Bleaching Away the Beauty of Coral Reefs - 2340 Words

Bleaching Away the Beauty of Coral Reefs Pretend you are about to go scuba diving in the ocean. You jump in the water and begin to sink down. As you start surveying the coral reefs around you, something catches your eye. The coral has turned white, and no longer moves with life. This whiteness seems to have spread over a large area of the reef. You no longer see the colorful branches swaying in the current, or the schools of tropical fish swimming through the leaves. This death-ridden reef will never have the same life it once had. This phenomenon is known as coral reef bleaching. This makes corals unattractive and lifeless. The biodiversity of a reef is important to the ecosystem. There are different organizations that have†¦show more content†¦Lastly, the loss of coral will affect the successional stages of algae, which is important to the ecology of reef fishes. The loss will open up space, reduce the intensity of herbivory and, therefore, lead to colonization of the reef benthos by late-successional frondose algae. A dominance of frondose algae lowers benthic production and increases covers of the less palatable algae. The result is the reduced abundance of fish diversity (Rosenberg 165). These three effects all impact the biodiversity that thrives among reefs. It is very important to protect the reefs from dangers. In 1998, there were some experiments conducted to test these three ideas to see which one is the biggest factor is the problems with fish and fisheries. An increase in surgeonfish which supports the increased organic production idea. There was also a loss of damselfish, butterflyfish, and wrasse which supports the loss of fish hypothesis. The decrease in damselfish numbers in fished reefs exhibited both positively and negatively to increased algae. The bleaching phenomena can be used as a sentinel for the environment. It serves as an indicator of environmental stress. There still is no single cause for bleaching. D amage is already come and gone before bleaching is noticed. Observers must do retrospective analysis based on limited environmental data ( Rosenberg 402). Other effects of coral reef bleaching are its effect on tourism (Ray 214). ThereShow MoreRelated Bleaching Away the Beauty of Coral Reefs Essay2308 Words   |  10 Pagesstart surveying the coral reefs around you, something catches your eye. The coral has turned white, and no longer moves with life. This whiteness seems to have spread over a large area of the reef. You no longer see the colorful branches swaying in the current, or the schools of tropical fish swimming through the leaves. This death-ridden reef will never have the same life it once had. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This phenomenon is known as coral reef bleaching. This makes corals unattractive andRead MoreMyles Lawary. 4-4-17. Mrs.O’Connor. Marine Science..1216 Words   |  5 Pages Barrier Reef The Barrier Reef is the largest reef in the world, and it is located in Australia. It is made up of different types of coral and fish, but sadly the reef is bleaching. Bleaching is the process of water temperatures getting too warm and as a result coral reefs can bleach. When water gets too warm, corals will get rid of the algae living inside their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. Although, when coral reefs turn white this does not meanRead MoreThe Greatest Significance Of The Great Barrier Reef1605 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the world. It extends more than 1,300 miles through the coral sea off northeastern Australia and it is even visible from outer space. It is also home to more than 400 types of coral and 1,500 species such as the tropical fish, birds, dolphins, and reptiles. The reef is not only home to the coral but it is also breeding ground for humpback whales and a habitat for endangered species. The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a protected site by theRead More219 Module Two Google Earth Exercises Student Essay1170 Words   |  5 Pagesallowing animals there to evolve separately. Great Barrier Reef,  Australia   Chapter 5. Corals are an outstanding example of symbiosis, in which a coral polyp (an animal) and an alga (which photosynthesizes) live together and benefit each other. Together, these partners build some of the largest structures created by any living organism. The Great Barrier Reef  is the longest coral reef in the world. Coral reefs are renowned for the diversity, beauty, and the economic importance of the fish and other organismsRead MoreEssay on Aquatic Ecosystems: Coral Reefs1178 Words   |  5 Pagesway. Coral reefs, for example, may seem insignificant to the majority of people who don’t live near the coast of any continent, but provide so much to us that we need to focus more closely on how any change may impact them and, in turn, all of mankind. For over two million years the ocean’s coral reefs have been the root for many aquatic ecosystems (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Many people may think of coral as rock formations and never fully realize that coral are living creatures. The coral reefsRead More The Coral Reefs Essay1559 Words   |  7 PagesThe Coral Reefs Can we save â€Å"Tropical Rain Forests of the Ocean†? Anyone who’s ever scuba dived at a coral reef and seen the perfect handprint of dead coral can appreciate how fragile and delicate this ecosystem is. Coral reefs are not just rock, like some people believe, but are an animal. Corals are a type of animal called a polyp, the simplest of predators that eat meat in the form of drifting zooplankton†¦all corals have boarders, zillions of microscopicRead MoreBird Species in Belize Essay1585 Words   |  7 Pagesin Belize. In a presentation by Angel Shavalier, she spoke about the coral climate changes. Discoveries have liked global temperature increase to radiation and fossil fuels. Impacted by these changes are increasing pH and carbon levels, creating dangerous environment changes. When the ocean acidifies, any shelled animal are extremely sensitive to it and it alters their life cycles. Belize holds the second largest coral reefs, and about half have been bleached due to abnormally high temperaturesRead MoreMy Country the Maldives1803 Words   |  8 Pagesa series of disasters in the past few years including the coral bleaching wrought by el Nià ±o and the horror of the 2004 tsunami. Indeed, so superior are its beaches, so cobalt blue its waters and so warm its welcome that the country has become a byword for paradise whether it be for honeymooners, sun worshippers or divers. A geological eccentricity nestled in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives are a series of ancient coral reefs that grew up around the sides of towering prehistoric volcanoesRead MoreOil Drilling And Its Effects On The Environment Essay2241 Words   |  9 Pagesit is incredible. There is so much diversity and beauty some of which has not yet been discovered. Coral reefs happen to be one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth where many species know them as home. Along with their incredible beauty and diversity, coral reefs happen to be at risk of extinction, â€Å"†¦coral reefs, the so-called rainforests of the sea, which are the most diverse marine ecosystems and among the most threatened† (0215). Coral reefs are at risk and they are only one of the few ecosystemsRead More Shipping and the Great Barrier Reef Essay4636 Words   |  19 PagesShipping and the Great Barrier Reef Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is an unparalleled marine ecosystem that holds rank as one of the world’s most valuable natural wonders. The abundance of sea life offers both intrinsic and physical benefits, but unfortunately this extraordinary habitat is now threatened from several different angles. One of the greatest threats to the GBR is the presence of popular shipping routes which surround and penetrate the reef. These ships naturally pollute