1. The slide show was designed and produced for the NMA by STEP, the
Science Training &
Education Partnership
Training &
Science
Education
Partnership
The material in this slide show is provided free for educational use only. All other forms of storage or reproduction are subject to copyright- please contact the National Marine Aquarium

2. Reefs at risk:
threats to coral reefs

3. Coral reefs in tropical seas are the richest habitats in the ocean
However, they face increasing threats from natural and man-made causes

4. The value of coral reefs
Impacts on coral reefs
Summary
Coral reef conservation

5. The value of coral reefs
Impacts on coral reefs
Summary
Coral reef conservation

6. Coral reefs are the most varied marine communities
They have been compared to tropical rainforests
Dave Peake

7. Reefs contain many more species than the neighbouring ocean

8. The Great Barrier Reef occupies 0.1% of the ocean area of the planet
NASA
The Great Barrier Reef occupies 0.1% of the ocean area of the planet
It is made up of 2900 separate reefs, which contain 360 species of hard corals
Dave Peake

9. The Great Barrier Reef occupies 0.1% of the ocean area of the planet
NASA
The Great Barrier Reef occupies 0.1% of the ocean area of the planet
It is home to 1500 species of fish - 8% of the world total

10. The Great Barrier Reef occupies 0.1% of the ocean area of the planet
NASA
The Great Barrier Reef occupies 0.1% of the ocean area of the planet
It protects important coastal habitats such as mangrove and seagrass beds
Barrier reefs are important in protecting coastal communities, many of which are important in the ecology of endangered or commercially-important species

11. The Great Barrier Reef occupies 0.1% of the ocean area of the planet
NASA
The Great Barrier Reef occupies 0.1% of the ocean area of the planet
It is an important breeding area for many endangered species
STEP

12. Coral reefs are an important source of food for many people
Coral reefs provide fish and other marine resources for many people in developing countries
Dave Peake

13. Reef animals may be important for human health
Natural drugs
Use of coral to repair bones
Corals and other reef animals have been screened for compounds including anti-cancer drugs
Coral tissue has been used as the basis for bone grafts
Dave Peake

14. Coral reefs are great places for a holiday!
Dave Peake

15. Tourist visits to reefs gives half of the national income of some Carribean countries
Dave Peake

16. The value of coral reefs
Impacts on coral reefs
Summary
Coral reef conservation

17. Coral reefs can be affected by natural and man-made changes
Dave Peake

18. Natural changes include:
Tropical storms and hurricanes
Freshwater flooding from the land
‘Predator plagues’ and other changes in the coral ecosystem
Earthquakes and tidal waves
There are many natural threats to coral reefs. They are vulnerable to natural disasters such as tropical storms.
Some predators which normally co-exist with the corals. However, there are occasions when populations of these predators expand rapidly, and cause enormous damage. The best-known example is the Crown-of-thorns starfish - see next slide
Other changes can affect coral. A disease which reduced the number of sea-urchins caused reduction in coral numbers, because the urchins normally prevent algae overgrowing the corals

19. Sometimes, very large numbers of the crown-of-thorns starfish can damage large areas of reef by eating the coral

20. Habitats like coral reefs that are close to the coast are most affected by human activity
By the year 2020, 75% of the world’s human population will live within 60 kilometres of sae coasts or estuaries

21. Human impacts on coral reefs include:
Pollution
Addition of agricultural fertilizers
Removal of coral for building and making cement
Addition of sediment
Over-fishing
Destructive fishing methods
Climate change

22. Tourism may encourage building close to the coast in areas where sewage treatment and pollution control are poor
Dave Peake

23. River flow from the land can carry fertilizers, pesticides and sediment - stopping coral growth but encouraging algae
Land use in coastal areas has a strong impact on coral reefs. Deforestation can increase the amount of sediment carried in rivers. Mining operations introduce toxic materials. Agriculture adds fertilizers and pesticides.

24. Coral reefs are a valuable source of food fish - but many are over-fished and survival of some species is threatened
Exploitation of fish has shifted from local subsistence to large-scale commercial operations. This means that more fish are taken, and more environmental damage is associated with the fishery
Dave Peake

25. Large fishing gear and dynamite-fishing cause extensive damage to coral reefs

26. Cyanide poison may be used to catch live fish for the aquarium trade - this kills the coral and other animals
Cyanide is used to imobilise fish, which can then be taken easily by hand. These fish are often destined for the aquarium trade, but they may only survive a few weeks. The cyanide causes extensive damage to the corals, and to other animals that remain on the reef

27. 10% of coral reefs are already damaged
60% are under threat from human activities

28. This figure and the next are taken from a report entitled ‘Reefs at Risk’, published by the World Resources Institute. The report set out to collate data on reefs worldwide, based on known and probable threats from human activities

29. Most of the threats to coral reefs come from over-exploitation and coastal development

30. The colour codes on the histogram bars correspond to the sectors in the pie chart in the preceding figure

31. Climate change may have a more important effect on corals
Small increases in summertime water temperature causes the corals to lose the algal cells from their bodies
Corals expel their symbiotic algae in response to to temperature increases of 1-2 degrees above normal. This can be reversed - the corals will acquire new algae when the water cools again. However, coral bleaching can cause long-term changes in a reef. Algae will quickly colonise bleached coral
Dave Peake

32. The value of coral reefs
Impacts on coral reefs
Summary
Coral reef conservation

33. Protecting coral reefs involves many different approaches and many different people
Dave Peake

34. Making marine parks involves informing local people and tourists
The brochure was produced for a marine park established in Malaysia. The project, funded by several conservation bodies and by the EU, set out to provide a balance between protection and the sustainable use of the system by locals and tourists. More on the Marine Conservation Society’s web site
brochure: Marine Conservation Society

35. Tourism can be used to inform, and can provide money for conservation projects
Responsible tourism minimises damage to reefs, and provides funding for projects to improve the reef environment
Dave Peake

36. Alternatives are needed for damaging fishing methods
Aquaculture has been established as an alternative to capture fisheries
By encouraging a responsible attitude by the aquarium trade in the developed world, there has been some decrease in practices like cyanide fishing. Trade in coral and shells as curios has decreased
Trade in reef fish and curios can be regulated
Dave Peake

37. Coral reefs are too valuable to lose!
Dave Peake

38. The value of coral reefs
Impacts on coral reefs
Summary
Coral reef conservation

39. You have seen that -
Coral reefs contain many important species
Reefs are important for fisheries and tourism

40. You have seen that -
Coral reefs are under threat from human activities
60% of reefs are at risk

41. You have seen that -
Human use of coral reefs needs to change
Preserving coral reefs needs money and education

42. www.justaddh2o.tv www.national-aquarium.co.uk NOTES for USERS
The material in this slide show is designed to support the teaching of science at Key Stage 1
A full description of the slide show, and linked activities for students, can be found on the National Marine Aquarium (NMA) web-site:
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except where acknowledged separately
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The slide sequence contains the minimum of effects and transitions. However, there are some automated animations, and teachers will wish to make sure that they are familiar with the sequence before use in class
Use the PowerPoint notes viewer to obtain additional information for some slides