As you know, the rising ocean temperatures are causing coral to go over their maximum heat capacities. This sudden change in temperature, even though it is only a degree or two, is causing the coral to become bleached. This means that the coral is being forced to shed their food processing algae. They are starving, drying out, and therefore, turning bone white. One the coral gets to a several bleached state, the process cannot be undone. We need to stop the bleaching process before it gets out of control. Seventy percent of the coral reef destruction was from coral bleaching. Of the causes for the destruction, many of them are out of our control. We cannot stop global warming fast enough to make a difference, we do not know the specific diseases that are killing coral, and it is very difficult to stop other humans from killing animals using the coral reefs for homes. Very few people know about the growing problems arising in the coral reefs so we need to spread the word. Many people view this emerging problem as a joke and it is definitely no joke. It is our fault that these reefs are being destroyed, so it is up to us to fix it. We have to take into consideration that if we do not act soon, we will suffer far more in the long run.
Resources used...
nationalgeographic.com
nytimes.com
Friday, December 7, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Global Warming and its Effect on Coral Reefs
Global warming is having the largest effect on coral reefs. The rising levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases are causing the climate to heat up. This rise in air temperature is causing a rise in temperature of the water. Coral reefs cannot handle a huge change in water temperature because they are so delicate and sensitive.
1n 1998, most coral reefs along the Indian Ocean suffered from the increase in surface temperature of the water. In 2002, this same thing happened in the Pacific Ocean. The coral that have been greatly affected by the increase in temperature suffer from coral bleaching. Bleached corals are starving. It is possible for these corals to recover, only if the climate changes stops immediately. However, they will take hundreds of years to fully recover. If the climate change does not stop, we will lose these beautiful and exotic ecosystems forever.
Resources used...
globalissues.org
opendemocracy.net
1n 1998, most coral reefs along the Indian Ocean suffered from the increase in surface temperature of the water. In 2002, this same thing happened in the Pacific Ocean. The coral that have been greatly affected by the increase in temperature suffer from coral bleaching. Bleached corals are starving. It is possible for these corals to recover, only if the climate changes stops immediately. However, they will take hundreds of years to fully recover. If the climate change does not stop, we will lose these beautiful and exotic ecosystems forever.
Resources used...
globalissues.org
opendemocracy.net
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Reasons for Coral Reef Destruction
There are many reasons for the destruction of coral reefs other than global warming. Although global warming is currently having the greatest impact on the reefs, there are many other reasons for their continual deterioration.
There are many direct human pressures that affect coral reefs. They include over-fishing, forcing sediments into the water, and the developing of coastal areas. Firstly, over-fishing is not just fishing too much around the coral reefs; it also includes the use of bombs and cyanide for capturing fish. Secondly, sediments get forced into the water near coral reefs from deforestation, poor land use, and dredging. Dredging is use of specialized equipment for the repositioning of soil near a marine environment. Lastly, the developing of coastal areas includes tourist developments, industrial and urban developments, and the mining of coral reef rock.
There are also many reasons for the deterioration of coral reefs that derive from lack of human awareness and political will. With rising poverty levels, there is an increase in population and a lack of knowledge and care for the land. There is also a lack of interest and resources for fixing the current problems. Lastly, there is an enormous lack of government support and political will for admitting that the human impact on coral reefs is a real problem.
Resources used...
globalissues.org
There are many direct human pressures that affect coral reefs. They include over-fishing, forcing sediments into the water, and the developing of coastal areas. Firstly, over-fishing is not just fishing too much around the coral reefs; it also includes the use of bombs and cyanide for capturing fish. Secondly, sediments get forced into the water near coral reefs from deforestation, poor land use, and dredging. Dredging is use of specialized equipment for the repositioning of soil near a marine environment. Lastly, the developing of coastal areas includes tourist developments, industrial and urban developments, and the mining of coral reef rock.
There are also many reasons for the deterioration of coral reefs that derive from lack of human awareness and political will. With rising poverty levels, there is an increase in population and a lack of knowledge and care for the land. There is also a lack of interest and resources for fixing the current problems. Lastly, there is an enormous lack of government support and political will for admitting that the human impact on coral reefs is a real problem.
Resources used...
globalissues.org
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Importance of Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are one of the most neglected ecosystems in the world; however, they are also one of the most beautiful and important. For over one hundred countries in the world, they are the most important marine habitat. Coral reefs contain the largest variety of marine life in the smallest amount of space. They protect our shores from storms and the impact of waves. They provide food and many medicines for humans. In addition, they are a tourist attraction and therefore provide many economic benefits. According to the Global Coral Reef Alliance, the economic value of a coral reef is over ten million US dollars per kilometer of shoreline.
Without these important ecosystems, our shorelines would be greatly affected, and our economy would suffer. We would need to pay large sums of money for the importation of fish and the building of seawalls. Seawalls are a form of coastal defense that are constructed on the inland part of a coast for the protection from strong waves. Also, there exists a high destruction cost that would arise from the lack of protection from waves and storms. Coral reefs around the world need to be protected from people who kill reefs for immediate financial profit. More importantly, coral reefs need to be protected from the rapid climate change and global warming.
Resources used...
opendemocracy.net
globalcoral.org
Without these important ecosystems, our shorelines would be greatly affected, and our economy would suffer. We would need to pay large sums of money for the importation of fish and the building of seawalls. Seawalls are a form of coastal defense that are constructed on the inland part of a coast for the protection from strong waves. Also, there exists a high destruction cost that would arise from the lack of protection from waves and storms. Coral reefs around the world need to be protected from people who kill reefs for immediate financial profit. More importantly, coral reefs need to be protected from the rapid climate change and global warming.
Resources used...
opendemocracy.net
globalcoral.org
Resources
opendemocracy.net
http://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization-climate_change_debate/2558.jsp
I chose this website because it had the greatest affect on me while reading it. It was the only website that actually made me want to help with this issue. It clearly explains how the rapid climate change is affecting the coral reefs more than any other habitat and that coral have already been pushed to their maximum heat capacities.
nytimes.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/us/22coral.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
I chose this website because it is an article in the New York Times that explains how the rising temperature is affecting the corals reefs near Florida. This article also gives specific names of the coral that are being affected the most.
nwf.org
http://www.nwf.org/coralandglobalwarming/
I chose this website because it goes into depth about the views that the National Wildlife Foundation has about the affect global warming is having on coral reefs. This website includes a list of actions to take as to not disrupt the coral reefs any further.
nationalgeographic.com
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/warming-coral.html
I chose this website because it is an article that touches upon affect that global warming is having on the fish living in the coral reefs. This article gives specific data and information that supports studies made to prove that climate change is one of the main reasons for coral reef destruction.
marinebiology.org
http://www.marinebiology.org/coralbleaching.htm
I chose this website because it discusses human effects on coral reefs in extreme detail. The most important aspects of this website include an explanation of what coral bleaching is, the cause for it, and where it is taking place.
globalissues.org
http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/Biodiversity/CoralReefs.asp
I chose this website because it clearly and concisely lays out information. The most important information contained is this website is the purpose of coral reefs and the effect that human activity (specifically climate change) is having on coral reefs.
www.globalcoral.org
http://www.globalcoral.org/imprtnce.html
I chose this website because it explains all of important aspects of coral reefs. It is a very good introduction to the study of how global warming is affecting coral reefs, and why we need to act immediatly.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/globalization-climate_change_debate/2558.jsp
I chose this website because it had the greatest affect on me while reading it. It was the only website that actually made me want to help with this issue. It clearly explains how the rapid climate change is affecting the coral reefs more than any other habitat and that coral have already been pushed to their maximum heat capacities.
nytimes.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/us/22coral.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
I chose this website because it is an article in the New York Times that explains how the rising temperature is affecting the corals reefs near Florida. This article also gives specific names of the coral that are being affected the most.
nwf.org
http://www.nwf.org/coralandglobalwarming/
I chose this website because it goes into depth about the views that the National Wildlife Foundation has about the affect global warming is having on coral reefs. This website includes a list of actions to take as to not disrupt the coral reefs any further.
nationalgeographic.com
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/warming-coral.html
I chose this website because it is an article that touches upon affect that global warming is having on the fish living in the coral reefs. This article gives specific data and information that supports studies made to prove that climate change is one of the main reasons for coral reef destruction.
marinebiology.org
http://www.marinebiology.org/coralbleaching.htm
I chose this website because it discusses human effects on coral reefs in extreme detail. The most important aspects of this website include an explanation of what coral bleaching is, the cause for it, and where it is taking place.
globalissues.org
http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/Biodiversity/CoralReefs.asp
I chose this website because it clearly and concisely lays out information. The most important information contained is this website is the purpose of coral reefs and the effect that human activity (specifically climate change) is having on coral reefs.
www.globalcoral.org
http://www.globalcoral.org/imprtnce.html
I chose this website because it explains all of important aspects of coral reefs. It is a very good introduction to the study of how global warming is affecting coral reefs, and why we need to act immediatly.
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