DECEMBER 2009
A N N UAL U P D A T E
C ORAL R EEFS
Coral Reef Background Information
Coral reefs are found in shallow water,
ranging to depths of 60 m. Some species
prefer either cooler temperate water
while others are found along tropical
reefs, such as the Great Barrier Reef,
with waters ranging in temperatures
from 18 - 33 °C. Corals reefs are found
throughout the world, reef-building
SCUBA DIVING
EBRYOS
Marshall Brunelle
corals are confined to waters that
exhibit a narrow band of
characteristics. The water must be
warm, clear, and saline. These waters are
almost always nutrient-poor as well.
Physically and mentally, corals have
evolved to take advantage of this unique
environment and thrive. Coral reefs
SCHOOL OF FISH
MAP OF CORAL REEF LOCATIONS
consist of hundreds and thousands of
soft-bodied, invertebrate animals, having
no backbone. These animals are called
coral polyps. Besides coral, there are
hundreds of other organisms and
animals. These live and depend on coral
reefs as protection, shelter, and a good
place to find prey.
ANOTHER REEF

Coral Reefs in the
Near Future
There is a significant ecological changes
underway, include a reduction in calcifying
organisms, and species at higher trophic
levels. sea urchins, starfish and coral-eating
snails will dominate many reefs. These
changes will be associated with a loss of
both net benthic and fisheries production
and inorganic carbonate deposition; this
will reduce reef complexity, species
richness, reef growth and increase
shoreline erosion. Populations of all
species will most likely decrease.
To avert these changes management is
needed at both global and local levels.
Both levels need to reduce greenhouse
gases and other waste emissions and
renew efforts to improve resource
management. Including restrictions on the
use of resources and globalization of
resource trade, run-off and waste
production, and balancing potential reef
production and resource consumption.
Coral Reef
Controversies
In recent years, coral bleaching has been
observed in many places of the world. Up
to 90% of reefs in parts of the Indian
Ocean have been permanently damaged. In
1998 and 2002, 5% of the Great Barrier
Reef was severely damaged in mass
bleaching events. One cause of this is
warmer sea surface temperatures.
Another recent controversy is the idea of
overfishing. Some say that overfishing is
causing too much decrease in populations.
In the mean time others say that fishing at
this rate is needed to help stable the
economy and is slump at this time.
Three Significant
Environmental Problems
OVE R FI S HI N G
AGGRESSIVE FISHING METHODS HAVE
HURT CORAL REEFS SOMETIMES BEYOND
REPAIR. HOWEVER, OVER-FISHING IN
GENERAL IS ALSO A DAMAGING PROBLEM
TO MANY CORAL REEFS AROUND THE
WORLD. OVERFISHING HAS CAUSED A
SHIFT IN THE REEF’S ECOSYSTEM.
OVERFISHING OF CERTAIN SPECIES NEAR
CORAL REEFS CAN EASILY AFFECT THE
REEF'S ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND
BIODIVERSITY. CAUSING THERE TO BE A
SEVER DECREASE IN POPULATIONS.
G LOB AL
WARM I NG
GLOBAL WARMING IS THE MAJOR
ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT WHICH HAS
HARDLY LEFT ANY ASPECT OF THE NATURE
UNTOUCHED. THEY ARE BEING FURTHER
DAMAGED BY UNUSUALLY WARM OCEAN
TEMPERATURES WHICH IS THE RESULT OF
GLOBAL WARMING. THE HEAT AFFECTS THE
TINY ALGAE WHICH LIVE SYMBIOTICALLY
INSIDE THE CORALS AND SUPPLY THEM WITH
FOOD. THE HEAT STRESS DAMAGES THE
ALGAE AND IN CONSEQUENCE LEADS TO
CORAL DEATH.
LAND D E VE LO P M E N T
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, SUCH AS
PIERS, DIKES, CHANNELS, AND AIRSTRIPS
KILL CORALS DIRECTLY. HABITAT
DEGRADATION CAUSES A DECREASE IN
FISH POPULATIONS, AS FISH HAVE FEWER
PLACES TO LIVE AND BREED. REMOVAL OF
SECTIONS OF REEF CAN INDIRECTLY
CAUSE SAND EROSION, LAND RETREAT,
AND SEDIMENTATION. CHANGED WATER
FLOWS AND RUNOFF, CHRONIC
SEDIMENTATION, AND SEWAGE IMPACT
CORAL IMMUNE SYSTEMS, GROWTH
RATES, AND REPRODUCTIVE ABILITIES,
AND CAN KILL CORALS.
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