Coral Reefs, Our Disappearing Beauty

Coral lowers ar mavin of natures riches ecosystems with a divers(a) existence of life which is ultimately quite complex. They argon a biased ecosystem that plays an important role in the marine realism and the human world as well. They ar class to countless plants and animals, a source of food, medicines and one of the unique wonders of our world. While they might bring the image of life skillful a tropical paradise, there is a good deal more to the chromatic get down than its beauty. These beauties ar home to a diverse population that benefits gentleman, each oddb only in its own path. hardly will we be able to bring through these natural wonders? Corals belong to the same group of animals as jelly slant and ocean anemones. While they seem to move in the current of the ocean, they actually do non move and stay in one adorn. Coral expenditure their tentacles to feed and exist in colonies. They stimulate all slowly precisely they sight live anywhere from a few decades to even centuries. They contrive a hard calcium change skeleton which provides them with protection. The calcium carbonate is continually deposited which added to its size, however, their moderniseth varies depending on the conditions deep down the environment.The growth of the coral take down is long and slow and it takes several years for it grow only a few inches. This growth cornerstone be even slower when you roll the destructive activities of animals, storms and humans. As the coral grows they form colonies which become the basic pes of the bring down. Coral reefs need ingredienticular conditions in order to survive. They generally grow near the propline which is a form of protection for the shore. Coral reefs only grow to depths approximately 45 meters beca intention they need sunlight in order to survive.The kernel of oxygen available is too important because coral bring on dependent relationship with some cases of algae. The algae live in the coral a nd practice photosynthesis which discombobulates food for the algae and the coral alike. The coral gives the algae protection and sunlight. For this conclude coral reefs are built in shallow, clear water where lights behind reach them. The amount of sedimentation mud be low because sediments can block the sunlight they need. There are three main kinds of coral reefs. Each of these is thought to be a stage in the developing of the coral reef. (Birke world, 1997).These include the fringing reefs, prohibition reefs and atolls. Some scientists include a tail type, the nibble reef, as well. The most common type of ref is the fringing reef. nominate very near to land they can often form a shallow area in the lagoon. When reefs are make it is the fringing reef that is formed first. An another(prenominal) type of reef is the barrier reef. It can resemble the fringing reef but they do not form so close to shore and are usually much larger than the fringing reef. The fringing reef g rows forbidden and the blank space from land becomes strikinger causing the fringing reef to become a barrier reef.The atoll is shaped like a horseshoe or can be a circle. It surround the lagoon although there is no land associated with the atoll. This is because when the land subsides, only the reef remains and it has the shape of the land it surrounded. Finally, there is the patch reef which usually are found within the lagoon and ore the outcrops of coral. An copiousness of both plant and animal life are an integral get around of coral reefs. Scientists continue to discover new species and learn a great deal from coral reefs. First, the coral itself is living with the skeleton of calcium carbonate surrounding them for protection.The first animal that comes to mind when discussing coral reefs is the look for. tip of every color swim in the reef, finding food, using it for protection, making it their home. Fish camouflage themselves within the reef to steer clear of larger f ish and sharks. Sharks often scour the coral looking for a stray fish. ocean snakes too make the coral reef their home. There are also invertebrates like starfish who travel through the many a(prenominal) species of seagrass and algae within the reef. There are many species of sea turtles that make coral reefs their home as well.These are only a few of the massive mixing of creatures that live in the coral reefs. There are urchins, sponges, crabs, eels and literally thousands of others. It is the richest place of biodiversity. In fact, Guam hosts over 3. 500 species of plants and animals, including 200 different types of corals. (Teach Ocean Science, ret. June 14, 2013). In addition to theses kinds of plants and animals, there are also microorganisms that call the coral reef home. Coral reefs dont only benefit animals and plants, but they also benefit humans. They are one of the oldest ecosystems on our planet and one of the most beautiful. whizz way they benefit humans is due t o their beauty. Areas with coral reefs bring tourism. This tourism supports local anesthetic communities, creating jobs for local inhabitants. Visitors come to dive, snorkel, fish and enjoy the coral. These jobs athletic supporter support the al-Qaida of the community and build a strong economy. The economic value of many of the reefs individually are in excess of hundreds of millions of dollars, some over $1 billion each year. More importantly, there are many plants and animals that help us in the creation of new medicines and perfecting ones we already have.Medicines that have been create or are being developed from the coral reefs include treatments for message disease, cancer, arthritis, viruses just to name a few. More obvious than the previously mentioned benefits, coral reefs provide an abundance of fish and other sea life that helps know the oceans for fishing. This also benefits humans. Fisheries are important for recreation as well as a trade to provide food. Also, as the name implies, coral reefs are a natural buffer between the ocean and the land. This helps hamper spot damage, soil erosion, and protects slew from storms.Nearby communities depend on the coral reefs for their well-being. even up though humans depend on the coral reef in so many ways, we are unfortunately slowly losing them. These natural beauties are disappearing at a faster and faster rate. The biggest threat is humans themselves. Healthy coral reefs need ashen water but people are polluting these waters causing significant harm to the reefs. Fertilizers, soil, pesticides and even sewage is put into the water. These things make the water unhealthy for corals, smother the reef and make it more likely the will get diseases.Pollution is a major(ip) threat. Humans also often have destructive fishing practices. They use explosives to fish or bang on the reef with large sticks as well as bottom-trawling. In addition to these destructive practices, humans have been overfishing which raise ups the natural proportionateness of the ecosystem of the reef. The food chain is then so out of balance that the effects are not only the direct fish population but the entire ocean and beyond. Humans are not the only threats to coral reefs. Natural disasters can also harm the reefs.Hurricanes and other storms can cause damage as well. Global warming is also a threat. Corals will only survive in a trustworthy water temperature and global warming has caused damage by elevating the levels of coral bleaching. When the reef is already unhealthy it is difficult for it to improve such a disaster. One way our own government has started to help protect the coral reef is by developing the U. S. Coral Reef Task Force. On June 11, 1998, chairman Clinton issued Executive Order 13089 on Coral Reef Protection. (EPA, Ret. June 10, 2013).This task twinge was charge with the duties of mapping and monitoring the US coral reefs, conducting research to signalize major causes and con sequences of the decline of the reefs and with developing ways to restore the damaged reefs and prevent further damage. Governments have set up Preservation Zones to focus on the cost of human impact to the coral reefs and how to maintain the reefs. Each of us can help protect the coral reef. Be sure to clean up after yourself when you go to the beach. It sounds simple, and it is but many people dont quest after this advice. If you go to the area, be sure not to touch the coral. Take guard of it.Leave shells and other creatures where they are. The food chain is a delicate balance and we should not do anything, no matter how small it might seem, to upset that balance. If you fish, catch only what you will eat. Throw small fish pricker to reproduce and the largest because they lay the most eggs. And if you dont fish, eat only the species of fish that are on the sustainable seafood list. Even if you are not in the area, you can reduce the amount of freshwater you use, develop habits that reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we produce like using too much electricity or driving a lot. Recycle more, including reusing items.Basically reducing our carbon tone helps our coral reefs. Coral reefs are a vital pick in our environment. They are home to an extremely diverse population that is necessary to all life on earth. Humans have come to depend on this ecosystem for numerous things yet we still see the coral reefs disappearing quickly. But this sensitive ecosystem is depending on us was well. We each can do our part by minimizing our own carbon footprint but so much damage has already been done that this alone is not enough. Humans mustiness get involved and be proactive to save this valuable resource before its too late.SourcesRuppert, EE and Barnes, RD, 1994, Invertebrate Zoology, 6th Edition, Saunders College Publishing, PhiladelphiaWhat lives on a coral reef?, Teach Ocean Science, http//www.teachoceanscience.net/teaching_resources/education_modules/coral_r eefs_and_climate_change/what_lives_on_a_coral_reef/, retrieved June 14, 2013. Water Habitat Protection, EPA, http//water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/taskforce.cfm, Retrieved June 10, 2013.Birkeland, C. (1997). Introduction. In Life and Death of Coral Reefs. Birkeland, C. (ed.). Chapman and Hall, New York.Achituv, Y. Dubinsky, Z. (1990). development and Zoogeography of Coral Reefs. In Ecosystems of the World 25 Coral Reefs. Dubinsky, Z. (ed.). Elsevier, New York.