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The Disappearing Coral Reef

The Disappearing Coral Reef. Julie Smith 2008. Healthy Reef : biodiversity, brightly colored healthy coral Dead/Dying Reef : coral bleaching, limited flora and fauna. Carysfort Reef. 1975. 1985. So, Why Are Reefs Important. Densest and most varied ecosystem on Earth

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The Disappearing Coral Reef

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  1. The Disappearing Coral Reef Julie Smith 2008

  2. Healthy Reef : biodiversity, brightly colored healthy coral Dead/Dying Reef : coral bleaching, limited flora and fauna

  3. Carysfort Reef 1975 1985

  4. So, Why Are Reefs Important • Densest and most varied ecosystem on Earth • Rain Forest of the ocean • Home to 25% of all marine life • Beginning of the marine food chain • Coral Reefs cover only 0.07% - 0.2% of ocean floor

  5. And the Problem Is? • 27% have been lost • 60% are at serious risk • 32% could be lost in next 20 years • It’s predicted that in as little as 50 years ALL coral reefs could be dead

  6. Natural Coral Reefs of Florida http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/coral.htm

  7. Environmental Risk to Natural Reefs

  8. Coral Bleaching www.gbrmpa.gov.au www.science.uts.edu.au

  9. What’s Killing the Coral • Natural Stressors • Diseases • Black Band • White Band • White Plague • Aspergillosis • Predators • Diadema (urchins) • COTs (starfish) • Drupella (snail) • Weather Events

  10. Localized Anthropogenic Stressors (That’s things we do) • Boating • Fishing • Overfishing • Poisoning/Bombing • Collecting • Tropical Fish • Coral Mining • Diving • Devastation of Mangrove Forests

  11. Global Stressors • Silting • Fertilizer Run-off • Effluent Discharge • Industrial Pollution • Global Warming • Increased sea temperature • Increased ocean depth

  12. What’s Being Done on a Global Scale • 2008 declared International Year of the Reef • 2006 – Bush designated 140,000 Sq Mi off Hawaii as a National Marine Sanctuary • International Coral Reef Initiative

  13. What can I do? • Educate yourself and your friends • Reduce your CO2 footprint • Become an informed consumer • Become active in reef protection/restoration organizations • http://www.reefrelief.org/ • http://www.seacology.org/ • http://www.coralreef.gov/ • http://www.projectaware.org

  14. Credits and References • Video compliments of: http://www.reefvid.org • http://www.solcomhouse.com/greatbarrierreef.htm • http://www.reefcheck.org • http://www.reef.org • http://www.coral.org

  15. Please help protect my home Questions ??

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