The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef

Biodiversity

Climate Change

by Alex Rehberger

BISC 102

Fall 2013

• 400 types of coral
• coral sponges
• mollusks
• rays
• over 1500 species of tropical fish
• over 200 types of birds
• 20 types of reptiles

• Not an impending threat
• Corals that bleached in the 90's have returned to normal
• Corals have survived hotter and colder temperatures
• Ocean acts as a buffer for changing acidity levels

About the Reef

• One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
• 1800 Miles long
• Australia's Queensland Coast
• 2,000 species and counting

Pesticide Runoff

• Still being researched by scientists
• Current levels are legal under Australian Marine or Freshwater Quality Guideline Values
• Concern: prolonged exposure to constant levels of toxins

Functions

Dangers Facing the Great Barrier Reef

Tourism

Supports endangered species: dugong and sea turtle

• 820 operators
• 1500 boats & aircraft
• Revenue: $4-5bil AUD
• Tours
• Snorkeling
• Scuba Diving
• Resorts & Beaches

Breeding ground for humpback whales and green sea turtles

Politics

Coal Industry

Expansion

• Extreme concern
• Increased shipping, dredging, and dumping will destroy sections of the Reef
• Reef will lose World Heritage Site status

• Port & shipping expansion
• 100 million tons of waste
• 3 million tons of dredged soil
• Dumping Fee
• World Heritage Site Boundaries & Reclassification
• Abbott: controls & protections infringe on citizens' rights

World Heritage Site

• Protection
• Research
• Special Interests

What Can Americans Do?

Save The Great Barrier Reef!

• UNESCO
• Greenpeace
• Travel
• Awareness

Images

http://sergetheconcierge.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341bf71853ef01538eed022b970b-800wi

http://www.etravelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Great_Barrier_Reef_Biodiversity.jpg

http://www.lovethesepics.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Diving-in-Australia-turtle-at-Great-Barrier-Reef.jpg

http://ian.umces.edu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/dugong_grazing.jpg

http://www.great-barrier-reef.com/tours/quicksilver-wavepiercer-t1/agincourt-reef-2443.jpg

http://www.astronomy2009.org/static/archives/images/screen/worldHeritage.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Tony_Abbott_-_2010.jpg

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/682/cache/underwater-scientist-great-barrier-reef_68250_600x450.jpg?01AD=3Trj_UTam8XwpZMcbVTZLioZEv-toSQGsk0LHi9C8FgNAwIRaiOwVwA&01RI=428088CF14833CD&01NA=

http://secondglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Great-Barrier-Reef-Holiday-Reef-Fish.jpg

Sources

"About The Great Barrier Reef." The Great Barrier Reef. Web. 14 Nov 2013. <http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/about.php>.

Algus, Kym (2012, Jul 13). "QLD:Conservatives Ready to Rule: Abbott." AAP General News Wire. Web. 14 Nov. 2013 .

“Barrier Reef at Grave Risk From New Deal” (2013, Oct 18). Targeted News Service. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://search.proquest.com/docview/1442909669?accountid=14749>.

"A Decision on A Massive Dredging Project" (2013, Aug 10) Northern Daily Leader. 16. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

“Great Barrier Reef At Crossroads: UN” (2012, Mar 06). Asia Pulse. 14 Nov. 2013 <http://search.proquest.com/docview/926253166?accountid=14749>.

"Great Barrier Reef Facts.” The Great Barrier Reef. Web. 14 Nov 2013.

<http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/about.php>.

Lloyd, Graham, and Roseanne Barrett (2012, Feb 27). "Dredging Waste a 'Threat to Reef'." Australian. 2. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

Marohasy, Jennifer (2009). "The Always-Dying Great Barrier Reef." Review - Institute of Public Affairs 61.1, 24-26. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

Meredith, Charlotte (2013, 21 Sep). "Tony Abbott Risks Destruction of Australia's Great Barrier Reef." Huffington Post: United Kingdom. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/20/tony-abbott-great-barrier-reef-destruction_n_3962474.html>.

Oatley, Gary Schoer (2013, 12 Jul). "Politicians Must Step Up To Save Great Barrier Reef." Sydney Morning Herald. 22. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://go.galegroup.com.libproxy.usc.edu/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GALE|A336455034&v=2.1&u=usocal_main&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&authCount=1>.

Shaw, Melanie, Miles J. Furnas, Katharina Fabricias, David Haynes, Steve Carter, Geoff Eaglesham, and Jochen F. Mueller (2010). "Monitoring Pesticides in the Great Barrier Reef." Marine Pollution Bulletin. 60.1, 113-122. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.