Sitemaker. Fishing Industries effects on Coral Reefs. Fishing industries Effects on Coral Reefs. University of Michigan. (Date Accessed: February 14,2013.) www.sitemaker.umich.edu .
Coral reefs are considered to be the oceans’ tropical rainforests. Although they only cover one percent of the ocean floor, they provide a habitat for approximately 25% of all marine life (Painting 2011). So many different species live in coral reefs because they provide both a source of food (directly or indirectly) and give shelter to organisms. Coral reefs also give humans living on tropical coasts a food supply. The thousands of species of fish living in these reefs feed millions of people every year (NOAA 2008).
When a coral undergoes a sharp change in temperature, light, or nutrients, they release the algae living in their tissue, a process called coral bleaching (NOAA 2013). In a well supported and safe habitat, corals are fine. However, with new human made factors including global warming and pollution, coral reefs are bleaching more and more, causing both the coral, and the organisms living in the reef to die (Shah 2011).
One human cause that allows for coral reefs to bleach is deforestation. When trees are cut down for agriculture or infrastructure, the soil on the ground is no longer supported (UWA 2012). This allows for the soil, when it rains, to erode into streams and rivers and eventually, the ocean. Once in the ocean, the soil settles on top of coral reefs, causing the coral to suffocate (Busch Gardens 2002). With the soil sitting over the corals, the corals will react from the significant change in their environment by releasing the algae that is in there tissue and become bleached (NOAA 2013).
In the past four years, ten percent of the world’s coral reefs have died with 25% seriously suffering (Hub Pages 2011). Estimates have been made that within fifty years; only 20% of the world’s coral reefs will be left (University of Michigan).
Healthy Coral
Beinecke, F. (2010) Global Coral Bleaching Another Sign of Global Warming. Switchboard. NRDC. (February 12, 2013.) http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/fbeinecke/global_coral_bleaching_another.html.
Bleached Coral
Lemmens, C. (2010) More Coral Bleaching, this Time Around Koh Tao. PADI IDC. (Date Accessed: February 12, 2013.) http://www.pa-divingidc.com/2010/07/more-coral-bleaching-this-time-around.html
Work Cited :
Anthropophobia. (December 2, 2011) Destruction of Coral Reefs. HubPages. (Date Accessed: February 14, 2013.) www.hubpages.com .
Busch Gardens. (2002) Longevity and Causes of Death. Sea World/ Busch Gardens Information Database. Sea World/ Busch Gardens. (Date Accessed; February 14, 2013.) www.buschgardens.org .
Destination-Scuba. (2009) Coral reef destruction is threatening our world’s oceans. Destination-Scuba. (Date Accessed: February 14, 2013.) www.destination-scuba.com
Exploring the Environment. (March 8, 2004) Coral Reefs. Exploring the Environment. Exploring the Environment. (Date Accessed: February 14, 2013.) www.ete.cet.edu .
NOAA. (January 11, 2013) When Corals are stressed by changes in temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white. NOAA. NOAA. (Date Accessed: February 14, 2013.) www.oceanservice.noaa.gov .
NOAA. Coral Reefs- An important Part of our Future. NOAA. NOAA. (Date Accessed: February 14, 2013.) www.noaa.gov .
Radford, T. (September 6, 2001) Coral Reefs ‘face total destruction within 50 years’. The Guardian. The Guardian. (Date Accessed: February 14, 2013.) www.guardian.co.uk/ .
Sitemaker. Fishing Industries effects on Coral Reefs. Fishing industries Effects on Coral Reefs. University of Michigan. (Date Accessed: February 14,2013.) www.sitemaker.umich.edu .
Shah, A. (January 16, 2011)Coral Reefs. Global Issues. Global Issues. (Date Accessed: February 14, 2013.) www. globalissues.org .
University News. (August 3, 2012) Ancient Coral Reefs at risk from deforestation and land use practices. University News. The University of Western Australia. (Date Accessed: February 14, 2013.) www.news.uwa.edu.au/ .
