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My Action Plan

The U.S. has a federal agencies whose whole purpose is to protect the coral reefs, U.S. Coral Reef Task Force. My plan for the C.R. task force would be

  • to map and monitor U.S. coral reefs including those located in national marine sanctuaries, national estuarine reserves, national parks and national wildlife refuges.
  • for each Coral reef protected area will have a specific management plan to benefit that area
  • to develop and carry out research and secure measures necessary for reducing coral reef ecosystem degradation and for restoring damaged reefs
  • to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reef resources worldwide

Coral reefs, the “rainforests of the sea,” are some of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on earth. They occupy only .2% of the ocean, yet are home to a quarter of all marine species: crustaceans, reptiles, seaweeds, bacteria, fungi, and over 4000 species of fish make their home in coral reefs. Coral reefs provide food and resources for over 500 million people in 94 countries and territories. But tragically, coral reefs are in crisis.

Resources

  • https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwi188uxpbrRAhXJ5SYKHbVzB7cQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fdr-reese-halter%2Fcoral-reefs-going-goinggo_b_5157272.html&psig=AFQjCNFq0Ylhvc6J2M47AFPrO2OaGhSh4A&ust=1484230960039912
  • https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.psu.edu%2Fsiowfa16%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F11%2Fcoral-1unblej.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.psu.edu%2Fsiowfa16%2F2016%2F11%2F30%2Fis-the-great-barrier-reef-considered-dead%2F&docid=uSTyczWiJu9ZGM&tbnid=vurxD75aHM3scM%3A&vet=1&w=890&h=668&safe=strict&bih=631&biw=1366&q=Dying%20Coral%20reefs&ved=0ahUKEwjO4ZvzpbrRAhUIdiYKHe0ABmUQMwiaAShiMGI&iact=mrc&uact=
  • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/survival/coral/partners.html
  • http://coralreefsystems.org/content/value-corals
  • https://mesfiji.org/resources/environment/threats-to-coral-reefs-human-impacts

3 (Human) Activies dangerous to Coral Reef ecosystems

What are the Coral Reefs made of?

8

Abiotic and Biotic factors the affect the coral reefs’ health

  • A coral reef is made of thin layers of calcium carbonate
  • Stony corals are the corals primarily responsible for laying the foundations of, and building up, reef structures.
  • Massive reef structures are formed when each individual stony coral organism—or polyp—discharged a skeleton of calcium carbonate.

  • Pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, and diseases are all threats to the survival of coral ecosystems around the globe.
  • Changes in climate and human activities are endangering this ecosystems.
  • Sewage-The discharge of waste from agriculture into coastal waters can result in too much nutrient
  • Tourism is a great industry. However, tourists are not always as educated as we hope. A lot of them come from large cities and towns and have spent very little time around natural environments. Many do end up damaging the coral reefs.
  • Chemcial Pollutants- Agriculture and industry release a variety of chemicals into coastal waters. Pesticides and fertilisers used in agricultural development projects are carried in run off to sea and have been known to take part in coral reef destruction. Pesticides can destroy or damage zooplankton or reef communities. Exposure to chemicals released by spillage from oil tankers, harbours and pipelines has been known to affect reproduction, growth rate and feeding, defensive responses and cell structure in corals. Industrial practices such as mining, dredging and refining all release heavy metals into coastal waters. Some coral species are sensitive to these, although the extent is not yet known.

Benefits of saving the Coral reef ecosystem

3 Symbiotic relationships in the coral reef

  • Creatures found in coral ecosystems are important sources of new medicines being developed to induce and ease labor; treat cancer, arthritis, asthma, ulcers, human bacterial infections, heart disease, viruses, and other diseases; as well as sources of nutritional supplements, enzymes, and cosmetics.
  • Healthy coral reefs have rough surfaces and complex structures that dissolve much of the force of incoming waves.
  • The buffers shorelines from currents, waves, and storms, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion. Coastlines protected by reefs are more stable, in terms of erosion.
  • Coral reefs are essential spawning, nursery, breeding, and feeding grounds for many organisms. In terms of biodiversity, the variety of species living on a coral reef is greater than in any other shallow-water marine ecosystems and is one of the most diverse on the planet.
  • Giant clam and Zooxanthellae- Zooxanthellae are microscopic algae that live within the tissues of a variety of host animals, including giant clams.
  • Giant triton and Hermit crab- When a giant triton dies, its tissues will likely be consumed, organisms evolved to eat dead and decaying organic matter. But the marvelous shell made by the living triton cannot be eaten. Instead, it will quickly be claimed by a hermit crab, which cannot make a shell of its own for protection.
  • Sponge crab and Sea sponge-once the compounds tend to be distasteful and often toxic to predators, the sponges avoid most predation. Sponge crabs exploit this defense by carrying live sea sponges on their backs. And the sponges may benefit, too: By living atop a crab, they no longer have to battle for space.

Saving the Coral Reefs of Bermuda

Olivia Martin || 1st period

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