NOAA/NSTA Web Seminar: Coral Ecosystems: Impacts to Coral Reefs LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP Thursday, April 10, 2008

Impacts to Coral Reefs Presented by: Kelly Drinnen, Education Specialist NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 1

Watersheds We all live upstream! 2 Impacts to Coral Reefs

Which watershed are you in? Map Courtesy of EPA A B C D

Why should you care? 4 1. You live here 2. Coral reefs are here 3.What happens to the water in between is up to you!

Watershed Impacts Sedimentation Pollution Salinity Debris 5

After Hurricane Rita… 6

What Can You do? Keep soil anchored with vegetation Minimize use of fertilizers and pesticides Dispose of trash properly Conserve water Recycle 7

Let’s pause for two questions… 8

Animal Influences Let the Competition Begin! 9 Impacts to Coral Reefs

What caused the damage to this coral? Sea Urchin Sea Turtle Cheese Grater Fish 10

Grazers & Farmers Parrotfish Damselfish Photos: Joyce & Frank Burek 11

Munchers & Weeders Crown of Thorns Sea Star Sea Urchin Photo: FGBNMS 12

Invasive Species Orange Cup Coral Pacific Thecacera Lionfish Photos: Joyce & Frank Burek 13 Photo: NOAA

Introduced Species Yellow Tail Snapper Sergeant Major Photo: Joyce & Frank Burek Photo: FKNMS 14

15 How Should Invasive Species be Managed?

Recreation Leave Only Bubbles! 16 Impacts to Coral Reefs

Diving & Snorkeling Animal Contact Equipment Photo: FGBNMS Photo: Wicksten 17

Sailing/Boating Anchoring Running Aground Discharge 18 Images & Verse Courtesy of: FKNMS Brown, brown, run aground, White, white, you might, Green, green, nice and clean, Blue, blue, sail on through.

Treasure Hunting Destruction Sedimentation Photos: IFE/URIIAO 19 Bright Bank, NW Gulf of Mexico

Be aware of your environment Don’t anchor on the reef Control your buoyancy Take only pictures Know the rules Don’t touch What Can You Do? 20

Let’s pause for two questions… 21

Industry Cooperation & Collaboration 22 Impacts to Coral Reefs

Fishing Methods –Nets/trawls –Cyanide –Dynamite Species Abundance Photo: Joyce & Frank Burek 23

Fishing Derelict Nets and Ropes NMFS PIFSC CRED 24

Shipping Groundings Anchoring Tow Lines Discharge Debris Photos: FKNMS 25

Oil & Gas Spills Waste Materials Extraction Artificial Reefs

Report… dumping or other illegal activities oil slicks or spills anchored vessels Make informed purchases What Can You Do? 27

Environmental Stress What Next? 28 Impacts to Coral Reefs

Storms Wind & Waves Photos: Joyce & Frank Burek 29

Temperature Bleaching FGBNMS 30 Photos: Joyce & Frank Burek Photo: NOAA

Let’s check out how bleaching conditions are monitored

Satellite Info TUTORIAL:

Satellite Info ED MATERIALS:

Unknown Pathogens Black Band Disease Yellow Band Disease Photos: NOAA 34

What Can We Do? Manage what we can control to reduce stressors on reefs so that they have a better chance to cope with whatever comes their way 35

Human Impacts 36 Natural Impacts Recreation Watersheds Fishing Oil & Gas Weather Shipping Animals Disease

From Impacts to Interventions: We all make a Difference! Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 37

NASA logo Thanks to our presenter, Kelly Drinnen, and to NOAA

Elluminate logo

NLC screenshot

National Science Teachers Association Gerry Wheeler, Executive Director Frank Owens, Associate Executive Director Conferences and Programs Al Byers, Assistant Executive Director e-Learning LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP NSTA Web Seminars Flavio Mendez, Director Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator