The Disappearing Coral Reef
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The Disappearing Coral Reef. Healthy Reef : biodiversity, brightly colored healthy coral Dead/Dying Reef : coral bleaching, limited flora and fauna (wait for video to load). Carysfort Reef. 1975. 1985. So, Why Are Reefs Important. Densest and most varied ecosystem on Earth
The Disappearing Coral Reef
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Presentation Transcript
Healthy Reef : biodiversity, brightly colored healthy coral Dead/Dying Reef : coral bleaching, limited flora and fauna (wait for video to load)
Carysfort Reef 1975 1985
So, Why Are Reefs Important • Densest and most varied ecosystem on Earth • Rain Forest of the ocean • Home to 25% of all marine life • Beginning of the marine food chain • Coral Reefs cover only 0.07% - 0.2% of ocean floor
And the Problem Is? • 27% have been lost • 60% are at serious risk • 32% could be lost in next 20 years • It’s predicted that in as little as 50 years ALL coral reefs could be dead
Natural Coral Reefs of Florida http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/coral.htm
Coral Bleaching www.gbrmpa.gov.au www.science.uts.edu.au
What’s Killing the Coral • Natural Stressors • Diseases • Black Band • White Band • White Plague • Aspergillosis • Predators • Diadema (urchins) • COTs (starfish) • Drupella (snail) • Weather Events
Localized Anthropogenic Stressors (That’s things we do) • Boating • Fishing • Overfishing • Poisoning/Bombing • Collecting • Tropical Fish • Coral Mining • Diving • Devastation of Mangrove Forests
Global Stressors • Silting • Fertilizer Run-off • Effluent Discharge • Industrial Pollution • Global Warming • Increased sea temperature • Increased ocean depth
What’s Being Done on a Global Scale • 2008 declared International Year of the Reef • 2006 – Bush designated 140,000 Sq Mi off Hawaii as a National Marine Sanctuary • International Coral Reef Initiative
What can I do? • Educate yourself and your friends • Reduce your CO2 footprint • Become an informed consumer • Become active in reef protection/restoration organizations • http://www.reefrelief.org/ • http://www.seacology.org/ • http://www.coralreef.gov/ • http://www.projectaware.org
Credits and References • Video compliments of: http://www.reefvid.org • http://www.solcomhouse.com/greatbarrierreef.htm • http://www.reefcheck.org • http://www.reef.org • http://www.coral.org
Please help protect my home Questions ??