Coral Reefs Conservation

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Healthy corals

Bleached corals

Adapted from:

Coral reefs can take a variety of forms, defined in following:

Fringing reef – a reef that is directly attached to a shore or borders it with an intervening shallow channel or lagoon.
Barrier reef – a reef separated from a mainland or island shore by a deep lagoon.
Patch reef – an isolated, often circular reef, usually within a lagoon or embayment.
Apron reef – a short reef resembling a fringing reef, but more sloped; extending out and downward from a point or peninsular shore.
Bank reef – a linear or semi-circular in outline, larger than a patch reef.
Ribbon reef – a long, narrow, somewhat winding reef, usually associated with an atoll lagoon.
Table reef – an isolated reef, approaching an atoll type, but without a lagoon.
Coral Atolls- rings of coral that grow on top of old, sunken volcanoes in the ocean. They begin as fringe reefs surrounding a volcanic island, then, as the volcano sinks, the reef continues to grow, and eventually only the reef remains.

Here are the links about coral reefs:

AT HOME

Help prevent water pollution by cutting down on your own use of herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides and cleaning products. Don't pour these down the drain.

AT PLAY

Dispose of your rubbish properly. Don’t leave unwanted lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish.
Take only the fish you will eat that day. Leave tomorrow's catch in the water. Fishing pressure is one of the most serious threats to coral reef ecosystem and our island lifestyle.
Never release aquarium or non-native plants or animals into waters. They can become vicious predators and/or carry disease that can kill reefs and fish.
Stay off the reef when swimming, snorkeling and diving. One touch can harm it. More can kill it.
Anchoring on the reef can kill it! Look for sandy bottom or use moorings if available.
Leave marine life alone. Enjoy nature but don't touch or chase animals.

Coral reefs are important for many reasons. Most importantly, they provide protection and shelter for many different species of fish. Without coral reefs, these fish are left homeless with nowhere to live and have their babies.

Not only do these fish increase the diversity of our world, but also reef fish and molluscs feed between 30 and 40 million people every year. They also make beautiful pets and the money made by catching and selling these animals provides many people with an income so that they can feed their families.

And coral reefs are very important in controlling how much carbon dioxide is in the ocean water. Inside the sac of each coral polyp lives a one-celled algae called zooxanthellae (zoo-zan-thel-y). The algae gives off oxygen and other nutrients that the coral polyp needs to live and in return the polyp gives the algae carbon dioxide and other substances the algae needs. That is why coral reefs grow so near the surface of the water where it is the sunniest-the algae need sunshine for photosynthesis. Without coral, the amount of carbon dioxide in the water will rise dramatically and that would affect all living things on Earth.

Coral reefs are very important because they protect coasts from strong currents and waves by slowing down the water before it gets to shore. That is why they are called barrier reefs. They provide a barrier between the ocean and the shore.

The whimsical names of corals-bubble, staghorn, starburst and brain-hint at their spectacular appearance, but not necessarily at their true value. As the largest living structures on the planet, coral reefs are also among the greatest store houses of biodiversity on Earth.

Coral Reefs are also one of the most threatened marine systems. Scientist estimated that unless we take immediate action, we could lose up to 70% of coral reefs by 2050.