Crikey! What an amazing sight! Known as one of the world’s natural seven wonders “lives” the Great Barrier Reef. Extending like a pulled piece of taffy along the Eastern coastline of Australia, this reef, discerned as the largest biotic structure on the planet. In short, the Great Barrier Reef’s biodiversity has supported thousands of habitats and species, while exuding beauteousness unfathomable by most, bringing millions of tourists annually. Unfortunately, among all of this wonderment lurks destruction and demise by, not only the hands of humans, but pollution, industry, climate change and the ever-mighty grasp of Mother Nature.
Along with the Grand Canyon, Mount Everest, Northern Lights, Paricutin Volcano, Harbor of Rio Janeiro and Victoria
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In particular, rising levels and increased temperatures of the seas, along with ocean acidification, negatively impact the integrity of this magnificent ecosystem and its inhabitants. The abundant microscopic organisms beneath the sea are crucial to the reef’s survival in that the phytoplankton transfer carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and into food, and under the influence of rising temperatures, growth and reproduction decreases dramatically. Known as coral bleaching, this occurrence is a result of the discharging of algae from the coral tissue, and to add, a normally beneficial player in the game, the crown-of-thorns starfish is smothering the already ailing reef. Also, due to rising sea temperatures comes changes in ocean currents, which essentially is responsible for depleting food sources, and with that, transportation of larvae and eggs becomes impeded. Like the domino effect, every action triggers yet another action, and so …show more content…
Scientific research is allowed in areas labeled Orange Zones while numerous other zones control shipping, general use and habitat protection.
The ever-intrusive crown-of-thorns starfish presents the Great Barrier Reef extensive angst. Under the severe bleaching conditions of the coral, the starfish suck out more key nutrients from the already ailing structures. In order to combat this outbreak, a management team oversees practices of injecting individual starfish in hopes of abating this huge population. Hand in hand, this practice and comprehensive research promotes the long-term goal of controlling the infestation, thus rehabilitating the coral reefs.
Given the facts, circumstances and strategies, the unfortunate future of the Great Barrier Reef appears bleak. This largest living biodiversity, beginning with the smallest organisms to the largest whale, suffers a trickle effect of destruction caused by human activity, pollution, industry, climate change and Mother Nature. In the meantime teams of scientists, private organizations along with governments over the world invest time, money and resources in an attempt to rescue this natural
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders around the world. It is approximately 344,400 kilometers long. The Great Barrier Reef is home to many marine organisms. More than 1,500 species of fish live in the Great Barrier Reef. The coral that forms The Great Barrier Reef is made of polyps. Billions of living coral polyps are attached to the reef. The colour of these polyps range from blue, green, purple, red and yellow. As the largest living structure on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef is incredibly plentiful and various. Stretching 2300 kilometers, this natural icon is so large it can even be seen from outer space. While it’s known mostly for its large maze of colorful reefs, its intricate architecture also provides a home for a huge number of plants and creatures. There are multiple reasons as why the Great Barrier Reef is important, as it helps protect coastlines from the detrimental effects of waves and storms, provides habitats and protection for many marine organisms, help in nutrient recycling and is the source of nitrogen and other essential foods for marine food chains.
Some people consider coral reefs the most beautiful places on earth. With the plants and animals progressing all around the beautiful corals, it is spectacular. Located on the northeast coast of Australia, there lies a place just like this. This is the Great Barrier Reef. These coral reefs are called, “the rainforest of the ocean,” because it supports a huge diversity of life. Coral reefs are more than just beauty, they are a home to fish and other creatures. They protect humans against floods and storms. The reef not only contains an abundance of marine life, but it is also the world’s largest coral reef system. It is so gigantic, astronauts could see it all the way from outer space. This paper offers an extensive amount of information about the Great Barrier Reef, including how it was formed, the animals that call it home, and how it is dying.
The Great Barrier Reef is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is believed to be one of the most incredible places on this earth. This reef is the largest living organism on this planet and the only living thing on earth visible from space (2011). The warm waters of the southwest Pacific Ocean are the perfect environments to create the world's largest system of coral reefs. The Great Barrier Reef is in such pristine condition that it was listed by the World Heritage Trust as a protected site and is therefore, managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure that its beauty is maintained for many travelers and sightseers (Edgar 2010). Due to the complexity of this natural phenomenon, human practices have led
The Great Barrier Reef is under threat due to many human impacts and natural impacts. These impacts lead to other consequences that may harm our society as well. For example, if the Great Barrier Reef was to be damaged by pollution, tourism levels would decrease, which can lead to a drop in the economic stance of Australia. For these reasons, it is important to keep our ecosystems safe and protected. Some of the human impacts towards the Great Barrier Reef include:
While government officials looked the other way, half of the coral has disappeared from along the length of the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, vast areas of the reef’s coral have suffered serious degradation. It isn’t surprising that the area’s unique level of biodiversity is being threatened by the damage as well.
Since the beginning of time man has shown a desire to alter his physical surroundings based on his perception of inequalities, injustices, survival or even due to his own innovations. Perhaps it stems from the primal instinct to survive and along with that a common theme behind this desire seems to be an effort to make the world a better place, either more aesthetically pleasing, or easier to survive in. Technological advances for human survival and comfort may come at the expense of animals, climate, air, land and sea. Human ignorance often leads to the natural wonders of our world being destroyed due to these technological advances and human arrogance. Humans have wiped out many species that they come in contact with and almost destroyed other natural environments and ecosystems. Along the northeast coast of Australia is a cluster of reefs known as the Great Barrier Reef, the most diverse underwater phenomenon in our world. This natural wonder is not being cared for and everyone needs to take responsibility for what is happening to this reef, especially in adjacent locations and help in as many ways as possible. The Australian Government is responsible for the protection of the natural resources within their country. They need to act as the main spokesperson for the Great Barrier Reef. The government needs to be more proactive because if nothing is done the Great Barrier Reef will no longer exist. Even though it is not just the Australian Government that is to blame for
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef In the world being at 345, 000 square kilometres in size. This huge amount of reef is home to 1,500 species of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and 133 species of sharks and rays (Act.greenpeace.org, 2018). Imagine you were one of these fish and your home was just dying off leaving you without food and having to move to different areas. We are the ones causing The Great Barrier Reef to die! Not only does the reef provide homes and food for all of these animals but it also provides the ocean and earth with large amounts of oxygen.
The Great Barrier Reef always under constant threat due to pollution, human use, global warming, crown thorn starfish and more. The Australian Governments putting new systems in place to try and save the reef. They currently have the 2050 reef plan in action as a long-term sustainability strategy along with contributing millions of dollars to the Reef Trust.
“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something” (Teresa). The ocean as we know it is a huge expanse of water covering more than seventy percent of our planet. It hides many mysteries, and phenomenon that man would not have been able to imagine if we had not explored the water depths and expanses of the oceans for our own eyes to see. There are many amazing and incredible occurrences of many varieties all over our oceans but one amazing and astounding natural occurrence is Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is a vast organic structure that has existed longer than man. It has always been present underneath the water surface near the coast of Australia, harboring many different types of sea creatures. Over the past few decades, the reef has slowly been dying. Humans have been negatively affecting it for a while now, although they may not have known it at that time. We, as humans, have the duty to correct our mistake and take responsibility for our actions by doing everything in our power to nourish and tend to the reef. Governments all across the globe have come together to collaborate and discuss what they can do to save the reef from extinction. Many solutions have been talked about and some have been put into place, but the effects of these won’t be seen until a number of years later. We must wait and hope that our ignorance up until this point won’t destroy an iconic landmark before we can try and save it.
One of the world’s largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef is biologically rich and diverse and is Australia’s most remarkable, valued and remarkable environmental resources (Australian government). As the world’s most comprehensive coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef is a site of unparalleled natural beauty on the north-east coast of Australia (unesco).
As the Great Barrier Reef (GBR)in Australia is the natural heritage, whose ecosystem is subject to
Coral reefs around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, it is the largest reef system boosting exotic crystal-clear waters, vibrant coloured coral and an abundant variety of marine life. Bleaching of the coral ecosystem influenced by global warming and anthropogenic pollution is putting the reef in mortal danger and generating an environmental
The Great Barrier Reef is under immense environmental pressure, the most prominent issue being climate change. The reef system is a vulnerable ecosystem that requires particular specifications to survive. Corals ideal temperature is between 25-29 degrees Celsius; when this temperature rises for more than 2 weeks at a time, coral bleaching can occur. Coral bleaching can affect 60-95% of the reef, the northern third of the reef being the most heavily damaged. The increase in cyclones (particularly from 2005-2014) has been attributed to climate change, as well as an inflation in crown of thorn starfish outbreaks. A rise in sea level as well as the reasons mentioned above has led to the rapid deterioration of the reefs ecosystem health, thus a