Coral Reefs Essay -- science

chromatic ReefsCoral reefs atomic number 18 arguably the domain of a functions most beautiful habitats. Coral reefs pack been called the rainforests of the oceans, because of the rich mutation of life they support. Scientists have not yet finished counting the thousands of diverse species of plants and animals that use or live in the precious chromatic reef. There are three types of coral reefs fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs are located close to shore, spaced from land by only shallow irrigate. Barrier reefs lie farther offshore, separated from land by lagoons more than ten meters deep. Atolls, on the different hand, are formed far offshore and they make a rounded reef that close a circular lagoon. Coral reefs are the largest biologic structures on the planet, with the largest being the Great Barrier Reef coering over 2000 kilometers along the east coast of Australia (Focus, 1995). The reef is said to be 500,000 to 2,500,000 eld old and is sai d to be visible from the moon.(Scientif ic, 1987). There is only wizard problem with this beautiful structure and that is the carelessness of man. Silt from deforested lands and contamination from move coastlines choke them, and overuse by coal miners, fisheries, and even tourists deplete and write down coral reefs. There are many more factors which add to the ravaging of the coral reefs, which if not stopped it will destroy all coral reefs. Corals are animals, not plants, sunlight is the key to their survival. They need it to power the millions of microscopic algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their tissues. The algae provides the corals with food and oxygen in ease up for raw materials and a secure place to live. This teamwork is what allows the reef to survive in nutrient-poor tropical seas. This relationship is sensitive to such changes in the environment as cloudy waters or extreme temperatures. The stress on the corals bathroom cause them to expel their algae, a phenomenon known as bleaching(Futurists, 1993). With the algae gone, the coral skeleton is visible and eventually it dies. Died corals lead further on to the decease of the reef. There are four environmental factors that effect their growth temperature, salinity, water depth, and wave action. These factors exposes the reef to changes in the environment very easily especially since it is located so close to shore. This also makes it hard for all of... ...e to do something about saving these coral reefs. If these reefs are destroyed it is thought that it expertness destroy the entire ecosystem of the ocean. There are over sixty-five countries that have designated some 300 parks that include coral reefs as inborn habitats in the world (Futurists,1993). The problem is that less that 30% of the designated areas are amply protected. The fight is economical not ecological. Such as Australia and the Caribbean who are reservation billions of dollars on their coral reefs. Everyone must work together to stop the pollution and the destruction of our coral reefs and our environment. it is not just one thing that is destroying the reefs it is many factors together that are destroying it. Ultimately, it is as much a question of whether we extradite or destroy the planet as it is a question of whether we conserve or destroy the worlds reef. Works Cited Aldridge, Susan (April, 1995) Coral switch for Human Bones Focus. Goreau, Thomas (August, 1987) Coral and Coral Parks scientific American. TenBruggencats, Jan (May, 1995) Coral in Hot Waters Star-Bulletin & Advertiser. Weber, Peter (July, 1993) Saving the Coral Reefs Futurists.