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Coral Reefs These are hard, rocky ridges built up from the sea bed by many tiny coral

animals. They have a solid framework composed of skeletons of corals and various mollusks such as clams, and encrusting organisms including sponge and algae. The conditions necessary for their formation include: Temperature- tropical corals only live in sea water that has an average temperature of 18 o C and over. The ideal temperature is between 23 o C and 25 o C. Light- there must be sufficient light to allow the growth of symbiotic algae which the reefs feed on as well as to permit the process of photosynthesis. Hence , the water must be shallow with depths of up to 50 m Clear Oxygenated Waters- coral reefs survive best in clear unpolluted water, because the presence of sediments in the water affects the corals ability to feed as well as block out sunlight. Hence coral reefs are not generally found close to river mouths. Why Coral Reefs are important Ecosystems. 1. They provide home to over 25 % of all known marine fish and up to 800 species of coral. They are sometimes referred to as the rainforest of the sea. 2. Since they support large numbers of fish, they are important commercial fishing grounds, providing approximately 25% of the developing worlds total fish catch. 3. They act as buffer zones providing vital shoreline protection from storms and tsunamis. The shallow water above a reef forces waves to break early before reaching the mainland shore. This reduces coastal erosion and the risk of flooding. They also provide sheltered conditions for the growth of mangroves. 4. They are popular tourist destinations. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia supports a US$ 1 Billion tourist industry. Many tourists visit the Caribbean to snorkel and scuba dive in coal reef environments. 5. Coral is mined for lime to support the local building industry. Elsewhere coral sand is extracted for the construction industry.

6. Coral reefs have significant medicinal purposes, for instance, algae and sponges which live on the reefs provide bioactive compounds for medicines etc. Types of Coral Reef Fringing Reefs- these are solidly attached to the margins of an island or continent. They have a rough, table-like surface, as much as 1km wide and on their seaward side slope steeply down to the sea floor. They form from the gradual accumulation of coral in ideal environmental conditions close to the coast. Between the reef and the shore is as shallow lagoon that is rich in marine life

Shallow water Channel White Sandy Beach

Fringing Reef

Approx. 1 km A Fringing Reef Barrier Reefs- these lie in deeper water much further out to the sea. They develop where a fringing reef is formed near the coast. However, a relative rise in sea level over thousands of years floods the coastal lowland, crating a much wider body of water between an initial fringing reef and the coast.

Deep Water

Barrier Reef

Gently Sloping Coast

Sea level Rise

Approx. 25 km A Barrier reef

Atoll- this is an isolated ring-shaped reef rising out of deep water. In the centre of an atoll is a lagoon. They form around volcanic islands that subside below sea level as the plate they rest on is carried farther. As subsidence increases the reef organism construct the reef upward so that the living part of the reef remains in shallow water. They began as fringing reefs, then evolved to barrier reefs and finally to atolls. Diagram Required Threats to Coral Reefs

Hurricanes

Starfish

Sea Urchins

Threats to Coral Reefs

Fishing

Tourism

Pollution

1. Global Warming- Zooxanthallae are colourful creatures that co-exist with coral polyps. They become stressed and die out when temperatures rise by just 1-2 o C. Once they die, the coral polyps die and then dead coral then appears bleached white. 2. Hurricanes- storm waves damage the coral reefs and heave rains often wash large amounts of sediment into the seas, clouding the normally clear waters. 3. Plagues of starfish- some starfish species can devastate coral reefs, killing almost 90% of the reef building corals. These starfish are attracted to the nutrients that are washed into the sea from the land, originating from mostly agricultural fertilizers. 4. Sea Urchins- these sea creatures feed on algae thus preventing the coral from growing out of control and swamping the coral. On the other hand, too many sea urchins can destroy the reefs by their excessive burrowing. In Jamaica, disease wiped out large numbers of sea urchins following a hurricane in 1983.

5. Fishing- over fishing in some areas have affected the affected this ecosystem (coral reef) causing population explosions of algae growth and burrowing urchins. Also, the trawl nets and blast fishing methods have severely damaged the reefs physically. 6. Tourism- uncontrolled tourism can lead to damage. If coral is trodden on or scraped by boat anchors it will die. 7. Pollution- pollution resulting from improper disposal of toxic waste and oil spills can severely harm coral reefs Protecting the Coral reefs Many coral reefs are protected from development and action is being taken to reduce damage by pollution, coastal developments and uncontrolled tourism as well as over fishing. However, it is more difficult to deal with the global issues such as global warming which has damaged more than 40% of the Belize Barrier Reef in Belize through bleaching. It is estimated that a further temperature rise of 1 o C could bleach 80% of coral reefs worldwide. Case Study: Coral Reef Protection in Bermuda Bermudas reefs protect the country from storms and hurricanes. The reefs support a rich diversity of life and are important for fishing and tourism Throughout the 1970s the reef was intensively fished and this led to a dramatic reduction in fish stocks, severely affecting the balance of the reef ecosystem. Anchors from fishing boats were also causing physical damage to the reef and additional threats came from pollution, disease and coral bleaching associated with global warming. In 1990, the government closed the pot fishing industry- fishing pots are used to catch reef fish and fishermen were compensated for their losses. Recent research has indicated that populations of reef fish are now increasing. Presently, coral reefs are protected in two coral reef preserves, the south shore coral reef preserve and the north shore coral reef preserve.

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