The Endangered Great Barrier Ally Rosario Professor Lowe Biology 115

Abstract The Reef’s Diversity What’s Next?

The was recently claimed as dying out due to coral bleaching and Their exposure to environmental destruction really emphasized the amount of care Well, that’s a good question. What IS next? Will human impacts other human activities. This reef has been a resemblance of one of nature’s finest and attention humans needed to build upon for protection of the rest of the planet. increase if we still want to keep utilizing the Earth’s natural wonders beauties on the Earth, being around for nearly 500,000 years. The Great Barrier Reef (Marohasy). “The reef now needs all the help it can get to try to bounce back, but the for our economy marketing or pleasures? Or will we use our given has the largest collection of beautiful corals, making a huge and bountiful area for elephant in the room remains climate change. We can’t climate-proof reefs by making nature in a form of sustainability? Of course, it is inevitable for many marine animals. For this topic, The Great Barrier Reef is discussed in terms of them more resilient. Bleaching can happen anywhere — even the most remote and things to stay the same, structures will change over time naturally. one of the most well known beauties, specifically, how it got destructed over time protected areas” (Torr). Already in the early century, particularly recorded in 2002, But, it should BE natural due to Earth’s form of movement and (due to human impacts, climate change, etc.), and the solutions we can do to help around 54% of the corals had already experienced the devastation of coral bleaching. nature’s course. Not due to harmful gas emissions, built factories, save what’s left of it. The reef was known as home to many various species, from The majority of reef is now bland, colorless, and hardly contains any life, being the and heat dominating the weather. The Great Barrier Reef was given small forms of fish to the biggest animal of the sea, the whale. What we have done animal diversity and coral reefs alone. Corals eventually break off to the bottom floor, as a gift to the world, and is more than even endangered. Humans over time, in forms of pollution, overbearing amount of carbon dioxide emissions, and the polyps end up fading from the skeletal structure. Being destroyed, species said they had a desire to make an impact, but didn’t show it over the and even mining, we have ruined its beauty and took away the life of many corals. lose its dependence on the corals, not knowing where else to go and feed, reproduce, century. We can only do so much now, with knowing what solutions and breathe on. You can tell with the amount of fish from back then to now, has are best, but we would also help by knowing how much damage the become a huge loss. Tourists now these days get excited seeing a small group of fish reef has taken in. By recognizing how much collapsing corals have pop up in awhile out of the coral. With the amount of damage done over faded and given out, and to help prevent it to the best of our centuries, there is barely any chance to have the ecosystem fully revived in the near abilities. To not let events take place like how it has been immensely future. over so many years. What’s next is the unexpected, so to change and It contains over 400 types of different coral, and thousands of become a huge contribution will be forever, when the life of the species of fish, creating a huge area of dependency and life within a Great Barrier Reef has gained its richness and quality of life back. rich ecosystem. The reef also has a connection to islands and many With no doubt, are people confident that we ARE able to make the cays, a low bank of a reef or sand. “The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) greatest impact filled with care and heart! along the northeast coast of Australia is the world’s largest network of contiguous structures" (Johnson). It is known as a huge tourist attraction, being one of the main reasons as to why Australia is a MUST to travel to. Groups of corals become hiding places for smaller fish, to hide from prey such as sharks. Known as nature’s greatest treasure, it has become a more than adequate benefit of many groups of fish for years, becoming one of the most enriched ecosystems on Earth. Even from an above-air view, you can see the diversity and the massive distance it reaches from beginning to end, History the rich color of what the reefs have accustomed to, and how it formed as a whole. The animals that were recorded in the GBR go from sea turtles, dugongs, bony fishes, to sharks, whales, sea Located in Queensland, Australia, this reef expands over 2000 kilometers, anemones, box jellies, and octopus. In fact, up to six different protecting coastlines of the western part of the Pacific Ocean. It was first species of sea turtles migrate to the reef every year between October discovered in 1770 when Captain James Cook ran aground with his ship on the and March. The reef also includes thousands of mollusks and sea But, with the conserving ways and ideas to help save the reef and ocean as a whole reef after an occurrence of a high . “Captain James Cook, the British explorer slugs mainly, becoming a home more than just a tide pool on the will help everything fall back into place, even if it is a slow progression. Only us credited with discovering Australia, also found the Great Barrier Reef by sudden shore. “In addition a wide array of animals rely on the Reef, humans can learn from this mistake and do everything in our power to refrain from impact. His ship, the Endeavour, ran aground on the Reef on June 11, 1770. including one of the world's most important dugong populations and causing and or increasing the ruins of the Great Barrier Reef. The reef’s death shows Cook's crew unloaded ballast (including cannon now imprisoned in the coral six of the world's seven species of marine turtle. Some 1625 species that the human impacts have gone as far towards other continents, affecting the globe growth)” (Great Barrier Reef). and, luckily, caught a high tide that dislodged the of fish swim among more than 450 species of hard coral. Lesser as a whole. “Conservationists constantly worry that human activity, particularly ship from the Reef. See, already back in the 1700’s was the Great Barrier Reef known species like molluscs, sponges, marine algae, soft coral and greenhouse-gas-induced global warming, will harm or even destroy it. From little to impacted (jokes!). As studies became more intense over centuries, Charles sea pens are just some of the many that call the Great Barrier Reef big actions, every bit of help will affect the Great Barrier Reef greatly. It’s cliche to Darwin scientifically mapped out the extensions and details of the reef, giving home” (GBRMPA). say to reduce, reuse, recycle. But in this matter, it is one of the most important factors, References the 1800-1900’s scientists the full ability to endorse their knowledge in marine It is also a well known area for species to spawn and reproduce. The especially in today’s age, to apply to. Millions of trash float in the ocean all over the ecology and the lives of coral reefs. “Mapping the natural wonder continued reef extends to a huge number of 2000 meters in depth, making an globe, killing off many species and ruining their body system. You can also conserve throughout the nineteenth century, and, in 1928, the Great Barrier Reef authentic quality of living for all sorts of organisms. Not only is the energy by finding a different form of transportation to even turning off your light and Expedition was begun as a scientific study of coral lifestyles, Reef construction, reef beneficial for marine organisms, but also edifying to more than faucet when not needed! This will help conserve energy so it doesn’t decrease Earth’s and the ecology of the Reef. The Expedition's work concluded in 1929, but a 200 different species of birds. It also contains vast amounts of natural resources and appliances. Avoid chemical runoffs (carwash soap, cleaning "A Great Survivor." The Economist, vol. 427, no. 9094, Jun 02, 2018, pp. 76. ProQuest, http:// permanent marine laboratory on Heron Island within the Reef was founded for seagrass beds and mangroves, roughly between 2000-6000 square ) that go into the run off gutters that lead into the ocean, this is what also libraryaccess.sdmiramar.edu:8080/login?url=https://search-proquest- scientific explorations and environmental monitoring” (GBR). Getting to know kilometers. primarily causes the high level of ocean acidification. One important thing you can com.libraryaccess.sdmiramar.edu/docview/2048455940?accountid=38871. this existence of one of the world’s wonders has become the greatest benefit to also do is VOLUNTEER. You will feel so strongly of yourself before, during, and the diversity and schools of fish, and for being the reason of life. Marine after you help and take care of the planet, your home. Making a change one step at a Biologist, Sylvia Earle had explored the Great Barrier Reef in 1975, seeing the time will eventually lead to a big population willing to follow your path! This may be “History and Evolution of the Great Barrier Reef.” Great Barrier Reef, www.greatbarrierreef.org/ last form of its true beauty and wonders before destruction started to increase, the hardest way to help revive the life of the Great Barrier Reef, changing your whole about-the-reef/history-of-the-great-barrier-reef/. giving a message and raise of concern to care for the reef. “‘The greatest era of Before vs. After lifestyle, but, “use a fuel-efficient vehicle like a hybrid or electric car. Using these exploration of the GBR, and all of Australia’s waters, is out there in the future; cleaner transportation methods can help reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses that it’s still to come. What’s there at 1000 feet? What’s out there in the deep water? are emitted into the atmosphere. These emissions contribute to ocean acidification Johnson, Garrett B., et al. “Diversity and Structure of Parrotfish Assemblages across the Northern Amazing opportunities…exist for Australia to embrace this greatest treasure of and increased ocean . More acidic ocean waters impede coral growth and Great Barrier Reef.” Diversity (14242818), vol. 11, no. 1, Jan. 2019, p. 14. EBSCOhost, doi: the natural world. But so much has already been lost, and more is at risk of being “For some, the clear water itself was beautiful, particularly with the warmer waters cause coral bleaching” (EPA). Such fears are not foolish, but they do 10.3390/d11010014. lost right now unless people step up…to save what remains, and restore what can sin shining through it, and particularly if there were small fish reflect a view of the reef’s permanence that is at variance with the truth” (The still be restored’” (Goldrick). Dr. Sylvia Earle had experienced and witnessed the reflecting the sunshine just below the surface” (Marshall). As time Economist). If we continue to stand against the continuation of oil and mining wild yet beautiful structure of each coral reef she looked into, and the great passed, the Great Barrier Reef started to fall apart, with corals dying productions, factories, carbon dioxide emissions, and to not be afraid to make a “Legendary Oceanographer Sylvia Earle Offers Message of Hope for Great Barrier Reef.” Australian amount of fish swimming and inhabiting the ecosystem. It has come to be known out, species being unable to adapt to the ecosystem, having them change, we will save the Earth and eventually let its beauty thrive all over again. Geographic, 17 Aug. 2018, www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/ as the world’s largest living space made ONLY by living organisms and an losing life and its population. Increasing levels of ocean acidification 2018/01/legendary-oceanographer-sylvia-earle-offers-message-of-hope-for-great-barrier-reef/. acknowledgement of the amount of power the ocean can hold. It is the most and chemicals were absorbed in from the atmosphere, causing massive visible image from outer space as well. This reef has become a reminder to the bleaching to corals, eventually killing the reef as a whole (mainly human race to save the oceans, keep the environment in check, and do what we claimed “dead” around 2016.) “A study released earlier this year can to help prevent the deterioration of what has happened due to our human predicted that id emissions continued on their trajectory, the Marohasy, Jennifer. “The Always-Dying Great Barrier Reef.” Institute of Public Affairs Review, impacts. unusually high sea-surface that caused this year’s mass vol. 61, no. 1, Mar. 2009, p. 24. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? bleaching would be the norm by 2034” (Torr).. More than 75% of fish direct=true&db=f6h&AN=86893570&site=ehost-live. populations have declined over the years since the practice of coral bleaching started. This was due to an overbearing amount of pollution, mining, oil factories, overfishing, and shipping. “If the development is Marshall, Nadine, et al. “Identifying Indicators of Aesthetics in the Great Barrier Reef for the fully realized, five major port expansions will accommodate 3,000 Purposes of Management.” PLoS ONE, vol. 14, no. 2, Feb. 2019, pp. 1–18. EBSCOhost, doi: new freight and cruise ships per year, and millions of tons of sediment 10.1371/journal.pone.0210196. dredged to expand the ports could be dumped inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park” (Renner). Human impacts have greatly affected the reef overtime, having a huge increase of coral bleaching and bringing Renner, Serena. “Reef Madness.” Sierra, vol. 99, no. 6, Nov. 2014, p. 22. EBSCOhost, stress upon the corals, losing its color and importantly, its life. The reef search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=102926251&site=ehost-live. has lost over 30% of coral life, reason being that with climate change and global warming as well, the heat over the past decade has increased so quickly, making it more difficult for corals to adapt. Torr, Geordie. “TO HOT to Handle.” Geographical (Geographical Magazine Ltd.), vol. 83, no. 1, Corals attain a thin layer of calcium carbonate, becoming the Jan. 2017, p. 40. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? foundation of its skeletal structure, so once the amount of carbon direct=true&db=f6h&AN=120387374&site=ehost-live. dioxide becomes too much to handle, it gives our and ends up losing that layer over time. The revival of coral reefs may take thousands of years, and only one action to destroy it in just a few seconds. “What You Can Do to Help Protect Coral Reefs.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 26 Sept. 2018, www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/what-you-can-do-help-protect-coral-reefs.