HSC Ecosystems At Risk Flashcards
HSC Great Barrier Reef: What is it?
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.
HSC Great Barrier Reef: Where is it?
The reef is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea. The reef, which is large enough to be visible from space, is made up of nearly 3,000 individual reefs. Much of the Great Barrier Reef is a marine protected area, managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority of Australia.
HSC Great Barrier Reef: Atmosphere
Climate projections for the reef show that:
- sea and air temperatures will continue to increase
- sea level is rising
- the ocean is becoming more acidic
- intense storms and rainfall will become more frequent
- ocean currents will change.
HSC Great Barrier Reef: Biosphere
Coral Reefs interact with the biosphere by providing habitats for species such as fish, clam, and sea turtles. They also provide some of the organisms nutrients. Coral Reefs interact with the atmosphere by helping create oxygen. Coral Reefs are a collection of the most diverse organisms/communities in the world.
HSC Great Barrier Reef: Hydrosphere
Coral reefs interact with the hydrosphere by keeping the ocean cleaner and less waves. The reefs also need a warm temperature from the water so without the needed temperatures, the reefs would die.
HSC Great Barrier Reef: Lithosphere
The Role of the lithosphere is to transform reef ecosystems, this happens by reefs producing solid limestone and at the same time, the limestone is weathered and redistributed to other parts of the ecosystem, this creates a range of new landforms, including coral cays.
HSC Great Barrier Reef:
Natural: Impact of sea levels:
The nature of change:
Sea levels changing can lead to increases in sedimentation for reefs located near land-based sources of sediment. Sedimentation runoff can lead to the smothering of coral.
The rate of change:
Over the past 100,000 years, sea levels have risen and fallen many times, shifting where reefs grow on the continental shelf. Sea levels on the Great Barrier Reef have already risen by approximately 3mm per year since 1991.
HSC Great Barrier Reef:
Natural: Crown of thorn starfish infestations:
The nature of change:
Research has revealed crown-of-thorns starfish are a major cause of coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef, after coral bleaching. If continued nutritious and vital coral supplies are removed.
The rate of change:
Five million adult crown-of-thorns starfish can eat about fifty square kilometres of coral every year.
HSC Great Barrier Reef:
Natural: Tropical cyclones:
The nature of change:
Tropical cyclones can cause extensive damage to individual corals and to the structure of the Reef, and can affect large areas. The impacts can last for decades, if not centuries. Powerful waves generated during cyclones can seriously damage habitats and landforms, particularly coral reefs and shorelines.
The rate of change:
The rate of the impact is almost instant as it comes through ruining and destroying the reef as it goes.
HSC Great Barrier Reef:
Human: Tourism:
> popular tourist destination
over two million visitors each year
to the reef generates approximately $5-6 billion per year
Coastal tourism development – Most visitors stay in hotels and resorts, which strain coastal environments including estuaries.
Island based tourism – The encroachment of tourism and associated development on the reefs islands poses risks
Marine based tourism – Boats make thousands of journeys on the reef each year, bringing rubbish and potential oil spills
Water based activities – A small proportion of divers break corals, especially fragile branching corals
Wildlife interactions – A small proportion of careless operators and tourists interrupt wildlife, impacting natural interactions
Other impacts – Trampling of coral and souveniring of coral are both illegal, though still performed
HSC Great Barrier Reef:
Contemporary Management Strategies:
The role of education:
Education is important in tourism as it allows people to understand the possible negative impacts of tourism and how it may impact the environment.
HSC Great Barrier Reef:
Contemporary Management Strategies:
Improving Water Quality:
Addressing water quality improvement targets impacting the Great Barrier Reef through activities such as improved farming practices, reduced fertiliser use and uptake of new technology and land management practices.
HSC Great Barrier Reef:
Traditional Management Strategies:
Subsistence – traditional, indigenous communities are self-sufficient in that they are able to rely on the environment to provide for their basic needs such as food or shelter.
Sustainability – indigenous communities are reliant on the continued access to environmental resources for their survival. As such, the concept of sustainability underpins the activities and management strategies of these communities.
Custodianship – communities, and individuals have a responsibility to act as guardians or caretakers of the environment and the plants and animals within it.
Reciprocity – communities are built on the concept that families and individuals will pay back deeds or goods which have been given to them. Borrowing and sharing are basic principles: “Today you, me tomorrow”. Sharing resources ensures future security.
The importance of ecosystem management and protection
(MR UGLY IS HERE NOW)
- Maintenance of genetic diversity
- Utility values
- Intrinsic values
- Heritage values
- Need to allow natural change to proceed
The importance of ecosystem management and protection
MAINTENANCE OF GENETIC DIVERSITY
- Biodiversity is essential for maintenance of planetary processes - wellbeing of all life
- Ecosystems rich in biodiversity have a greater resilience
- Large amounts of genetic diversity > allows species to adapt and change
- Lack of knowledge of ecological processes, means we must not disturb biodiversity
- Estimated 5-30 million species on Earth, only 1.4 million are identified
