My Closing Thoughts

          Coral reefs are very important for the home we call Planet Earth, but what exactly are coral reefs? Coral reefs are thousands and thousands of tiny animals called polyps. These polyps grow into large communities that we call coral reefs. Coral reefs are the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. They are also quite beautiful and helpful. Healthy reefs can help local economies through tourism opportunities such as diving tours and fishing trips. Coral reefs are also used in many medicines. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef plants and animals that can cure cancer, arthritis, HIV, heart disease and more. 

          Unfortunately these beautiful and breathtaking reefs are dying. The main reason coral reefs are suffering is pollution. Coral reefs are very sensitive animals. Pollution from land-based sources is the primary cause of coral reef destruction, causing approximately 80 percent of ocean pollution. A good example of land-based pollution is run off. Run off can contain sediments, high levels of nutrients, and pollutants like pesticides and petroleum. Sediments can smother corals and make it hard for them to feed and reproduce. Excess nutrients can cause poor water quality which can decrease oxygen levels in the water. Finally pesticides and petroleum pollutants can cause problems with coral growth and reproduction. Run-off can also introduce pathogens into coral reefs causing crippling diseases for some reefs. 

          Another form  of pollution that affects coral reefs is known as marine debris. Marine debris is any human-made object that is discarded and enters ocean waters. Debris can come from ships, beach goers, and even storm drains. Plastic debris can kill several types of reefs. Abandoned fishing nets and other fishing gear can catch marine life and even get tangled on reefs and damage or kill them. Thankfully there are ways to help these coral reefs. Here are 10 simple yet effective ways to help coral reefs and all the plants and animals that depend on them.

1.    Conserve water: The less water you use, the less runoff and waste water that  will pollute our oceans.

2.    Help reduce pollution: Walk, bike or ride the bus. Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs.

3.    Use only ecological or organic fertilizers: Although you may live thousands of miles from a coral reef ecosystem, these products flow into the water system, pollute the ocean, and can harm coral reefs and marine life.

4.    Dispose of your trash properly: Don't leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish.

5.    Support reef-friendly businesses: Ask the fishing, boating, hotel, aquarium, dive or snorkeling operators how they protect the reef. Be sure they care for the living reef ecosystem and ask if the organization responsible is part of a coral reef ecosystem management effort.

6.    Plant a tree: Trees reduce runoff into the oceans. You will also contribute to reversing the warming of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans. 

7.    Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling: Do not touch the reef or anchor your boat on the reef. Contact with the coral will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on the reef can kill it, so look for sandy bottom or use moorings if available.

8.    Volunteer for a coral reef cleanup: You don't live near a coral reef? Then do what many people do with their vacation: visit a coral reef. Spend an afternoon enjoying the beauty of one of the most diverse ecosystems on the Earth.

9.    Contact your government representatives: Demand they take action to protect coral reefs, stop sewage pollution of our oceans, expand marine protected areas and take steps to reverse global warming

10.Spread the word: Remember your own excitement at learning how important the planet's coral reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem. Share this excitement and encourage others to get involved. 

Please visit http://adopt.nature.org/coralreef/ to learn more and help out

Top Ten List found at: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/coralreefs/ways-to-help-coral-reefs/index.htm

 

US Minesweeper Taken Off Protected Reef

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/apr/01/uss-guardian-removed-tubbataha-reef-video/

In January, a US minesweeper, the USS Guardian, got stuck on a reef off the coast of The Philippines. The reef was Tubbataha, a protected marine park in the Philippines. It is off limits to any vessel unless that vessel has been given permission by the park authorities. After being stuck for 10 weeks, a US Navy salvage crew finally extracted the last piece of the Guardian. An initial look showed that the ship had damaged about 43,055 square feet of this reef. Fines for damaging this protected reef can reach up to $585 for every square meter that is damaged. While the US has apologized profusely they have not explained why this state of the art naval ship ran aground in such a clearly dangerous area. 

To learn more visit:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/31/uss-guardian-shipwreck-navy-ship-removed-philippines-reef_n_2988694.html

Different Kinds of Coral

Today I figured we could learn about a few different types of coral! There are many different kinds but today we'll learn about three types: brain coral, soft coral and the purple sea fan. 

Brain Coral- Lobophyllia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brain_coral.jpg

This coral gets its name because it looks quite similar to a human brain. These coral reefs are found in upper reef slopes and lagoons. They are very strong and are able to stand through very strong currents. These corals can grow for hundreds of years. They can reach a maximum width of 7 feet. This coral needs lots of light so they sleep during the day and eat at night. These plants eat phytoplankton, zooplankton and tiny plants. 

Soft Coral- Alcyonacea

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soft_coral.JPG

These corals are most abundant in tropical waters but can be found in every ocean. Soft coral can grow larger than 2 feet and can grow as deep as 150 feet. These corals are called "soft" because tehy do no form a hard outer skeleton. They use chemicals to defent themselves since they do not have a "protective shell". They use chemicals to clean themselves as well. Unfortunately this chemical makes it so that other corals can't grow in the area. 

Purple Sea Fan- Gorgonia Ventalina

http://www.itchyfeet.org/florida/fans.htm

This coral is a very unique coral. This coral grows in the shape of a fan with a very distinctive purple color. These can be found in large quantities. They can grow in outer and rim reefs as well as shallow waters. They like constantly flowing water because it helps them feed and breathe. They can grow to be 6.5 ft tall and 5 feet across. 

Learn More/Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_coral

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcyonacea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgonian

Great Barrier Reef Video

Here is an interesting video to warm you up after such a cold, long week! In this video, Travel Channel's Shane O shows us one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Not only do you learn more information from Shane you also get to enjoy the otherworldly beauty of this reef.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw_WjN-4n3U

Coral Reefs Can Keep You Healthy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/habitats/Reef

Did you know that coral reefs actually help to keep you healthy? I didn't either! It turns out that coral reefs have lots of interesting and helpful medicinal compounds. These have compounds have already led to a few important drugs but there are still many to be discovered! Coral reefs have helped with treatments for ulcers, cancers, HIV and heart disease. Mostly coral reefs are used for cancer research though. In fact, "more than half of all new cancer drug research focuses" on these marine organisms. Due to the importance coral reefs have in our lives, we should really work towards saving these beautiful creatures.


http://www.coral.org/resources/about_coral_reefs/why_care

How Pollution Affects Coral Reefs

In the years to come, coral reefs will face many environmental changes and problems. Reefs that are closer to human habitats will also face poor water quality and human pollution. Run off can ead to poor water quality which decreases oxygen levels. This can cause significant damage to coral reefs. Another problem these coral reefs encounter is marine debris, any human made object that is left in the ocean. These debris can damage coral reefs as well as those species that live in coral reefs. To learn more details about these forms of pollution please visit: http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/visions/coral/side.html

Ocean Acid Levels High

For millions of years, "Earth's oceans have maintained a relatively stable acidity level". In this consistent envrionment the various forms of life in today's seas have lived and thrived. Unfortunately, the Industrial Revolution brought on "emissions of billions of tons of carbon dioxide" and other harmful gases. Now scientists now that this CO2 has been absorbed into the oceans over time. While this has helped us humans by delaying the climate changes these gases would have caused, it is greatly harming sea life. This increase in CO2 has caused reproductive disorders in some fish and has harmed the shell growth process of many marine animals, including coral. While this area of study is a reletaviley new subject, scietists know that unless humans can control and eventually eliminate their fossil fuel emissions, ocean organisms will have to change their chemistry or they will die.

This was a summary of the article found here:
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-ocean-acidification/