Coral Reefs Flashcards
What are coral reefs?
Coral reefs are living communities. They are large underwater strips made from the skeletons of marine animals called polyps.
How are coral reefs formed?
Polyps secrete a calcium bicarbonate shell around their bodies, which remains when they die. These shells then cement together to form the physical structure of the reef.
How are coral reefs important to the Caribbean?
Mainly, many ecosystem elements will be disrupted without coral reefs.
- Coral reefs absorb wave energy, which causes pieces to break off. This rubble is deposited on the shore creating beaches.
-These created coastlines formed the wetland ecosystems native to many of the Caribbean such as wetland ecosystems and mangrove swamps.
- These ecosystems provide a wide variety of food for their inhabitants.
-The crevices of the reefs provide shelter for many of its marine life.
-The rich nature of these reefs also can bring tourism for their beauty and educational and recreational purposes.
What factors are threatening the life of Coral Reefs?
Natural resources and habitats, like coral reefs, are always prone to threats, whether it is human activity or not.
-Global warming is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall temperature. When this occurs the ice caps begin to melt, thus increasing the water levels which is detrimental to the growth of the reefs. Ideally, coral reefs need to be 20-40 feet deep, this is to ensure they get enough sunlight to photosynthesize since they thrive best in photic zones.
-They are also vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes. Although, as mentioned, coral waves break wave energy hurricanes carry torrential currents and storms too powerful for coral reefs to withstand that energy. When hurricanes come into contact with reefs, they break copious amounts of branches destroying the structure.
- Pollution and oil spillages are caused by human activity which affects the turbidity of water. This blocks the sunlight - necessary for reefs, through waste which hinders the growth process.
What measures can be taken to protect coral reefs?
It is necessary to protect coral reefs from all the threats they are susceptible to.
-The gov’t can enact legislation to ensure no illegal activity is committed. They can delegate enforcers of the law in the form of coast guards patrolling the areas. Moreover, they can implement quotas to ensure that fishermen only take a certain number of fish to not disrupt the ecosystem.
-Tourist activity can be regulated to safeguard the reefs such as no trampling or taking of coral reefs and no kicking of sand which will affect the turbidity of water.
-Nurseries can be created for coral reefs where they will be propagated and grow to a desired size They are then transplanted to a suitable area.
-It is also pertinent to educate people on why it is important to protect coral reefs. For instance, community development is where people interact and have first-hand experience and education about the reefs Additionally, for educational purposes St. Lucia has established the Soufriere Marine Managment Area where the reefs are rotated into areas to regenerate their parts and persons can learn about them.
