Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Sustainability > Module 2: The Great Barrier Reef > Flashcards

Module 2: The Great Barrier Reef Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Great Barrier Reef?

A

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, and extends from the northern top of Queensland to Bundaberg

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the Great Barrier Reef home to?

A

The Great Barrier Reef is home to 1500 species of fish
300 species of hard- Reef- building corals
4000 mollusc species
240 bird species
6 species or turtles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why is the Great Barrier Reef under threat?

A

The Great Barrier Reef is under threat due to:

  • the Crown of Thorn starfish outbreaks
  • overfishing
  • the over use of the reef
  • coastal development and other land- based practices
  • dredging and Abbot Point
  • climate change
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How is the GBR under threat from coral bleaching?

A
  • there have been mass coral bleaching events occur in her since 2002. The worst coral bleaching event on record was the summer of 2016.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why was the summer of 2016 the worst coral bleaching event on record?

A

The winter sea surface temperatures in 2016 remained above average, and by the beginning of the 2016-2017 summer, the accumulated heat stress on the Reef resulted in a second wave of mass bleaching.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is coral bleaching?

A

Have to look at slide on computer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What were the simultaneous impacts on the GBR during 2016-2017?

A
  • The GBR experienced severe bleaching that affected half of the reef (since 2016)
  • Cyclone Debbie (March 2017) resulted in 97% of damage to some sites; flood plumes from Burdekin and Fitzroy Rivers
  • Outbreaks of coral diseases
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How are the simultaneous impacts between 2016-2017 affecting the Great Barrier Reef?

A

Through the combined simultaneous impacts, most of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is being affected, and according to (name, para 15, 2017), “ the resilience of the majority of reefs north of Mackay [is likely to] ha[ve] been severely diminished”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Sediment

A
  • increased turbidity in Waterbury
  • impacts on light penetration to coral aquatic plants
  • may impact on feeding patterns of fish
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Inorganic nutrients

A

Sources:

  • nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilisers
  • run-off from urban areas
  • treated sewage

Algal blooms impact sea grasses and coral.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Organic material

A
  • storm water, swear she, and run-off contribute to increased organic material.
  • microbes decompose organic material and use available oxygen in water
  • reduced dissolved oxygen results in fish kills
  • bacteria produces toxins
  • increased risk of zoonotic disease transmission
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Heavy metals

A

The increase in concentration of heavy metals in ecosystems are caused by run-off and leeching from agriculture and urban areas.
Heavy metal industries have limits on air and water emissions. However, heavy metals may be naturally occurring in local rocks and soils.
- may concentrate in food chains to toxic levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Sea level rises around Australian coastlines

A
  • monthly mean sea-level variations analysed
  • interannual variability due to El Niño Southern oscillation (ENSO)
  • relative mean level sea level rise of 1.2mm per year - 10cm total
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Water are the potential consequences of sea-level rises

A
  • loss of coastal infrastructure
  • shoreline retreat
  • flooding
  • habitat loss

Increase base sea-level for extreme events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Extreme level events

A

Modelling of the intensity and frequency of extreme level events suggests that by 2050: the current 1-in-100 years even (height of surge 2.5m) is to occur every 40 years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Changing climate and the GBR

A

Involves changes in air temperature, sea temperature, sea level and ocean chemistry, ENSO and weather events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How much is air temperature predicted to increase?

A

Air temperature is predicted to increase by 1.5-5* C by 2070

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How much is sea temperature predicted to increase by?

A

Sea temperature is predicted to increase by 1-3* C by 2100

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How much is sea level and ocean chemistry predicted to increase by?

A

sea level and ocean chemistry predicted to increase by 38-68 cm and 0.5-0.5 pH units by 2012

20
Q

How are the ENSO and weather events impacted by changing climate

A

There is less certainty regarding frequency and severity of rainfall and extreme weather events.

21
Q

What are the species of interest?

A 
Marine microbes 
Plankton 
Corals 
Macroalgae 
Benthic invertebrates 
Fish 
Shares and rays 
Seabirds 
Marine reptiles 
Marine mammals
22
Q

Marine Microbes - what are the importance of them, and how vulnerable are they to climate change?

A
  • Marine microbes are important for nutrient recycling, coral larval settlement, and symbiotic partnerships.
  • some species of microbes are pathogens
  • only moderately vulnerable to climate change, but highly vulnerable and pathogenic species are positively affected.
23
Q

What are marine microbes, and what are the consequence of their loss?

A

Microbes are at the fundamental level of the ecosystem. Changes to microbes will have impacts on most other organisms. The loss of microbes negatively impact on availability and symbiotic organisms (coral and sponges)

24
Q

What are the climate conditions that impact on microbes?

A

Increased sea temperature
Ocean acidification
Nutrient enrichment

25
Q

What climate conditions impact Plankton?

A

Increased sea temperature
Ocean acidification
Nutrient enrichment

26
Q

What is the importance of Plankton and how vulnerable are they to climate change

A

Plankton are important to the food chain and are a key group of organisms in marine ecosystems.
- Plankton are primary producers and a dominant component of pelagic environments.
Plankton are vulnerable to ocean circulation changes, and moderately vulnerable to climate change.
- changes to plankton is like to have consequences for most other organisms

27
Q

What climate conditions impact macroalgae?

A

Increased sea level temperatures
Ocean acidification
Nutrient enrichment

28
Q

What is the importance of Macroalgae and how vulnerable is it to climate change?

A

Macroalgae are important to the GBR, as they are primary producers, carbon storage, nitrogen fixation, larval settlement, coral degradation.

  • they are likely to benefit from climate change
  • increase Reef degradation
  • major impact on species distribution
29
Q

What is the importance of sea grass and how vulnerable is it to climate change?

A

Importance:

  • Primary producers
  • Provide habitat and food resources
  • sediment stabilisation
  • nutrient and sediment flow to Reef

Some climate changes are positive to sea grass
Changes will impact nutrient cycling, habitat and food resources.

30
Q

What are the importance of Mangroves and how vulnerable are they to climate change?

A

Importance:

  • primary producers
  • Cycling and storing
  • habitat
  • costal stabilisation

They are moderately vulnerable
Loss of mangroves will impact on reefs through changes to sediment and nutrient flow

31
Q

What is the importance of corals and how vulnerable are they to climate change?

A 
Importance: 
- major source of reef infrastructure 
- habitat 
- food 
Loss of corals may cause catastrophic changes to the reef and habitats. Implications for the physical structure of the reef itself.
32
Q

What is the importance of benthic invertebrates and how vulnerable is it to climate change?

A

Benthic invertebrates full a number of crucial niches in the reef ecosystem:

  • biofiltration
  • nutrient cycling
  • Reef building
  • predation

They are sensitive to changes to sea temperature
Loss will impact on Reef structure, nutrient cycling and biofiltration of sediments

33
Q

What is the importance of fish and how vulnerable are they to climate change?

A

Importance:

  • predation
  • algal grazing
  • commercial fishing
  • tourism

They are sensitive to changes in habitat
Loss of fish will impact food wen and dependent fisheries

34
Q

What is the importance of sharks and rays and how vulnerable are they to climate change?

A

Importance:

  • predators
  • provide cultural and social services
  • commercial fisheries

Moderately vulnerable
Loss will impact food web

35
Q

What is the importance of marine so reptiles and how vulnerable are they to climate change?

A

Importance:

Predators
Herbivores

Most vulnerable - particularly to air temp and sea level rise
Loss will impact food web and maintenance of cultural traditions

36
Q

What is the importance of marine mammals and how vulnerable are they to climate change?

A

Importance:

  • predators
  • Maintenance of sea grass beds
  • nutrient recycling
Moderately vulnerable (can migrate but sensitive to changes in food availability) 
Loss of mammals with impact food web
37
Q

What is the vulnerability of species?

A

Several major communities rely on tourism. Commercial, charter and recreational fishing contribute to social and economic wellbeing of communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people have strong presence. Ecosystem include direct economic benefits, social ad environmental.

38
Q

Resilience

A

Human communities have capacity to:

  • anticipate change
  • prepare coping mechanisms
  • implement adaptive measures

Import measure of vulnerability is adaptive capacity.

39
Q

What are the core issues?

A
  • varied recognition and acknowledgement of climate change.
  • Varied understanding about climate change and associated processes
  • greater awareness required prior to identification or consequences, impacts or possible responses to climate change.
40
Q

Who are the key Stakeholders?

A

Traditional owners
Tourism industry
Fishing industry

41
Q

The traditional owners

A
  • there are 70 traditional owner groups
  • concerned with increased air temperature, availability and seasonality of food, resources, and potential loss of totem species
  • potential displacement of costal communities
  • indications of high adaptive capacity that may moderate vulnerability
42
Q

Tourism

A
  • tourism contributes to $6 billion to the economy annually.
  • operators - have a high level of awareness of climate change impacts
  • potentially loss of marketability of the GBR
  • high adaptive capacity
  • high level of resilience
43
Q

Fishing

A

28000 - 29000 tonnes of catch co contributes $900 million to the economy annually.

  • low adaptive capacity for commercial fishers; little preparedness for climate change
  • knowledge gap will hamper adaptability
44
Q

Supporting ecological resilience

A
  • improve quality of water entering the reef
  • protect herbivore species
  • protect predator species
  • avoid overfishing of key species
  • protect climate change fefugia
  • create and maintain turtle- friendly beaches
  • research into factors for nesting success and food resources for seabirds, limit human activity at key times
  • further research until numbers and distribution of fish and shark species.
  • protect food resources for marine mammals.
45
Q

How do you increase adaptive capacity through education?

A

Reef guardian schools - more info required

Sustainability (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions