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What are Coral Reefs?
Represent one of the most diverse ecosystems on planet; “Rainforest of the ocean”.
Tropical and Semi-tropical waters. Temps range from 61-86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Three types of Coral Reefs.
What are Coral Reefs?
Barrier Reef
Occur offshore, separated from mainland by water.
Great Barrier Reef
Largest reef system, 2,900 individual reefs, 900 islands, stretches 1,600 miles.
Can be seen from space.
What are Coral Reefs?
Fringing Reef
Has shallow back reef zone, reef grows directly from shoreline.
Most common reef type in Caribbean and Red Sea.
What are Coral Reefs?
Atolls
An island of coral that encircles a lagoon partially or entirely.
Most are in Pacific Ocean.
What are Coral Reefs?
Corals are very small animals.
Sessile
Eat small fish and plank-tonic animals using tentacles.
Corals grouped into colonies, individual parts are “Polyps”.
Polyps secrete Calcium Carbonate skeleton from base.
Substrate for Corals.
Coral grows as more Calcium Carbonate skeleton deposited.
Living Coral on surface.
Average growth 0.3-10 cm/per year.
What are Coral Reefs?
Zooxanthellae Algae
Live in Polyps.
Symbiotic
Algae-photosynthesizes and creates food for coral.
Coral-provides protection and gives access to light.
What are Coral Reefs?
Provide food and habitat for Sponges, Crabs, Shrimp, Sea Slugs, Sea Stars, Oysters, Sea Turtles and Fish.
Good indicators for water quality in ocean.
Protect coastlines from erosion.
Coral Reef Values
Natural goods for fisheries industry.
High value as fish sanctuary and nurseries.
Tourism
$483 million in annual net benefits to U.S. economy from tourism and recreational activities related to U.S. coral reefs.
$1.1 billion in annual net benefits to U.S. economy from overall goods and services related to U.S. coral reefs.
Threats to Coral Reefs
Pollution
Agricultural and Industrial runoff.
Sewage and toxic waste discharge.
Erosion and sedimentation.
Threats to Coral Reefs
Fishing
Over-fishing can drastically decrease certain fish species, disrupt multiple Trophic levels.
Fishing techniques
Fishing gear
Anchoring of fishing vessels
Threats to Coral Reefs
Global Climate Change
Biggest threat to coral reefs.
Bleaching and spread of infectious diseases.
CO2 in atmosphere causing “ocean acidification”.
Rising water level, harder for light to get to corals.
Solutions to Coral Reef Threats
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program and other agencies.
Fishing
“No Take” Zones-Florida Keys
Fish Replenishment Areas-West Hawaii
Solutions to Coral Reef Threats
Pollution
Control land based pollution sources.
Focus on protection of watershed quality
Easements, Trusts or Reserves from stakeholders party (local, state, federal, etc.)
Global Climate Change
Too big for NOAA
Reduce the emissions of Green House Gases.
Too much excess CO2 already in atmosphere, coral reefs will be affected throughout this century.
Ocean absorbs 1/3 of additional CO2 from humans, causes further “ocean acidification”.
Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs
Many coral reefs have passed their Abiotic threshold.
Assisting recovery of “freak landscapes”.
Increase ecological integrity and historical fidelity.
Goals must be dynamic, b/c ecosystems are dynamic.
Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs
Coral Farming or Gardening
Fragment poorly spaced Corals.
Attach to grate in nursery area.
Transplant when mature.
Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs
Collection of gametes during coral spawning.
Rear juvenile coral communities in lab from fertilized eggs.
Once mature, transplanted back into reef.
Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs
Education
“Adopt-A-Coral” program.
Increase public awareness
No social constraint
Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs
Coral Farming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I69isSS1TvI
References
Coral Reef-http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.sciencedaily.com/2008/04/080401200446-large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401200446.htm&usg=__OfeYb3DVdB119mxWw3u7GKcCq0c=&h=398&w=600&sz=64&hl=en&start=93&sig2=C48b32QlA1EtXazfawCRqw&zoom=1&tbnid=ls3a2X-frUifwM:&tbnh=175&tbnw=233&ei=iGKsTc_bB8rkiAKw7a3vDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoral%2Breef%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D680%26tbm%3Disch0%2C3453&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=760&vpy=158&dur=2158&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=154&ty=80&oei=cWKsTfb0H-Tm0QGqyb3-BQ&page=7&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:93&biw=1280&bih=680
Barrier Reef-http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.treehugger.com/great-barrier-reef.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/oceans-of-change-protecting-the-planets-life-support-system.php&usg=__dJhOHd-VKHyMQonREyaG5skqXu4=&h=351&w=468&sz=36&hl=en&start=57&sig2=jTGYuRZOicd7vPjOcHHGSg&zoom=1&tbnid=rv_vPRGrszDiWM:&tbnh=152&tbnw=205&ei=BmOsTcjGA-HiiAKWucnvDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbarrier%2Breef%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D680%26tbm%3Disch0%2C1711&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=792&vpy=282&dur=295&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=168&ty=136&oei=_mKsTfveL9KP0QHJtsT5CA&page=4&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:57&biw=1280&bih=680
Fringing Reef-http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://coralreef.capiz.biz/images/fringing.jpg&imgrefurl=http://coralreef.capiz.biz/fringing.html&usg=__yxNGO3mcOQA-mrDfxNQq9_w5vaU=&h=285&w=380&sz=39&hl=en&start=0&sig2=L8eDdYLIJC73J6alqhafkg&zoom=1&tbnid=97AoOHm_GQS-MM:&tbnh=156&tbnw=208&ei=d2OsTeLrI8OP0QH2pYX5CA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfringing%2Breef%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D680%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=143&vpy=139&dur=777&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=219&ty=128&oei=d2OsTeLrI8OP0QH2pYX5CA&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
Atolls- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atafutrim.jpg
References Coral Polyp-http://gc.kuty.cz/redsea/coralpolyp.jpg
Zooxanthelae Algae-http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/aquatic-bt/sites/default/files/zooxanthellae_SANTOS.jpg
Sedimentation-http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/reprioritization/wgroups/resources/lbsp/resources/kanakakai_%20wharf_kc.JPG
Blast Fishing-http://w3.shorecrest.org/~Lisa_Peck/MarineBio/syllabus/ch11_ecosystems/ecosystem_wp/coralreefs_johnathan_alexj/dynamite_reef_1.jpg
Bleaching-http://africanalchemy.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/coral-bleaching.jpg
Coral Farming-http://www.ramadianbachtiar.com/assets/20060512_Indonesia_VoicesFromTheSea_RB_010.jpg
Coral Spawning-http://img-ak.verticalresponse.com/media/d/5/1/d51c21facf/be324c6740/63b08ae701/library/CORAL%20NL%20Aug%202010/Coral-spawning.jpg
Adopt-A-Coral-http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3Mp5QFpdLmE/Sq832mSGT2I/AAAAAAAAEd4/1vzCk8aA3q8/s400/sidebar.jpg
Adopt-A-Coral-http://www.floridakeysdivectr.com/images/adopt-a-coral-program-key-largo.jpg
References
EPA, . "Coral Reef Protection: What Are Coral Reefs?." United States Environmental Protection Agency 04/06/2011: n. pag. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#problems>.
NOAA, . "NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program." U.S. Department of Commerce:National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration . NOAA, 02/02/2010. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/>.
Linden, B., and B. Rinkevich. "Creating Stocks Of Young Colonies From Brooding Coral Larvae, Amenable To Active Reef Restoration." Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 398.1-2 (2011): 40-46. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T8F-51Y4500-1&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2011&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=975b5f37c85c2ce41be64b08e1b27d90&searchtype=a>.
Waddell, , and Clark. "The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems Of The United States And Pacific Freely Associated States." NOAA's State Of The Coast 2008: n. pag. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://stateofthecoast.noaa.gov/coral/welcome.html>.