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The Restoration Of Coral Reefs

The Restoration Of Coral Reefs. Brett Crawford. 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?.

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The Restoration Of Coral Reefs

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  1. The Restoration Of Coral Reefs Brett Crawford

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. What are Coral Reefs? • Atolls • An island of coral that encircles a lagoon partially or entirely. • Most are in Pacific Ocean.

  6. 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.

  7. What are Coral Reefs? Coral Polyp

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Threats to Coral Reefs • Pollution • Agricultural and Industrial runoff. • Sewage and toxic waste discharge. • Erosion and sedimentation.

  12. 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

  13. 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.

  14. Solutions to Coral Reef Threats • NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program and other agencies. • Fishing • “No Take” Zones-Florida Keys • Fish Replenishment Areas-West Hawaii

  15. 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.)

  16. 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”.

  17. 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.

  18. Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs • Coral Farming or Gardening • Fragment poorly spaced Corals. • Attach to grate in nursery area. • Transplant when mature.

  19. 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.

  20. Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs • Education • “Adopt-A-Coral” program. • Increase public awareness • No social constraint

  21. Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs • Coral Farming • http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I69isSS1TvI

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. 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>.

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