coral reef bleaching by: sarah barash. what is coral reef bleaching? coral reef bleaching is caused...
TRANSCRIPT
Coral Reef Bleaching
By: Sarah Barash
What is Coral Reef Bleaching?
• Coral reef bleaching is caused by many factors but is basically when the coral is stressed and the coral expels the algae living in it
Why Is Coral Important?
• They shelter 25 percent of marine species
• Protect shorelines
• Support fishing industries
• Tourist Attraction
• Medical use
• Biodiversity
Key Terms
• Zooxanthellae- a photosynthetic algae that lives in coral and gives the coral its color. The coral and zooxanthellae have a mutualism relationship
• Sedimentation- particles mixing with water
How It Is Caused
• Reduction of photosynthetic pigment concentrations in zooxanthealle
• sea temperature (too hot)
• Sedimentation
• Foreign chemicals and nutrients (fertilizers, purchased dirt, etc.)
• Freshwater
• Overfishing
Areas That Are Affected
• Florida Keys
• Caribbean
• Gulf of Mexico
• South Atlantic
• Western Pacific
What Will Happen?
• Climate Change: the ocean will no longer be able to handle the carbon emissions in the ocean because the zooxanthealle will be gone
• Ocean Acidification: the extra CO2 has already begun to decreasing the ocean’s pH level
• Fishing Impact: the healthy coral acts as a home for many commercial fish
• Pollution: can cause disease and change the trophic structure
Sediment
Environmental Impact
• Trophic levels will be changed
• Extreme human growth can cause over fishing bringing down biodiversity
How It Affects the Carbon Cycle
But You Can Help!
• Reduce Greenhouse Gases because scientists already predict a 1.8ºF raise in water temperature in the next century already due to the emissions
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- be mindful of where your waste and runoff go!
Works Cited
Picture Links
• http://bestclipartblog.com/clipart-pics/fish-clip-art-7.jpg
• http://peswiki.com/images/5/5b/Carbon_cycle_diagram.jpg
• http://www.ourbreathingplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Coral-Reef.jpg
• http://icons.wxug.com/metgraphics/climate/coral_bleaching.jpg
• http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/481/files/import/i-5403acc4b27ad23b2ba0a242849b04ea-healthy-coral-reef.jpg
• http://coralreef.noaa.gov/threats/pollution/resources/plume_burdick.jpg