By: Erin Sakakibara
One of the Seven Wonders of the World
History
Historically, the Great Barrier Reef was an immaculate, well-protected ecosystem. It consists of over 2,900 reefs and around 940 islands. The reef is 345,000 square kilometers in size along the east coast of Australia, which is about the size of California. As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Earth’s largest coral reef has been valued for its natural breathtaking beauty. After being a highly successful life form for 250 million years, disruptions in the biological and communication systems of the reef are now degrading the ecosystem. Over the last 150 years, pollution levels have increased, fish stocks have been depleted in local areas, and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate have increased by 200-1,500% from runoff. About 30 years ago, water quality was first classified as a threat to the Great Barrier Reef. The ecosystem experienced two major coral bleaching episodes in 1998 and 2002, affecting over 50% of the reefs. In the past two decades, scientists have looked at skeletal records of corals along the Great Barrier Reef and have seen a sudden decline in calcification, meaning they are growing slower. This could mean that the impacts of threats will be exacerbated and the reef will take longer to recover from things like coral bleaching and storms. Recent ocean acidification makes it more difficult for organisms to form protective shells and species go extinct as well.
The only ecosystem visible from space
http://www.the-great-barrier-reef-experience.com
What are we doing to it??
Coral reefs are fragile, balanced ecosystems; the smallest alteration can affect the whole environment. If we lose coral reefs, we throw off the equilibrium of the marine ecosystem. Over-fishing, pollution, and global warming are the three main factors that are upsetting the balance of the ecosystem in the coral reefs. Overfishing is the practice of catching marine species faster than they can reproduce. It devastates the reef and causes disruptions to the food circle. Specific aggressive kinds of fishing have hurt the reef beyond repair, disrupting important plant and animal life sources. Over-fishing has resulted in a shift in the reef and affected the biodiversity and balance of the ecosystem. Pollution threatens the reef's stability and survival. Fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, human sewage, oil spills and sediment runoff are various pollutants that gradually destroy the reef’s biodiversity.
Climate change is arguable the most significant impact on the Great Barrier Reef. Humans induce global warming that raises the water temperature and affects the ecosystems. The waters of the Great Barrier Reef are warming and are predicted to continue warming throughout the 21st Century, leading to increased levels of coral bleaching, coral mortality, and biodiversity depletion of this valuable marine ecosystem. The amplified UV rays hamper the ability of plants and algae to photosynthesize, resulting in less energy in the marine ecosystems, and having fatal impacts, especially in the reefs. Coral bleaching is the most prominent effect of global warming, and it is currently affecting all coral ecosystems. Increased temperatures, sedimentation, higher UV radiation, reduced light, and changes in salt levels cause the corals to expel their algae, leaving them colorless and unable to produce energy.
Sea surface temperatures at the southern Great Barrier Reef showing increased temperatures over inshore reefs, the location of the most severe coral bleaching at present. The image was created from the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites. The temperatures range from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius (77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) as indicated on the color bar (right).
http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0405-nasa.html
We need to do something ASAP!
If we do not act now, the Great Barrier Reef could be the first global ecosystem to collapse. Charlie Vernon, former chief scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, says that the Reef will be so degraded by global warming, that in 20 years it will be unrecognizable. While coral bleaching is reversible, warmer waters and increased salinity makes the reversal process almost impossible. Warmer water also results in fewer male turtle hatchings, threatens migration, calving, and feeding habitats used by whales, and forces birds to fly farther for find food in cooler water, exhausting and killing them.
The pressures on this Australian reef are also affecting coral reefs around the world. Scientists do not know what a world without coral reefs will be like. Economic and food shortages could affect regions near reefs. Reefs also protect shorelines and coasts from erosion, hurricane effects, and other harsh weather. In Australia, reef industries, like tourism and fishing, contribute $5.4 billion annually to the economy and employ about 63,000 people. Without the revenue and jobs that the Great Barrier Reef provides, the Australian economy will be in trouble as well. Although the future looks grim for the Great Barrier Reef, we can still do things to help maintain it!
Our Plan
With coral reefs in great decline, we can take action in several ways both on and off the water to protect the environment. The reef provides us with an opportunity to explore the ocean, but we must limit ourselves by not touching sea organisms, feeding fish, or taking home souvenirs, as there is the possibility of damaging the reef and threatening the safety of various endangered species. When swimming on the reef, we must remember not to leave litter behind; picking up others’ trash would be helpful as well. People who own boats have the additional responsibility of maintaining their equipment and replacing old engines with cleaner, more efficient engines to prevent toxins such as paint, lubricants, and fuel from being released into the water. But even if we are not in direct contact with the ocean, we can still improve our impact on the coral reefs.
According to Professor Guldberg of the Global Change Institute, global climate change is being linked to rising sea temperatures, causing widespread coral bleaching. Therefore, to reduce global warming and our carbon emissions, it is advisable to cut back on our electricity and automobile use, to dispose of household chemicals properly, and to use detergents with lower levels of nitrates and phosphates. On an individual scale, we can buy organic produce that is grown without chemicals that often end up in the ocean, as well as buy fish that is caught in a sustainable manner. But on a larger scale, we can join conservation groups and lend our efforts to lobbying for climate change legislation. The Great Barrier Reef Climate Change Action Plan, proposed by environmental authorities in Australia, also presents several strategies for addressing the impact of climate change on the reef. One objective is to increase awareness and involvement of communities, businesses, and industry leaders in climate change monitoring. Another goal is to collaborate with educators, local governments, and tourism organizations to support initiatives that would reduce their carbon footprint. There are a variety of ways to improve the impact we have on ocean life, and we can each do our part, whether it is at the individual or community level. Although it will take time and energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the damage of climate change, with a global, concerted effort, we can save ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef from further deterioration.
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