Oceans - Great Barrier Reef CS Flashcards
How much of marine life lives in the corals?
25%
How many species is the Great Barrier Reef home to?
1500 fish species
How many algae species are there?
500
How many coral species are there?
350
How many sea bird species are there?
24
How many sea bird species are there?
24
What is the recycling of energy and matter like?
Efficient
Name a food chain?
Algae -> (molluscs, fish) -> shark
What are the food chains and webs like?
Complex
What creatures help filter sea water?
- Sea squirts
- Marine worms
What are decomposers in coral reef ecosystems?
- Bacteria
- Fungi
What do increased temperatures lead to?
Coral bleaching
What effect does sea level rise have?
Reduce light levels
How does ocean acidification have an affect on corals?
Reduce corals ability to build carbonate structures
How does increased wave energy have an impact on corals?
Destroy reefs
In 2017 how much of coral reefs had been bleached during 3 events in 20 years?
91%
When did the most serious bleaching event occur?
2016
What is the most widespread and damaging coral bleaching event on record?
2014 - 2017
GBR, Caribbean + Hawaii
What kind of services do coral reefs provide?
- Provisioning
- Regulatory
- Cultural
- Supporting
How do coral reefs provide regulating services?
- Buffer for coastlines against high energy storms
- Calcium CO3 reef long term carbon store
How does the coral reef provide supporting services?
- Highly efficient recycling
- Reef provides shelter for marine life
What is the global economic value of shoreline protection from reefs?
$ 10 billion/ yr
How do coral reefs provide provisioning services?
- “Nursery locations” for fish -> harvested for supply of protein
- Tourism and recreational activities
Why would LIDCs + EDCs suffer from this loss of supply?
- Already suffering from undernourishment
- Limited resilience
- Lack of resources
How do coral reefs provide cultural services?
- Tourism - agriculture -> snorkelling
- Play role in songs poetry, art, folklore
Economic effects of coral reefs?
- Recreational fishing also generates significant employment + income -> multiplier effect
How could climate change effect local economy?
- Loss of tourism (bleaching) -> shrink economy in Queensland province of Australia
