Chapter 1 Gateway 2&3

Question 1

How are coastal areas valuable to people?

Answer 1

Through:

1) Provisioning services
2) Regulating services
3) Cultural services
4) Supporting services

Question 2

Elaborate how provisioning services through coastal reefs benefit people.

Answer 2

1)Fish and seafood
Main dietary protein. Fishermen’s livelihood. Greenland earns 72% export income fish products.
2)Water
Coastal bays and inlets provide sheltered harbours for vessels. Wave and tidal energy harness, converted into EE. TE potentially supply 3% of USA energy.
3) Building and ornamental materials
Mangrove wood build boats. Corals crushed, manufacture cement. Coral pieces souvenirs and ornaments.

Question 3

Elaborate how regulating services through coastal areas benefit people.

Answer 3

1)Shoreline stabilization
Coral reefs& mangroves cause wave break& lose energy. Reduce impact of shoreline erosion, especially during storms& high tides. Stabilize shoreline by protecting existing shoreline.
2)Flood prevention
Wide sandy beaches help disperse water&reduce flooding risks. Sand dunes act as barriers prevent water advancing inland. Wetlands able contain substantial amt of water.
3)Storm&natural hazard protection
Coastline vegetated with mangroves absorb wave energy.

Question 4

Elaborate how cultural services through coastal areas benefit people.

Answer 4

1) Recreational benefits.
Allow ppl relax, rejuvenate, be inspired. Swimming,sailing.
2) Aesthetics benefits
Attract tourists. Beauty of coast inspire ppl to draw and write, appreciate nature.
3) Spiritual Benefits
Eg tanah lot temple in Indonesia.

Question 5

Elaborate how through costal areas are supporting serves beneficial.

Answer 5

Coastal ecosystems support production of ecosystem services. Sustain wide range of habitats.

Question 6

Why are most coral reefs found in SEA?

Answer 6

The areas around SEA provide a fragile environment for survival of coral reefs.

Question 7

How does wave energy play a role in affecting the survival of coral reefs?

Answer 7

Strong waves action increases likelihood of food and O2 supplies & prevents sediments from suffocating coral reefs.
Storm waves destructive to corals.

Question 8

How does sedimentation play a role in affecting the survival of coral reefs?

Answer 8

Sediments may suffocate living corals.

Question 9

How does temperature play a role in affecting the survival of coral reefs?

Answer 9

Optimum temperature of sea surface temperatures not lower than 17 or 17 degrees.

Question 10

How does salinity play a role in affecting the survival of coral reefs?

Answer 10

Prefer average sea water salinities.

Lower salinity levels inhibit coral growth eg at mouths of rivers.

Question 11

How does water depth play a role in affecting the survival of coral reefs?

Answer 11

Clear saline water between 10&60 meters deep allow sunlight to penetrate, triggering algae photosynthesis.

Question 12

How does turbidity play a role in affecting the survival of coral reefs?

Answer 12

Levels of murkiness of water determined by amount or particles suspended in water.
High turbidity restricts sunlight penetration, algae can’t photosynthesis efficiently

Question 13

Why do coral reefs play a crucial role in supporting natural ecosystems?

Answer 13

They allow wide range of creatures to breed and grow. Supports more than 25% of earths marine species.
Marine creatures living around reefs provide food for larger creatures

Question 14

How do coral reefs absorb wave energy?

Answer 14

Causing them to break and lose energy, protecting adjacent land mass from erosion. However, during severe storms, coral reefs can be severely damaged. Recovery is slow, coasts prone to erosion.

Question 15

Why are coral reefs valuable?

Answer 15

1) Supports ecosystem
2) Ability to absorb wave energy
3) Tourist attractions
3) Jewelley and ornaments.

Question 16

How do coral reefs boost economies through tourism?

Answer 16

Maldives, island nation in Indian Ocean, famous for diving site because of its unique limestone rocks and sheltered environments filled with corals, lagoons and fish species. Country’s economy boosted through millions of visitor experiencing these ecosystems.

Question 17

How do coral reefs boost economies through sale of items?

Answer 17

Jewellery and ornaments from corals favored as souvenirs by tourists visiting coral reefs. Economy boosted.

Question 18

What kind of environments allow survival of mangroves?

Answer 18

Coasts with low energy waves allow mud and plant litter to accumulate and mangroves to thrive.

Question 19

How do mangroves play a role in stabilizing shorelines?

Answer 19

Their dense network of roots absorb energy of waves, this slowing flow of water. This network of roots allow sediments that are washed down by rivers and washed up on coasts to build up amongst mangrove roots.

Question 20

How do mangroves protect coastal areas from erosion by tides, storm waves and tsunamis?

Answer 20

Sediments build up amongst the mangrove roots, and they help break the energy of waves, this slowing them down. Thus decreasing the power of waves.

Question 21

How are mangrove environments breeding grounds for creatures?

Answer 21

Barnacles, oysters and sponges anchor on hard surfaces of aerial roots; shrimps, crabs and lobsters forage for food in the muddy sediments between mangrove roots, fish breed in nearby water.

Question 22

How do mangroves improve water quality?

Answer 22

They accumulate fine sediments which trap particles of heavy metals such as iron and copper. Sediments act as natural filters and help purify water.

Question 23

How is climate change a threat to coastal areas?

Answer 23

Rise in sea levels means higher temperatures, this could potentially submerge low lying coasts like beaches and deltas. Positive impact is that warmer air help mangroves survive in less favored areas.

Question 24

How are eroding shorelines a threat to coastal areas?

Answer 24

Climate change likely to bring more storms. Severe storms erode beaches. More prone to erosion when coral reefs destroyed.

Question 25

How is rising population a threat to coastal areas?

Answer 25

As population increases, there’ll be more pressure on land and water resources. Governments will seek costal sites to expand and build new ports and housing to cater to the people’s needs.