What is the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef?

What is the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef?

Some key facts about the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: covers 344,400 km2 in area. includes the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. includes some 3000 coral reefs, 600 continental islands, 300 coral cays and about 150 inshore mangrove islands.

What formed the Great Barrier Reef?

Coral reefs form when pre-existing reefs release a burst of larva into the water. The larva will drift until they hit a hard surface such as submerged rocks, or edges of islands. As the coral develops, it takes the form of one of the three main reef structures; fringing, barrier or atoll.

What is the ecosystem of the coral reef?

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, can take many forms: large reef building colonies, graceful flowing fans, and even small, solitary organisms.

Why is the Great Barrier Reef a significant ecosystem?

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth. It provides habitat for nearly 9,000 species of marine life—and that’s just the (relatively) easy to count ones! The reef’s rich biodiversity helps it to maintain a stable and healthy coral reef system.

What animals are being affected in the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef is a refuge for many species of conservation concern. These species of conservation concern include inshore dolphins, whales, dugongs, sawfish, sea snakes, marine turtles and some fish and sharks.

Who owns Great Barrier Reef?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Owners of the Great Barrier Reef area and have a continuing connection to their land and sea country.

How do aboriginals value the Great Barrier Reef?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been linked with the Reef since time immemorial. After the Reef formed, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples cared for their Sea Country through interweaving their culture and spirituality with sustainable use of its resources.

Why is it called Great Barrier Reef?

The reef is called the ‘Barrier’ Reef because it is an outer reef, situated along the Australian continental shelf with the channel between the coastline and the reef reaching a depth of about 60m. The other type of reef is a ‘Fringe’ reef, which is situated along the coastline of land and islands.