produced leads to high levels of biodiversity. Conversely, where limiting factors are strongly evident, e.g. in cold temperatures such as the Arctic, arid regions like deserts, darkness, etc. this will lead to low levels of biodiversity. The size of the area is another key factor, as the larger the continuous area the more species that can flourish in it. Hence the recent ‘size matters’ mantra, and the creation of huge transnational conservation areas such as the Peace Parks of Africa. Locally, there are numerous factors that may have an impact on biodiversity: • Disturbance from a natural disaster e.g. hurricanes, volcanoes, tsunamis on both land and ocean ecosystems, Asian tsunami 2004 – destroyed some mangrove forests • Quasi-natural disasters, e.g. wildfires (Victoria, Australia 2009), hunting, fishing, slash and burn farming • Eutrophication from high-tech agricultures Physical factors Human factors • Climate, e...
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...iLab #2 - Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Species March 10, 2014 SCI 204 iLab #2 - Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Species Exercise #1- Discuss the producer, consumer and decomposer relationships in this ecosystem after the eruption. List 3 references. After the forests were destroyed by lava and mudflow, producers were completely destroyed and died out. This caused a disruption in the food cycle because then, consumers such as deer had less food supply causing them to starve and die. After a while, the decomposers begin to kick start the cycle for new life, bringing back order. Exercise #2- Discuss any two plant species and any two animal species that are affecting the Everglades. What are the challenges facing the native species and how are they adapting to the changing environment? List 3 references. Plants – Australian pine- This plant was brought over to the Everglades and used for landscaping purposes from South pacific Islands and Australia. The tree’s roots disrupt the nesting of the native creatures such as the American crocs and turtles. Brazilian pepper plant- This pepper tree was brought over from Brazil to market the peppers. As birds ate the seeds, they begin to spread them from their feces. As these trees begin to spread throughout the Everglade, its dense structure allowed it to form concentrated thickets displacing...
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...Acanthaster planci, commonly known as the crown-of-thorns starfish, is one of the largest starfish in the world. Yet, what makes A. planci unique is not just the fact that it is large, but the fact that it has an interesting diet. In particular, A. planci enjoys feeding on the coral reefs that dot the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This in and of itself wouldn’t be very interesting, except for the fact that A. planci is an incredibly efficient predator. In the late 1960’s up to ninety percent of the corals in affected areas off the coast of Guam were completely destroyed by A. planci predation (Colgan 1987). Some adult crown-of-thorns starfish can consume up to one metre squared per month of living corals (Chesher 1969)! A. planci also has a few interesting evolutionary adaptations, including venomous spines and a feeding method that includes everting its stomach through its mouth to digest prey (Ault et al 2011). Fascinatingly, A. planci has a very strange method of sexual reproduction that is based on spawning. Finally, A. planci has been the subject of intensive study over the last few decades, yet we still have no real idea as to what causes major infestations of A. planci, and we have barely any idea of how to control them. In this paper, we plan to spread some light on the life cycle, reproduction, feeding habits, predators, potential human causes, and human impacts of this obscure starfish. The appearance of the crown-of-thorns starfish is characterized by a purplish-blue...
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...Brandon Parezo Environmental Science Research Paper November 23rd, 2011 Maldives The country of Maldives is officially known as the Republic of Maldives, or as many people know of it as the Maldive Islands. It is located in the Indian Ocean, island nation, and the way that it is formed is by a double chain of twenty-six atolls (1). An “atoll” is a coral island that surrounds a “lagoon” partially or completely (1). The major surrounding countries near Maldives are Sri Lanka and India, Maldives is about 430 miles from Sri Lanka and about 250 miles from India (1). The major type/s of topography for Maldives is the fact that it is a cluster of around 1,200 small islands (2). One of the islands consists of just the capital, Male, and another one of the islands serves the purpose of the nation’s airport. Besides those two islands, basically every island serves a single purpose. They have an island just to store their fuel, one for their dump yards, 199 of them for population, and 80 islands that consist of major tourist locations (2). For the Maldive Islands there really only one major language spoken, Dhivehi (1). It is a Indo-European language and it spoken by at least 350,000 people on the islands (1). The present-day script that is used on the islands is called Thanna and what is quite interesting about this is that it is written from right to left, unlike us who go from left to right (1). According to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural...
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...Yamir Ortiz March 26, 2014 Dr. Palestis Biodiversity Discussion Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services “Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services” by Worm et al. 2006, was an interesting paper to read. The article talks about the dangers and the effects humans are having on the marine ecosystems. It also touches on the importance and benefits that diversity has. As we all know, the marine ecosystems of the world have the ability to provide us with an array of different resources, most importantly, food. Because of us, through exploitation, pollution, and habitat destruction there are changes occurring within the biodiversity of the marine ecosystems. There have been observations within estuaries, coral reefs, and coastal and oceanic fishing communities that there is a rapid decrease in population, species, and entire functional groups. Due to diversity between producers and consumers, species are able to overcome/survive more such atrocities by allowing them to be stable and have higher efficiency of resources. When looking at coastal ecosystems, experiments conducted reveled a fast decline in native species since industrialization increased, causing pollution within waters. Systems that contained more diverse and species rich environments showed to be more stable causing them to have lower rates of collapse and extinction over time. When looking at the larger marine ecosystem there has been a larger collapse in the areas that are...
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