What is the water like at the Great Barrier Reef?
For the Great Barrier Reef, the main water quality issues are: Increasing sediment, nutrients and contaminants entering coastal waters in run-off from agricultural, industrial and urban land uses. Rising seawater temperatures and increasing seawater acidity associated with climate change.
Is the Great Barrier Reef freshwater or saltwater?
Light penetrates the ocean surface only about 20 meters. The Great Barrier Reef has much more salt than a freshwater ecosystem, because of this some biotic components that live near estuaries, which is where salt water and fresh water mixes and have to deal with changing amounts of salt in their water.
What are the major water features of the coral reef?
Most reef-building corals also require very saline (salty) water ranging from 32 to 42 parts per thousand. The water must also be clear so that a maximum amount of light penetrates it. This is because most reef-building corals contain photosynthetic algae, called zooxanthellae, which live in their tissues.
In what ways are coral reefs essential for humans?
Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation. They are also are a source of food and new medicines. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection.
Why do we need to protect the coral reefs?
Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for life underwater, protect coastal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast, and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people. Coral reefs teem with diverse life. Thousands of species can be found living on one reef.
How do coral reefs benefit the economy?
Healthy coral reefs support commercial and subsistence fisheries as well as jobs and businesses through tourism and recreation. Local economies also receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.
What are three important values of coral reefs?
protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms. provide habitats and shelter for many marine organisms. are the source of nitrogen and other essential nutrients for marine food chains. assist in carbon and nitrogen fixing.
What happens if we lose our coral reefs?
The disappearance of coral reefs from our planet could lead to a domino effect of mass destruction. Many marine species will vanish after their only source of food disappears forever. Climate change and bleached coral will make coral-based tourism unappealing or non-existent, which will lead to job losses.
What are the predictions for coral reefs in the future?
According to the report, left unchecked, combined local and global pressures will push 90 percent of coral reefs to threatened status (all non-blue colors) in less than 20 years (by 2030) and nearly all reefs will be threatened by 2050.