The Value of Ecosystems: Coral Reef

By Abidha and Amanie

What is it?
Ecosystem processes are those which link the physical environment to the interacting assemblage of organisms- in this case coral reef ecosystem. A mound or ridge of living coral, coral skeletons, and calcium carbonate deposits from other organisms . Mostly formed in warm shallow sea waters and rise to or near the surface. Coral reefs grow upward from the sea floor as the polyps of new corals cement themselves to the skeletons of other organisms. The resulting structure provides a critical habitat for a wide variety of fish and marine invertebrates. Like all other ecosystems, the reef ecosystems are based on complex food webs. The producers mainly include benthic groups (mainly consisting of corals and their sea grasses and macro-algae) and pelagic groups such as the phytoplankton. Their primary consumers include several kinds of mollusc, sea urchins and fish.

Where is it?

Coral reefs are found in all three of the worlds oceans-where , but only in their tropical regions. This is because they can only survive in clear, warm shallow water, where there is sun exposure. This is needed for photosynthesis.

Coral reefs are fragile ecosystems are found in many pivotal areas such as the Philippines. Due to locations with very high endemism the largest of the three major regions of coral reef development is, by far, the IndoPacific..

Why are they so important?

VALUE OF ECOSYSTEM THREATS TO ECOSYSTEM

Home to over 25% of all known marine fish. Often quite a large percentage of GDP of countries containing reefs- e.g. Tobago- 33% Provides shoreline protection by taking the impact of storms and wave erosion (mangroves) Reef species provide pharmaceutical treatments. Provides food such as conch, lobsters and sea cucumbers. Coral reefs are mined fro lime and stone. Ideal habitat because of warm shallow water, making it very accessible.

Land development such as roads and hotels. Pressures from fishing and tourism. Temperature rise due to global warming causing bleaching of coral reefs. Improvements of agriculture that affect the coral reefs. Natural disasters, such as storms and hurricanes destroy them. Human sewage and run-off toxic discharge damage it.

A focus on... The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, located of the coast of Queensland, Australia. Not only is the Barrier Reef one of the worlds seven wonders, but is also a World Heritage Site and the worlds single biggest structure made up of tiny organisms. Although protected by The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it is under pressure from human impact such as fishing and tourism environmental pressures on the reef and its ecosystem include runoff, climate change accompanied by mass coral bleaching. The Great Barrier Reef supports a diversity of life, including many vulnerable or endangered species, some of which may be endemic to the reef system