reef out of balance - human impacts click to view video “predators among us” click to view video...

Reef Out of Balance -Human Impacts

Reef Out of Balance -Human Impacts

Click to view video “Predators Among Us”

Click to view video “Oceans Face Mass Extinction”

Click to view video “Oceana Problems and Solutions”

http://coralreef.noaa.gov/education/educators/resourcecd/additional/resources/predators_among_us.mov

http://video.pbs.org/video/2019663685

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/videos/blue-august-oceana-problems-and-solutions.html

What factors cause our reefs to be out of balance?

What factors cause our reefs to be out of balance?

Which of these factors are connected to humans activities?

• All of them! The two factors that we will focus on are:• Overfishing• Pollution from runoff

Which of these factors are connected to humans activities?

• All of them! The two factors that we will focus on are:• Overfishing• Pollution from runoff

What is overfishing?What is overfishing?• Overfishing is when a body of

water has been fished and depleted of its organisms, so much so that the ecosystem is thrown off balance.

• Overfishing is when a body of water has been fished and depleted of its organisms, so much so that the ecosystem is thrown off balance.

Article - Can Hawaii Save Their Reefs from Aquarium Collecting?

Overfishing - Hawaii Star Advertiser Article

Video - Overfishing in Our Oceans

http://news.change.org/stories/can-hawaii-save-their-reefs-from-aquarium-collecting

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20101206_Meeting_to_address_overfishing_of_bigeye.html

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/videos/blue-august-overfishing-in-our-oceans.html

How do we know if our reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands have been overfished?How do we know if our reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands have been overfished?

• We can compare our reefs to the older reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).

• These reefs are in places with very few humans. They provide a “window” to our past.

• We can compare our reefs to the older reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).

• These reefs are in places with very few humans. They provide a “window” to our past.

What can we conclude from these circle graphs of Hawaiian reefs?

What can we conclude from these circle graphs of Hawaiian reefs?

Main Hawaiian Islands Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Source: Maragos & Gulko, 2000

The size of the circles represents biomass - the total estimated weight of organisms in a defined area. Biomass is much higher in NWHI.

The percentage of apex predators is much higher in the NWHI.

Why do you think there are these differences?

The size of the circles represents biomass - the total estimated weight of organisms in a defined area. Biomass is much higher in NWHI.

The percentage of apex predators is much higher in the NWHI.

Why do you think there are these differences?

ConclusionsConclusions

There are no longer enough fish in the main islands to support so many large apex predators. There is less human impact (runoff, pollution, etc) in the NWHI.

Source: Navigating Change Teacher’s Guide

How does overfishing affect the balance of the reef?

How does overfishing affect the balance of the reef?

• When any particular species is removed from the ocean, the entire ecosystem shifts to rebalance its self.

• Overfishing changes relationships between predator/prey, and between competing organisms, which impacts the entire food web.

• Sometimes the changes are so great that the ecosystem has a difficult time recovering.

• When any particular species is removed from the ocean, the entire ecosystem shifts to rebalance its self.

• Overfishing changes relationships between predator/prey, and between competing organisms, which impacts the entire food web.

• Sometimes the changes are so great that the ecosystem has a difficult time recovering.

Play the Sustainable Fish Stew Game

http://www.biodiversity911.org/fisheries/fisheries_main.html

What is pollution from runoff?What is pollution from runoff?• Pollution from runoff (nonpoint source

pollution) is when rain or irrigation water, which is not absorbed by land, drains into the ocean carrying pollutants with it.

• These pollutants can be organic or inorganic.

• Pollution from runoff (nonpoint source pollution) is when rain or irrigation water, which is not absorbed by land, drains into the ocean carrying pollutants with it.

• These pollutants can be organic or inorganic.

Which of these pollutants are organic and which are inorganic? Click for answer

•Trash•Sediment•Chemicals

•Bacteria•Feces/fertilizers•Yard waste•Oil

OrganicInorganic

Explore Pollutants from Runoff

Explore Pollutants from Runoff

Article - Land-based Pollution

Pictures of Marine Debris

Click to view video “Plastic is Forever”

Hawaii Department of Health -Article

Click to play Kure Waste Chase

Click to explore this interactive site - CoSEECoastalTrends

http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/coral/coral_las_lbsp.html

http://wildhawaii.org/gallery/debris/index.html

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/videos/blue-august-plastic-is-forever.html

http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/water/cleanwater/prc/prc/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/funandgames/jmc_kure.html?intro=false

http://www1.coseecoastaltrends.net/modules/coral_reefs_and_climate_change/get_started/

How does pollution from runoff impact the balance of the reef?How does pollution from runoff impact the balance of the reef?

• Chemicals• Sediment• Oil• Trash• Bacteria• Yard waste• Feces/fertilizers

• Chemicals• Sediment• Oil• Trash• Bacteria• Yard waste• Feces/fertilizers

Covers the corals so they cannot get sunlight

Poison the waters harming life in the reef

Causes marine animals to become entangled or to digest items mistaken for food

Causes algae to grow too quickly, which lowers the dissolved oxygen levels

Covers the corals so they cannot get sunlight

Poison the waters harming life in the reef

Causes marine animals to become entangled or to digest items mistaken for food

Causes algae to grow too quickly, which lowers the dissolved oxygen levels

Match the pollutant to its impact…Match the pollutant to its impact…

What can we do to help?What can we do to help?

Hawaii Storm Drain Project

The Nature Conservancy Eco-Etiquette

Hawaii’s Coral Reef Network

There are many ways that one can help Hawaii’s coral reefs.

• Do a beach clean up - keep the ocean life from harm• Plant a tree - help hold the sediment on land• Swim/ snorkel with care - stepping on coral can kill them• Use organic - less inorganic waste means less pollution• Conserve water - less water means less runoff• Speak up - share your knowledge or advocate for changeClick here for more opportunities to help!

http://www.protectingwater.com/storm-drains.html

http://www.nature.org/greenliving/gogreen/coralreeftips/

http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/06/15/news/story3.html

Culminating Task 2 -PresentationCulminating Task 2 -Presentation

CULMINATING TASK 2:Develop a presentation that informs the public about

what we can do to bring our reefs back into balance. Select a method for sharing your project: Brochure,

PowerPoint, Video, etc.Click on the documents below for details:

– Project Description– Project Checklist– Opportunities to Help

CULMINATING TASK 2:Develop a presentation that informs the public about

what we can do to bring our reefs back into balance. Select a method for sharing your project: Brochure,

PowerPoint, Video, etc.Click on the documents below for details:

– Project Description– Project Checklist– Opportunities to Help

reef out of balance - human impacts click to view video “predators among us” click to view video...

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