December 2009

DECEMBER 2009
A N N UAL U P D A T E EBRYOS
C ORAL R EEFS
Marshall Brunelle
MAP OF CORAL REEF LOCATIONS
Coral Reef Background Information

Coral reefs are found in shallow water, corals are confined to waters that consist of hundreds and thousands of
ranging to depths of 60 m. Some species exhibit a narrow band of soft-bodied, invertebrate animals, having
prefer either cooler temperate water characteristics. The water must be no backbone. These animals are called
while others are found along tropical warm, clear, and saline. These waters are coral polyps. Besides coral, there are
reefs, such as the Great Barrier Reef, almost always nutrient-poor as well. hundreds of other organisms and
with waters ranging in temperatures Physically and mentally, corals have animals. These live and depend on coral
from 18 - 33 °C. Corals reefs are found evolved to take advantage of this unique reefs as protection, shelter, and a good
throughout the world, reef-building environment and thrive. Coral reefs place to find prey.
SCUBA DIVING SCHOOL OF FISH ANOTHER REEF

Three Significant
Coral Reefs in the Environmental Problems
Near Future OVE R FI S HI N G
There is a significant ecological changes
underway, include a reduction in calcifying AGGRESSIVE FISHING METHODS HAVE
organisms, and species at higher trophic HURT CORAL REEFS SOMETIMES BEYOND
levels. sea urchins, starfish and coral-eating REPAIR. HOWEVER, OVER-FISHING IN
snails will dominate many reefs. These GENERAL IS ALSO A DAMAGING PROBLEM
TO MANY CORAL REEFS AROUND THE
changes will be associated with a loss of
WORLD. OVERFISHING HAS CAUSED A
both net benthic and fisheries production SHIFT IN THE REEF’S ECOSYSTEM.
and inorganic carbonate deposition; this OVERFISHING OF CERTAIN SPECIES NEAR
will reduce reef complexity, species CORAL REEFS CAN EASILY AFFECT THE
richness, reef growth and increase REEF'S ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND
BIODIVERSITY. CAUSING THERE TO BE A
shoreline erosion. Populations of all
SEVER DECREASE IN POPULATIONS.
species will most likely decrease.
To avert these changes management is
needed at both global and local levels.
Both levels need to reduce greenhouse G LOB AL
gases and other waste emissions and
renew efforts to improve resource WARM I NG
management. Including restrictions on the
use of resources and globalization of
resource trade, run-off and waste GLOBAL WARMING IS THE MAJOR
production, and balancing potential reef ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT WHICH HAS
HARDLY LEFT ANY ASPECT OF THE NATURE
production and resource consumption.
UNTOUCHED. THEY ARE BEING FURTHER
DAMAGED BY UNUSUALLY WARM OCEAN
TEMPERATURES WHICH IS THE RESULT OF
GLOBAL WARMING. THE HEAT AFFECTS THE
Coral Reef TINY ALGAE WHICH LIVE SYMBIOTICALLY
INSIDE THE CORALS AND SUPPLY THEM WITH
Controversies FOOD. THE HEAT STRESS DAMAGES THE
ALGAE AND IN CONSEQUENCE LEADS TO
CORAL DEATH.
In recent years, coral bleaching has been
observed in many places of the world. Up
to 90% of reefs in parts of the Indian LAND D E VE LO P M E N T
Ocean have been permanently damaged. In
1998 and 2002, 5% of the Great Barrier
Reef was severely damaged in mass CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, SUCH AS
bleaching events. One cause of this is PIERS, DIKES, CHANNELS, AND AIRSTRIPS
warmer sea surface temperatures. KILL CORALS DIRECTLY. HABITAT
Another recent controversy is the idea of DEGRADATION CAUSES A DECREASE IN
FISH POPULATIONS, AS FISH HAVE FEWER
overfishing. Some say that overfishing is
PLACES TO LIVE AND BREED. REMOVAL OF
causing too much decrease in populations. SECTIONS OF REEF CAN INDIRECTLY
In the mean time others say that fishing at CAUSE SAND EROSION, LAND RETREAT,
this rate is needed to help stable the AND SEDIMENTATION. CHANGED WATER
economy and is slump at this time. FLOWS AND RUNOFF, CHRONIC
SEDIMENTATION, AND SEWAGE IMPACT
CORAL IMMUNE SYSTEMS, GROWTH
RATES, AND REPRODUCTIVE ABILITIES,
AND CAN KILL CORALS.
Bibliography:
Biology . 1. 1. New York, New York: Glencoe , 2009. 1206. Print.
"The blue legacy;." The Liquid Thinker. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. <http://
liquidthinker.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/the-blue-legacy/>.
International Coral Reef Initiative. Web. 09 Dec. 2009. <http://

www.icriforum.org/secretariat/cold/coldcoral.html>.
"Scuba Diving in Australia, Australia Scuba Diving Resorts, Diving australia,

Australia Diving." Online Travel Guides of Travel Destinations - Las Vegas,
Caribbean, Hawaii and Machu Picchu. Web. 09 Dec. 2009. <http://
www.destination360.com/australia-south-pacific/australia/scuba-diving>.
"One-Third of Caught Fish Wasted on Lifestock." Go Green. Web. 09 Dec.

2009. <http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/green-news/one-third-caught-
wasted/>.
"Main Page." UC Davis School of Education. Web. 09 Dec. 2009. <http://

soe.ucdavis.edu/ms0809/180Sec1/WongJ/Web/Default.html>.

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DECEMBER 2009

MAP OF CORAL REEF LOCATIONS

Coral Reef Background Information

SCUBA DIVING SCHOOL OF FISH ANOTHER REEF

Biology . 1. 1. New York, New York: Glencoe , 2009. 1206. Print.

International Coral Reef Initiative. Web. 09 Dec. 2009. <http://

"Scuba Diving in Australia, Australia Scuba Diving Resorts, Diving australia,

"One-Third of Caught Fish Wasted on Lifestock." Go Green. Web. 09 Dec.

"Main Page." UC Davis School of Education. Web. 09 Dec. 2009. <http://

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