GBR 2

Question 1

The Great Barrier Reef

What are the threats to and impacts on the physical environment by human activities?

Answer 1

• Pollution
• Agriculture and deforestation
• Pollution
• Lack of industrial regulation
• Tourism
• Climate change
• Seawater acidity

Question 2

The Great Barrier Reef

Describe the threats and impacts of pollution on the physical environment by human activities ​

Answer 2

Pollution - marine plastic debris transports chemical contaminants and invasive species. Smothers coral, entangles & is ingested by wildlife. Heavy metals & POPs can bioaccumulate and biomagnify = disrupted reproduction, impacts on immune system & neurological disorders

Pollution - 283 total oil spills have occurred over the waters of the Great Barrier Reef since 1987.

Question 3

The Great Barrier Reef

Describe the threats and impacts of Agriculture and deforestation on the physical environment by human activities.

Answer 3

Agriculture and deforestation - Increased sedimentation and the flow of nutrients and pesticides into the ecosystem affect inshore areas - higher algal growth - build-up of pollutants in sediments and marine species, reduced light and smothered corals.

Question 4

The Great Barrier Reef

Describe the threats and impacts of Lack of industrial regulation on the physical environment by human activities.

Answer 4

Lack of industrial regulation - the Chinese bulk coal carrier Shen Neng 1 travelled 10 kilometres outside the shipping zone = some of damaged areas becoming uninhabitable for marine life. The reef may take up to 10 to 20 years to recover from the incident.

Question 5

The Great Barrier Reef

Describe the threats and impacts of Tourism on the physical environment by human activities.

Answer 5

Tourism - millions of visitors (Visitors spent nearly 43m total nights in the GBR region ) to the Great Barrier Reef every year are also an unintentional contributor to the general decline of the reef due to the use of leisure vessels, reef-walking, using submersibles, runoff from sunscreens and littering.

Question 6

The Great Barrier Reef

Describe the threats and impacts of climate change on the physical environment by human activities.

Answer 6

Climate change - including rising sea temperatures, accelerating rates of sea level rise, changing weather patterns and ocean acidification.

Question 7

The Great Barrier Reef

Describe the threats and impacts of seawater acidity on the physical environment by human activities.

Answer 7

• Seawater acidity reduces the capacity of some marine life, such as corals, to build their calcium carbonate based skeletons (& affects symbiotic relationship between zooxanthellae algae and coral polyps)

Question 8

The role of conservation to reduce the threats in the Great Barrier Reef;

Describe the use of zoning as a method of conservation to the GBR.

Answer 8

• Land-use zoning - separates conflicting uses into 7 zones [conservation, general use, habitat preservation etc) (33 per cent of the Marine Park awarded marine NP status - fishing and collecting is not permitted)
• 1981- World Heritage Site/ 1975- Marine Park
• 8 public moorings installed & reef protection markers to show where anchoring is prohibited
• Prospective developments are subject to environmental assessments before permission is granted

Question 9

The role of conservation to reduce the threats in the Great Barrier Reef;

How has conservation reduced marine pollution in the GBR?

Answer 9

• Australian Marine Debris Initiative – 42 tonnes of marine debris collected between 2008 and 2014. Great Barrier Reef Clean Up event = 12 tonnes collected in 2015
• Regulated sewage and effluent discharge (recycling of effluents

Question 10

The role of conservation to reduce the threats in the Great Barrier Reef;

How has conservation reduced the effect of vessels on the GBR?

Answer 10

• The maximum allowable fine for shipping companies that damage the reef was raised (in response to Shen Neng 1 incident)
• Overcrowding is restricted in Blue Pearl Bay by restricting boat length to 35m & visitor group size to 40
• The Coral Reef Finfish Fishery Programme limit the number of commercial vessels in operaton & the size of the catch (Queensland Grouper is banned)

Question 11

The role of conservation to reduce the threats in the Great Barrier Reef;

How has conservation improved education in the GBR?

Answer 11

• Environmental management charge for tourists à AU$ 7 million generated for education and research (but charge is levied for visitors participating in tourist activities)