The Endangered Great Barrier ReefAlly Rosario

Professor LoweBiology 115

It contains over 400 types of different coral, and thousands of species of fish, creating a huge area of dependency and life within a rich ecosystem. The reef also has a connection to islands and many cays, a low bank of a reef or sand. “The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) along the northeast coast of Australia is the world’s largest network of contiguous coral reef 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, 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 anemones, box jellies, and octopus. In fact, up to six different species of sea turtles migrate to the reef every year between October and March. The reef also includes thousands of mollusks and sea slugs mainly, becoming a home more than just a tide pool on the shore. “In addition a wide array of animals rely on the Reef, including one of the world's most important dugong populations and six of the world's seven species of marine turtle. Some 1625 species of fish swim among more than 450 species of hard coral. Lesser known species like molluscs, sponges, marine algae, soft coral and sea pens are just some of the many that call the Great Barrier Reef home” (GBRMPA). It is also a well known area for species to spawn and reproduce. The reef extends to a huge number of 2000 meters in depth, making an authentic quality of living for all sorts of organisms. Not only is the reef beneficial for marine organisms, but also edifying to more than 200 different species of birds. It also contains vast amounts of seagrass beds and mangroves, roughly between 2000-6000 square kilometers.

Their exposure to environmental destruction really emphasized the amount of care and attention humans needed to build upon for protection of the rest of the planet. (Marohasy). “The reef now needs all the help it can get to try to bounce back, but the elephant in the room remains climate change. We can’t climate-proof reefs by making them more resilient. Bleaching can happen anywhere — even the most remote and protected areas” (Torr). Already in the early century, particularly recorded in 2002, around 54% of the corals had already experienced the devastation of coral bleaching. The majority of reef is now bland, colorless, and hardly contains any life, being the animal diversity and coral reefs alone. Corals eventually break off to the bottom floor, and the polyps end up fading from the skeletal structure. Being destroyed, species lose its dependence on the corals, not knowing where else to go and feed, reproduce, and breathe on. You can tell with the amount of fish from back then to now, has become a huge loss. Tourists now these days get excited seeing a small group of fish pop up once in awhile out of the coral. With the amount of damage done over centuries, there is barely any chance to have the ecosystem fully revived in the near future.

But, with the conserving ways and ideas to help save the reef and ocean as a whole will help everything fall back into place, even if it is a slow progression. Only us humans can learn from this mistake and do everything in our power to refrain from causing and or increasing the ruins of the Great Barrier Reef. The reef’s death shows that the human impacts have gone as far towards other continents, affecting the globe as a whole. “Conservationists constantly worry that human activity, particularly greenhouse-gas-induced global warming, will harm or even destroy it. From little to big actions, every bit of help will affect the Great Barrier Reef greatly. It’s cliche to say to reduce, reuse, recycle. But in this matter, it is one of the most important factors, especially in today’s age, to apply to. Millions of trash float in the ocean all over the globe, killing off many species and ruining their body system. You can also conserve energy by finding a different form of transportation to even turning off your light and faucet when not needed! This will help conserve energy so it doesn’t decrease Earth’s natural resources and appliances. Avoid chemical runoffs (carwash soap, cleaning solution) that go into the run off gutters that lead into the ocean, this is what also primarily causes the high level of ocean acidification. One important thing you can also do is VOLUNTEER. You will feel so strongly of yourself before, during, and after you help and take care of the planet, your home. Making a change one step at a time will eventually lead to a big population willing to follow your path! This may be the hardest way to help revive the life of the Great Barrier Reef, changing your whole lifestyle, but, “use a fuel-efficient vehicle like a hybrid or electric car. Using these cleaner transportation methods can help reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses that are emitted into the atmosphere. These emissions contribute to ocean acidification and increased ocean temperature. More acidic ocean waters impede coral growth and warmer waters cause coral bleaching” (EPA). Such fears are not foolish, but they do reflect a view of the reef’s permanence that is at variance with the truth” (The Economist). If we continue to stand against the continuation of oil and mining productions, factories, carbon dioxide emissions, and to not be afraid to make a change, we will save the Earth and eventually let its beauty thrive all over again.

The Great Barrier Reef was recently claimed as dying out due to coral bleaching and other human activities. This reef has been a resemblance of one of nature’s finest beauties on the Earth, being around for nearly 500,000 years. The Great Barrier Reef has the largest collection of beautiful corals, making a huge and bountiful area for many marine animals. For this topic, The Great Barrier Reef is discussed in terms of one of the most well known beauties, specifically, how it got destructed over time (due to human impacts, climate change, etc.), and the solutions we can do to help save what’s left of it. The reef was known as home to many various species, from small forms of fish to the biggest animal of the sea, the whale. What we have done over time, in forms of pollution, overbearing amount of carbon dioxide emissions, and even mining, we have ruined its beauty and took away the life of many corals.

The Reef’s Diversity Solutions

Well, that’s a good question. What IS next? Will human impacts increase if we still want to keep utilizing the Earth’s natural wonders for our economy marketing or pleasures? Or will we use our given nature in a form of sustainability? Of course, it is inevitable for things to stay the same, structures will change over time naturally. But, it should BE natural due to Earth’s form of movement and nature’s course. Not due to harmful gas emissions, built factories, and heat dominating the weather. The Great Barrier Reef was given as a gift to the world, and is more than even endangered. Humans said they had a desire to make an impact, but didn’t show it over the century. We can only do so much now, with knowing what solutions are best, but we would also help by knowing how much damage the reef has taken in. By recognizing how much collapsing corals have faded and given out, and to help prevent it to the best of our abilities. To not let events take place like how it has been immensely over so many years. What’s next is the unexpected, so to change and become a huge contribution will be forever, when the life of the Great Barrier Reef has gained its richness and quality of life back. With no doubt, are people confident that we ARE able to make the greatest impact filled with care and heart!

"A Great Survivor." The Economist, vol. 427, no. 9094, Jun 02, 2018, pp. 76. ProQuest, http://libraryaccess.sdmiramar.edu:8080/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.libraryaccess.sdmiramar.edu/docview/2048455940?accountid=38871.

“History and Evolution of the Great Barrier Reef.” Great Barrier Reef, www.greatbarrierreef.org/about-the-reef/history-of-the-great-barrier-reef/.

Johnson, Garrett B., et al. “Diversity and Structure of Parrotfish Assemblages across the Northern Great Barrier Reef.” Diversity (14242818), vol. 11, no. 1, Jan. 2019, p. 14. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3390/d11010014.

“Legendary Oceanographer Sylvia Earle Offers Message of Hope for Great Barrier Reef.” Australian Geographic, 17 Aug. 2018, www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2018/01/legendary-oceanographer-sylvia-earle-offers-message-of-hope-for-great-barrier-reef/.

Marohasy, Jennifer. “The Always-Dying Great Barrier Reef.” Institute of Public Affairs Review, vol. 61, no. 1, Mar. 2009, p. 24. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=86893570&site=ehost-live.

Marshall, Nadine, et al. “Identifying Indicators of Aesthetics in the Great Barrier Reef for the Purposes of Management.” PLoS ONE, vol. 14, no. 2, Feb. 2019, pp. 1–18. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0210196.

Renner, Serena. “Reef Madness.” Sierra, vol. 99, no. 6, Nov. 2014, p. 22. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=102926251&site=ehost-live.

Torr, Geordie. “TO HOT to Handle.” Geographical (Geographical Magazine Ltd.), vol. 83, no. 1, Jan. 2017, p. 40. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=120387374&site=ehost-live.

“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.

What’s Next?

References

History

Abstract

Located in Queensland, Australia, this reef expands over 2000 kilometers, protecting coastlines of the western part of the Pacific Ocean. It was first discovered in 1770 when Captain James Cook ran aground with his ship on the reef after an occurrence of a high tide. “Captain James Cook, the British explorer credited with discovering Australia, also found the Great Barrier Reef by sudden impact. His ship, the Endeavour, ran aground on the Reef on June 11, 1770. Cook's crew unloaded ballast (including cannon now imprisoned in the coral growth)” (Great Barrier Reef). and, luckily, caught a high tide that dislodged the ship from the Reef. See, already back in the 1700’s was the Great Barrier Reef impacted (jokes!). As studies became more intense over centuries, Charles Darwin scientifically mapped out the extensions and details of the reef, giving the 1800-1900’s scientists the full ability to endorse their knowledge in marine ecology and the lives of coral reefs. “Mapping the natural wonder continued throughout the nineteenth century, and, in 1928, the Great Barrier Reef Expedition was begun as a scientific study of coral lifestyles, Reef construction, and the ecology of the Reef. The Expedition's work concluded in 1929, but a permanent marine laboratory on Heron Island within the Reef was founded for scientific explorations and environmental monitoring” (GBR). Getting to know this existence of one of the world’s wonders has become the greatest benefit to the diversity and schools of fish, and for being the reason of life. Marine Biologist, Sylvia Earle had explored the Great Barrier Reef in 1975, seeing the last form of its true beauty and wonders before destruction started to increase, giving a message and raise of concern to care for the reef. “‘The greatest era of exploration of the GBR, and all of Australia’s waters, is out there in the future; it’s still to come. What’s there at 1000 feet? What’s out there in the deep water? Amazing opportunities…exist for Australia to embrace this greatest treasure of the natural world. But so much has already been lost, and more is at risk of being lost right now unless people step up…to save what remains, and restore what can still be restored’” (Goldrick). Dr. Sylvia Earle had experienced and witnessed the wild yet beautiful structure of each coral reef she looked into, and the great amount of fish swimming and inhabiting the ecosystem. It has come to be known as the world’s largest living space made ONLY by living organisms and an acknowledgement of the amount of power the ocean can hold. It is the most visible image from outer space as well. This reef has become a reminder to the human race to save the oceans, keep the environment in check, and do what we can to help prevent the deterioration of what has happened due to our human impacts.

Before vs. After

“For some, the clear water itself was beautiful, particularly with the sin shining through it, and particularly if there were small fish reflecting the sunshine just below the surface” (Marshall). As time passed, the Great Barrier Reef started to fall apart, with corals dying out, species being unable to adapt to the ecosystem, having them losing life and its population. Increasing levels of ocean acidification and chemicals were absorbed in from the atmosphere, causing massive bleaching to corals, eventually killing the reef as a whole (mainly claimed “dead” around 2016.) “A study released earlier this year predicted that id emissions continued on their current trajectory, the unusually high sea-surface temperatures that caused this year’s mass bleaching would be the norm by 2034” (Torr).. More than 75% of fish 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 fully realized, five major port expansions will accommodate 3,000 new freight and cruise ships per year, and millions of tons of sediment 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 stress upon the corals, losing its color and importantly, its life. The reef 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. Corals attain a thin layer of calcium carbonate, becoming the foundation of its skeletal structure, so once the amount of carbon 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.