THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

BY: OKSANA , LESLEY, SUZANA

Location Of
The Great
Barrier Reef
Largest reef in the
world.
Located in Australia
Estimated 1,500
species.
Most complex
natural ecosystems.



Climate Change Affecting The Great
Barrier Reef:
Ocean largest carbon reservoir
More gas entering the ocean
Industrial Revolution 30% more acidic
Calcium carbonate protective shells
Phytoplankton
Invertebrates
Climate change & Ocean acidification




Coral Reefs Benefits:

Habitat
Serves as a home for many species
Income
Fishing and tourism employ
Food
Food source for Australian people
Medicine
New medicines created



Corals Dying:
Water temperature increase
Coral bleaching
People rely on biodiversity
Climate change coral reef devastation

Human Impact on the Great Barrier
Reef:
Peoples careless actions
Touch reefs
Stir up sediments
Collect corals
Drop anchors
Tourist resorts built on reefs
Resorts empty sewage & other wastes

Sedimentation:
Sedimentation is caused by:
Mining
logging
farming
Mangrove forests destruction
Sedimentation in oceans
Toxic chemicals poison spices & corals



Coral Mining:
Coral mining used for:
Bricks
Road-fill
Cement
New buildings
Coral Souvenirs
Harvested for live rock trade

Overfishing:
Fish
A valuable resource
Major source of income
Part of culture
Fishery industries
Significant economic benefits
Jobs
Overfishing leads to extinction of reefs




Destructive fishing practices:
Cyanide fishing
Blast
Dynamite fishing
Bottom trawling
Muro-ami (banging on the reef with sticks)
One of the greatest threats to coral reefs

References:
Figure 2-Great Barrier Reef. Map/Still. Britannica Online for Kids.
Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-163817>.
http://www.coral.org/resources/about_coral_reefs/why_care
http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/06-07/fishing-cycle.gif
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_reefs/
www.seabirdlrc.com
ramioverfishing.blogspot.com
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/multimedia/slideshows/Ocean-destruction-in-tuna-
tins/Caught-in-the-net/
www.science20.com
Rehabilitation of Mangrove forests destroyed by toxic chemicals during the war in South Vietnam |
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