Eco - Barrier Reef Threat

Question 0

Give 4 main reasons why the GBR is under threat?

Answer 0

.Industry and sewage
.Fishing
.Dredging
.Tourism

Question 1

Where is the Great Barrier Reef located?

Answer 1

North-East Australia, on the Queensland Coast

Question 2

Explain how Industry and sewage is threatening the GBR?

Answer 2

Sewage is brought into the sea through rivers, it brings toxic and metal pollutants which contain nitrates and phosphates into the sea, these minerals lead to algal blooms on the surface of the sea, meaning plants eventually die through lack of sunlight

Question 3

Explain how fishing is threatening the GBR.

Answer 3

Fisherman use a method called cyanide bombing, which stuns fish making them easier to catch. However these bombs can sometimes damage the coral, blowing bits off it. As a result, 1/3 of the GBR is now banned to fisherman

Question 4

Explain how dredging is threatening the GBR.

Answer 4

Taking our building materials from the sea bed causes mud to cloud the clear waters, as a reukst, corals die through lack of sunlight

Question 5

What is dredging?

Answer 5

Dredging involves taking materials out of the sea bed to be used for building houses and shorelines, on Queensland Coast, the demand for these materials are very high, which poses problems for the corals

Question 6

Explain how tourism is threatening the GBR.

Answer 6

Snorkelers and swimmers carelessly stand on or kick the reef, breaking off various bits. Also tourism means these corals bits are being sold as souvenirs

Question 7

Give the GBR specific example

Answer 7

Housing and shoreline development on the Queensland Coast means lots of dredging is taking place

Question 8

Give a natural reason why the GBR is under threat.

Answer 8

Coral at the Keppel Island is completely bleached. This is due to global warming, causing starfish (a natural predator) to thrive and expand into new areas, eating more algae and coral, leaving white coral skeletons.