death of coral reefs
TRANSCRIPT
Power Point by Sharon and Rita
Pretty isn’t it?
Not so much anymore
What are coral reefs?coral reefs have been around us
for more than 400 million years
Coral are extremely ancient animals that evolved into reef-building forms over the last 25 million years
There are two main types of coral:
- The hard coral, the major reef-building species
- The soft coral, such as sea whips and sea fans.
How are they made?
They are aragonite structures produced by living organisms.
coral reefs are formed by the aggregation of the calcium carbonate exoskeletons of corals
What are the threats?Human activity is one of the
greatest threats.
Other threats are:– Global warming – coral mining – pollution – over-fishing – blast fishing
The Threat of Human Destruction
Coral is damaged by anchors
Blast fishing will kill coral reefs
This is due to inappropriate fishing techniques
The Threat of Seaweed
Corals overgrown by seaweed
Caused by:– Over-fertilization – Sewage– Agriculture
The Threat of Coral Bleaching
Coral turns white
This is due to:– High temperatures– Climate Change
What happens to dead reefs?They become white in
colour and collapse
It deprives fish of food
Fish diversity is cut in half
How to HelpInstall Moorings
Remove nutrients from sewage
More efficient ways to fertilize
Reduce green house gasses
Thank you for watching