HW # 107- Complete Coral Reef essay prompt (due Friday) Chapter 11 Exam Friday Warm up List 3 reasons why coral reefs are in danger. Week 32, Day Two
Warm up Response C
Homework Response/Check Did you complete your reading an annotations?
Coral Reefs Facts Article discussion
mccarty_and_peters/coral/C-intro.htm Coral Reefs objects/view.acs?object_id=545
Importance of Coral Reefs 0.2% of world ’ s oceans Habitat for 1/3 of marine fishes Habitat for tens of thousands of other animals The rainforests of the oceans
Importance of Coral Reefs PROTECTION TO COASTLINES ECONOMIC RESOURCES BIODIVERSITY NATURAL BEAUTY
Importance of Coral Reefs PROTECTION TO COASTLINES – absorb energy of ocean waves – reduce erosion of shoreline – storm damage – flooding
Importance of Coral Reefs ECONOMIC RESOURCES – Fisheries for food – Fisheries for jobs – Tourism – Building materials – Aquarium trade
Importance of Coral Reefs BIODIVERSITY – The rainforests of the sea – Genetic diversity – Pharmaceuticals
Importance of Coral Reefs NATURAL BEAUTY florida2/background/coralspawning.html
$375 billion in environmental goods and services Reefs at Risk 1998 (
Caribbean reef values (annual net benefits in 2000) Fisheries: $310 million Dive tourism: $2.1 billion Shoreline protection: $ billion Total: $ billion
REEFS WORLDWIDE ARE THREATENED 11% of reefs have been lost 16% of reefs severely damaged ~60% of studied reefs threatened by human activities No pristine reefs left
CARIBBEAN REEFS DECLINING 1970s: ~50% coral cover Present: ~10% coral cover =80% reduction in coral cover over last 30 years Gardner et al Science 301:
Threats to coral and coral reefs: 1) Natural 2) Anthropogenic –of human origin
Natural disturbances that affect corals and coral reefs? Hurricanes Tsunamis Volcanoes Earthquakes Predators & competitors Bleaching Pathogens
Hurricanes Physical damage hugo.html Destruction of other ecosystems upon which coral reefs depend Freshwater poisoning Smothering
Tsunamis Physical damage Possible disruption of reproduction and recruitment Erosion
Volcanoes Depends upon where volcano occurs current_volcs/montserrat/montserrat.html smothering and sedimentation Heat
Earthquakes Little direct impact -coastal landslides Indirect impacts -triggers tsunamis
Predators crown of thorns starfish snails parrotfish butterflyfish cot-starfish/pages/cot-q07.html
Competitors algae
Loss of zooxanthellae causes – higher than usual ocean temperature – sharp changes in salinity – heavy UV light exposure mccarty_and_peters/coral/Bleach.htm
Pathogens Diseases on the rise – new pathogens (8+) – land pathogens (Aspergillus) – occurring at all depths – More susceptible when stressed homepages/mccarty_and_peters/ coral/Bbd.htm
Threats to coral and coral reefs: 1) Natural 2) Anthropogenic –of human origin
Anthropogenic threats to coral reefs: Overfishing Development Mining and dredging Recreation
Overfishing Ecological imbalance ef/reef2570.htm
Overfishing Ecological imbalance
nts/coral/coral5.htm Overfishing Destructive fishing practices
Development Sediment smothering Freshwater input Pollutants & nutrients (sewage, pesticides, fertilizer, heavy metals, pathogens)
al_mangrove/coral.danger.html ccarty_and_peters/coral/c-intro.htm Development
Mining for construction materials and dredging Destruction of reef structure stirs up sediment
Recreation Anchors, boats, flippers, hands, feet Kill animal tissue Skeleton breakage bitat/influences.html
interaction of natural changes & human activity multiple insults Synergistic effects
Global climate change Reduced reef building Increase in frequency and intensity of hurricanes Increases in bleaching Increased in disease
CORAL DOMINATED ALGAL DOMINATED Synergistic effects
OVERFISHING HURRICANE ALLEN 1980 ACROPORA DIE-OFF 1980S DIADEMA DIE-OFF 1983 JAMAICA
MORE ALGAE NO GRAZERS LESS CORAL PHYSICAL DAMAGE ALGAL DOMINATED SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS JAMAICA
PROTECTION SINCE 1961 ACROPORA DIE-OFF 1980S DIADEMA DIE-OFF 1983 HURRICANE HUGO 1989 HURRICANES MARILYN/LUIS 1995 BUCK ISLAND, ST. CROIX
PROTECTION LITTLE OVERFISHING DISEASE PHYSICAL DAMAGE CORAL DOMINATED BUCK ISLAND, ST. CROIX