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Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Zoe Chung 07/06/2011. What’s the MBR?. Second largest coral reef in the world. Home to a rich biodiversity. Helps the economy by providing a place to fish, collect local food supplies, and to support marine tourism. Acts as a safety barrier from storms.

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Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

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  1. Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Zoe Chung 07/06/2011

  2. What’s the MBR? • Second largest coral reef in the world. • Home to a rich biodiversity. • Helps the economy by providing a place to fish, collect local food supplies, and to support marine tourism. • Acts as a safety barrier from storms. • Stretches over 1000km, hosts more than 65 species of coral and 500 species of fish.

  3. Extends along the coast of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize.

  4. How Coral Reefs Are Built -Coral Polyps are tiny plant-like animals that secrete Calcium Carbonate. -Calcium Carbonate is used to build back coral structure. -Coral Polyps work together with a uni-cellular algae called zooxantellae, which uses photosynthesis to provide oxygen to both the coral and the Coral Polyps.

  5. Con’t • The oxygen alters the carbon dioxide concentrations in coral tissue and increases the Coral Polyps’ ability to secret Calcium Carbonate. • Organisms such as sponge and worms break down dead coral. • The dead sediments settle into the reef and is cemented by Algae. • The Calcium Carbonate gradually accumulates and the reef grows and rebuilds itself.

  6. What destroys the Coral Reefs? • GLOBAL WARMING! • OVERFISHING!

  7. Global Warming • Changing weather patterns causes fluctuations in the surface dynamics of oceans. • Ex. Rises in sea temperature = Damaged Coral. • An increase in temperature causes coral’s natural algae to disperse. • Algae is important because it helps coral to survive and gives them their coral.

  8. Further… • An increase in climate affects the dangers and frequency of hurricanes. • This intensifies the physical damage done to the coral reefs.

  9. FACT: An increase in temperature of only two degrees Celsius is enough to cause coral bleaching!

  10. Overfishing • Fishermen dynamite reefs and inject cyanide into the water. • This stuns fish, making them easier to catch. • Effect? Overfishing of certain species can easily affect the reef’s ecological balance and biodiversity.

  11. The Grouper Fish • The grouper fish is a popular fish to catch. • A declination in its population means an increase in the Damselfish’s (a prey of the Grouper Fish) population. • Damsel fish create pockets in coral which allows Algae to grow. • The Algae can take over a reef and smother it, causing it to be destroyed.

  12. What’s Being Done About It?

  13. Belize Bans Trawling • Trawling- the act of using a strong fishing net that drags along the sea bottom to catch shrimp. • They are known for the amount of by-catch (unintended catch) they haul in.

  14. Effect of Trawling • Bottom Trawlers (weighted nets) graze the ocean floor, destroying corals and habitats. • They also pick up organisms and wildlife that are necessary for the ecosystem to thrive. Ex. Sea turtles and marine mammals.

  15. TAKING ACTION!!! • The call to ban Trawling has been brought up in the past, however the political support was lacking. • When UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) threatened to strip the Belize Barrier Reef of its World Heritage Site status, the government took notice. • They agreed to BAN TRAWLING!

  16. Sources • http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean • http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/mar • http://www.oceanus.org.mx/web/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=7&Itemid=3 • http://www.gvi.co.uk/expeditions/central-america/mexico/marine-conservation-expedition-mexico/the-program • http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/coralreef/CRanthro.html • http://central-america.panda.org/about/countries/belize/?uNewsID=70840 • http://na.oceana.org/en/category/blog-free-tags/mesoamerican-reef

  17. Created by: Zoe Chung

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