hannah, brooks, alex, kyle. location background world’s largest reef system 2,900 individual...

Great Barrier ReefHannah, Brooks, Alex, Kyle

Location

BackgroundWorld’s largest reef system2,900 individual reefs, 7% of reef is coralTourism generates 4-5 billion dollars of

revenue/year2 million people visit each yearFishing industry worth 1 billion

Environmental IssuesSediment and chemical runoffOcean acidificationClimate Change2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill

RunoffThirty major rivers and hundreds of small streams

run through the Great Barrier catchment area. Sediment in rivers run into the reef and make the

water murkySediment smothers coral

Farming fertilizers cause chemical runoff. Runoff Includes copper which prevents coral growth

Excess nutrients from fertilizers causes poor water quality. Makes coral more susceptible to the spread of infectious disease.

Climate ChangeClimate change is considered the greatest

threat to the reefIf the ocean raises 1 degree the reef could be

destroyed.Atmospheric CO2 has increased 103 ppm this

centuryHigher temperatures cause coral bleaching

Causes disease susceptibility and detrimental ecological effects for reef communities

Ocean AcidificationCaused by greenhouse gas emissionsWater in the atmosphere reacts with CO2 and

lowers pH. Enters the ecosystem through precipitation

Decreases the ability for organisms to make calcium carbonate

Disables organisms from defending themselves against predators

Oil Spills2010 Great Barrier Reef Oil Spill

Created largest grounding scar ever recorded on the reef

The damaged areas are now completely devoid of marine life

Often oil spill clean up cause more damage to ecosystem than the spill itself

Oil drilling causes marine structural damage

The Future IssuesFewer fishWhite coralIncreased bacteriaPolluted watersAlgae blooms and crown of thorn growthIncreased pesticide exposure

Saving the ReefNo fishing zones, fishing limitsAllocating specific wildlife areas. Closed off

to tourism.Marine sanctuaries

Teach proper irrigation to farmers and fine for chemical runoff

Individual action to reduce global warming effects (limit electricity use, recycle)