Coral Reefs Essay - 1309 Words

Coral Reefs Coral reefs are arguably the world’s most beautiful habitats. Coral reefs have been called the rainforests of the oceans, because of the rich diversity of life they support. Scientists have not yet finished counting the thousands of different species of plants and animals that use or live in the coral reef. There are three types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs are located close to shore, separated from land by only shallow water. Barrier reefs lie farther offshore, separated from land by lagoons more than ten meters deep. Atolls, on the other hand, are formed far offshore and they make a ring-shaped reef that close a circular lagoon. Coral reefs are the largest biological†¦show more content†¦This in turns effects the entire ecosystem of the ocean. Pollution by humans have directly or indirectly caused the death of 5%-10% of the world’s living reefs, according to marine biologist Clive Wilkinson of the Australian Instit ute of Marine Science. This estimate didn’t take in global warming and ozone depletion as a factor. The pollution is caused by fisheries, oil spills, deforestation, tourists, and even reckless divers. The problems which are getting even bigger is the problem of deforestation and reckless divers. In the watershed of Bacuit Bay in the Philippines, deforestation increased erosion into the bay by more that 200 times.(Futurists, 1995) One of the biggest threats to coral reefs are tourists. Last year alone over 1.2 million tourists visited the Great Barrier Reef. (Star-Bulletin, 1995) The tourists are not only fisherman and devoted divers they are also scientists who wanted to see the enormous reef. Every year the numbers of visitors increase by 10%. It has brought many resorts to the area who also want to get into fun and making a little money in the $1 billion business. Even the hotels and the motels pollute the reefs by their drainage and sewage pipes. This is causing a huge problem in coastal tourism which is the world’s fastest growing industry, worth over $7 billion annually in the Caribbean.(Star-Bulletin, 1995) Marine Scientists are really worried of how much longer the reef can survive with all these visitors to theShow MoreRelatedCoral Reefs And Coral Reef1180 Words   |  5 Pages Coral reefs in Belize have declined in abundance over the past decade. The reefs have experienced massive losses due to many local and global stressors such as bleaching, disease, sewage, overfishing, climate change, and tourism damage. After Hurricane Iris in 2001, the coral reef in Belize was left for the dead due to no growth. Direct impacts such as hurricanes are associated with the loss of architectural complexity of coral habitats. The loss of this coral reef complication drives the declineRead MoreThe Reefs And Its Effects On The Coral Reefs1608 Words   |  7 Pagesthere are many coral reefs. This island I chose to look at, is called Desecheo Island or Isla de Desecheo. It s just of the coast of Puerto Rico. The coral reefs in the island are continental reefs according to geomorphologists( people who study physical features of the Earth’s surface). It is a fringing reef around the coast of the island and a shelf reef beyond that. In the fringing reef, the depth of th e reef is mixed between shallow and deep. When it gets near the shelf reef areas, the depthRead MoreCoral Reefs : The Ecosystem860 Words   |  4 PagesCoral reefs are an essential component to the ecosystems in Hawaii. Coral reefs are comprised of numerous Cnidarian species that grow sympatrically to form structured colonies. Coral reef colonies support a wide range of marine wildlife. The marine animals utilize coral reefs as their habitat, as a source of food, and as a catalyst for community interactions. Coral reef communities that are well established are known to be highly biodiverse. Coral reefs are known as the tropical rainforests of theRead MoreImminent Threats to Coral Reefs996 Words   |  4 PagesCoral reefs are fragile ecosystems, and even a slight change in their marine habitat could drastically impact the corals, and other marine life too. One of the main threats to the reefs is climate change. As global warming occurs through out the world, the ocean waters will also start to get warmer, which is what is known as ocean warming. Even 2 degrees Celsius change in the water can have a massive impact on the corals. This is because the corals can feel this slight change and will start to feelRead MoreCoral Reefs Essay722 Words   |  3 PagesCoral reefs are very diverse ecosystems. They are â€Å"the rainforest of the sea†. Coral reefs can be very big or very small. The Great Barrier Reef (Australia) is 1,600 miles long and 40 miles wide. They are very important for o ur ocean, they provide food and home for many of the fish in the ocean. For some fish, coral reefs are the only viable food source or shelter they have. Coral reefs are very important. Coral reefs are made by individual coral that join together to form a coral colony. EachRead MoreCoral Reef Degradation : Impact On People920 Words   |  4 PagesCoral Reef Degradation: Impact on People Coral reefs are sometimes referred to as the â€Å"rainforest of the sea.† They are the home to a large group of different marine animals. Other than upholding biodiversity, coral reefs act as a natural barrier that protects coastal areas from hurricanes and erosion; allurement for tourism that provides new jobs and income to economies; are new probable medication for treatments such as many illnesses and diseases. Coral reefs act as a natural barrier that protectsRead MoreThe Human Impacts Of Coral Reefs Essay1383 Words   |  6 Pagesless than 1% of the world oceans, the coral reefs are ancient animals comprising of thin calcium carbonate deposits within the photic layer. Aside from its biologically diverse ecosystems, coral reefs are major source of food for millions and provides habitats and nursery areas for many marine organisms. Coral reefs also act as a physical buffer to protect the coastlines from tropical storms and erosion. In addition, many local communities rely on coral reefs to generate an income through activitiesRead MoreCoral Reefs Need Help2489 Words   |  10 Pagestaking care of endangered coral reefs now! World government leaders should establish laws to protect them. People may ask, â€Å"If coral reefs are in such danger, why don’t we fix the problem since they provide benefits for the whole world?† Frankly, it’s not that simple. Protecting enda ngered coral reefs will provide the whole world with long lasting benefits. To figure out how to solve the problem, we must start with the benefits they provide for humans and nonhumans. Coral reefs support 128 corallivorousRead MoreThe Endangerment Of Coral Reefs1685 Words   |  7 Pagesof Coral Reefs When people, tourists especially, ask themselves what is one of the most memorable moments they have experienced in the Florida Keys, the first thing that comes to mind is the ocean. Not only the ocean in general, but what is beyond, or in other words, â€Å" what is beneath?†. Far in the aquamarine water there is another world that people do not even know about, where many different species of life come together and form a place of peace and beauty. This world is called a coral reefRead MoreEssay on â€Å"The Sad Fate of Coral Reefs†1077 Words   |  5 Pageslies with the â€Å"Rainforests of the Sea†, the coral reefs. Coral reefs are the most diverse and biologically richest of all marine ecosystems. As with almost every ecosystem and its members, coral reefs provide several ecosystem services. For instance, coral reefs serve as natural barriers against hurricanes and catastrophic storm surges, their chemicals may treat diseases, and they are a nitrogen fixation. On of the most important functions of coral reefs are that they are a major source of food for