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| Coral Reefs in Florida Keys [26] |
But first, what is a coral reef?
Coral reefs are limestone structures, made by living things, and the most important reef building organisms are the coral. These reefs support about 25% of all known marine species and is consider one of the most complex ecosystem [13].
Corals are often mistaken as a plant or rock, but living corals are actually composed of animals called coral polyps. There are many species of corals, all ranging in a diverse range of colors and shapes!
Where do corals live and what do they require to survive?
Most reefs are located in the warm tropics, ranging from the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Gulf. They grow the best in warm water ranging from 70 to 85 degrees. Clear, clean, shallow water is also necessary for symbiotic zooxanthellae algae to survive. This type of algae lives in the coral and needs the sunlight to photosynthesize food, and in return, it provides oxygen for corals. The best salinity for coral reefs is around 34 and 37 parts per thousand, so coral reefs would not live in fresh water what so ever [13,14]. These reefs grow at different rates, depending on the type of coral as well as the water temperature, salinity and availability of food. The growth rate in a year ranges from 1 to 8 inches.
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| Candycane Coral [18] |
Coral reefs are limestone structures, made by living things, and the most important reef building organisms are the coral. These reefs support about 25% of all known marine species and is consider one of the most complex ecosystem [13].
Corals are often mistaken as a plant or rock, but living corals are actually composed of animals called coral polyps. There are many species of corals, all ranging in a diverse range of colors and shapes!
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| Elegance coral - Catalaphyllia Jardinae [19] |
Where do corals live and what do they require to survive?
Most reefs are located in the warm tropics, ranging from the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Gulf. They grow the best in warm water ranging from 70 to 85 degrees. Clear, clean, shallow water is also necessary for symbiotic zooxanthellae algae to survive. This type of algae lives in the coral and needs the sunlight to photosynthesize food, and in return, it provides oxygen for corals. The best salinity for coral reefs is around 34 and 37 parts per thousand, so coral reefs would not live in fresh water what so ever [13,14]. These reefs grow at different rates, depending on the type of coral as well as the water temperature, salinity and availability of food. The growth rate in a year ranges from 1 to 8 inches.
Unfortunately, about 19% of the world's reefs are lost, a prediction of 15% are at the threat of being loss in the next 20 years and 20% are under threat for the next 20 to 40 years [13].
Reefs has been a major resource for ~30 million people who are largely dependent on coral reefs for their livelihoods. Due to the over fishing being done, populations of many commercial fish species are now collapsing and creating a local risk for food security [4]. Fishing in depleted marine areas has became a self defeating purpose. Humans are further destroying the source they depend on.
Another factor that affects the status of coral reefs is coral bleaching caused by climate change.
Reefs has been a major resource for ~30 million people who are largely dependent on coral reefs for their livelihoods. Due to the over fishing being done, populations of many commercial fish species are now collapsing and creating a local risk for food security [4]. Fishing in depleted marine areas has became a self defeating purpose. Humans are further destroying the source they depend on.
Another factor that affects the status of coral reefs is coral bleaching caused by climate change.
This continual degradation of reefs would eventually mean the collapse of the fish industry. Companies invested in this business should be interested in conservation to protect their commodity. Consequences of failing to conserve coral reefs are not analogous to failure of conserving pandas or tigers. Not to play down the importance of these charismatic species, but to emphasize the fact that coral reefs are too big to fail.
I don't think you really need this page. I guess for the assignment there is something to laying out exactly what you are going to talk about, but I don't think it really does anything for your website or for anyone that might look at this other than as an assignment. Just make sure that all of the information here is contained somewhere in the rest of the website and then I think you can get rid of this page.
ReplyDeleteI think this whole page could be a lot shorter and needs imagery, I'm sure you could find a lot of pictures either of coral that is not looking too good or images from literature depicting the reduction of coral. It seems like you're repeating a lot throughout this page, if you synthesized all of what you have in to something about the importance of coral reel on the oceanic ecosystem as well as it's role for humans that would probably be enough of an introduction.
ReplyDeleteOne or two specific details about what why people should care about the coral reefs might be more attention grabbing than multiple general statements like "socioeconomic conflict." For example ____ (some number or percentage) of fisherman will lose their main source of income if this downward trend of coral reef viability continues.
Your introduction does a great job outlining your website, but because your website is also outlined by your tabs and information within those pages, I would recommend condensing it! Instead of repeating the rubric for the assignment, I would write it more naturally, in your words, (1) what the background information and main issue is and (2) why it's important to address.
ReplyDeleteI would also recommend adding pictures to better convey the issue to your readers!