How Do Humans Affect the Coastal Environment of Barbados?

ALI SAILLY

WHAT IS CORAL AND HOW DOES THE CORAL ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION?

A coral reef is a living structure compound by colonies of marine anemone like animals called polyps, which have a symbiotic relationship with a unicellular algae called Zooxanthellaethat lives in their tissue

Polyps build skeletons of limestone around their bodies.Photosynthesis carried out by the Zooxanthellae helps to build their skeleton, and generates food to the coral.

To Live Polyps needs: • Light (Photosynthesis)• Tº18º-30º (Not deep water corals)• salinity (close to 35 PPT)• clear water (Light penetration) • wave action (waste elimination and food transport).

WHERE IS CORAL FOUND IN BARBADOS AND WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES ARE THERE?

Barbados is mostly surrounded by a narrow 200 m deep of reef, approximately 2 -3 km offshore.

There are 3 types of coral reef around Barbados: • Bank Reefs,• Fringing Reefs• Patch Reefs

The total area covered by the bank reefs is over 38.3km , while the fringing reefs cover over 20.4 km.

Coral reefs are a very important economical and ecological asset for Barbados in terms of….

Why are Coral reefs so important to Barbados and other locations?

Fisheries:Coral reefs are very productive habitats, considered the rain forest of the oceans, they shelter and support the lives of many important commercial species like fish and lobster. Many fishery industries depend on coral reefs as their supporting habitat.

Erosion protection:Fringing reefs and barrier reefs create a barrier that protect the coastline against erosion. They reduce the energy of waves from big surges and storms they reach shore protecting beaches, hotels, houses, roads. This is especially important at the west coast.

Beach Formation:Bio-erosion and other biophysical processes produce sand, creating the white sand beaches in Barbados that attract so many tourists.

Tourism / Ecotourism:Coral reefs also attract tourists as snorkelers and divers that would also pay a lot of money just to visit them. Many people in Barbados make money of this industry.

Land Formation:Coral colonies form huge limestone structures and when they die, they become the foundations for islands like Barbados (80% coral limestone). Cliffs, gullies, white sand beaches and even the Harrison's Caves are made mainly of coral limestone.

WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS THREATS TO CORAL REEFS IN BARBADOS??

Coral

Coral reef affected by pollution, sedimentation and eutrophicationHealthy coral reef

Human Activities

All targeted reef fish species have been over-fished, particularly parrotfishes (algal grazers)

Marine based pollution threatens 15 percent of the reefs.

Pollution: eutrophication, nutrient, rich water and sedimentation

Reduces light penetration in the water that corals need for photosynthesis. Increases acidity of the water reduces coral skeleton formation creating conditions for more bio erosion (coral reef framework breaks down).Smothered corals try to get rid of sediment particles using their tentacles. It can not breath and feed, get sick and eventually dies.Toxic chemicals accumulate in coral tissue, stressing it, poisoning it, overwhelming its immune system resulting in diseases, low reproduction rate and high mortality.

Habitat destructionDestruction of mangroves, sea grass beds and other coastal habitats for "Development", destroys the natural protection for corals against pollution.

Throwing anchor at the reef ban destroy extensive reef areas.

Global warmingToo hot water results in coral bleaching. This decreases the ability of the coral to feed and build the skeleton. Bigger hurricanes causes major destruction on the reefs. More CO2 on the water creates more acidity. In a coral reef that is already weak because of all the above explained, this will be the fatal blow. Where then is the near shore fisheries going?Who is going to protect and create the beaches? Where will locals and tourists go to relax in the future? Where will go the economy of this country? Is not better to preserve the beautiful reefs that give us so much benefits FREE, rather than have to construct an expensive, much less useful and non beautiful at all seawall?

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