Anthropogenic Effects on Coral Reefs Essay -- Unprecedented Stresses t

Abstract Humans have a very large tack together on the ecosystems of coral reefs. Sensitivity of coral reefs causes them to be more susceptible to harmful anthropogenic practices. Some of these are sedimentation, global warming, recreational activities, poison fishing, frivol away fishing practices, pissing pollution, and coral mining. All of these very different practices can effectively end up with the same results the mortality of coral reefs around the world. chromatic reefs are an important ecosystem of the world, and support many different industries and millions of people. Introduction Coral Reefs are said to be the tropical rainforest of the sea. They are home to everyplace 25% of all marine life (http//coralreefalliance.org.stories/storyReader$77). Over the past few decades they have been subjected to destructive anthropogenic practices. Some of the major threats to coral reefs include sedimentation, water pollution, harmful recreational activities, an d global warming. All of these things cause stress on corals and can potentially cause mortality. Corals are made up of two parts, a polyp and zooxanthellae. A polyp is a calcerous body that grows from a hard part of the ocean floor. Zooxanthellae is a photosynthetic algae which lives in the polyp and bid energy for themselves and the coral. In many cases, corals undergo bleaching, which is a process where corals lose the zooxantheallae or chlorophyll pigment, and turn white (Wilkinson et all). After bleaching corals can survive for several(prenominal) months. It is possible for corals to recover by hosting more zooxantheallae, but it can take between 5 and 50 years for them to recover completely (Wilkinson et all, 1999). Sedimentation As the human p... ...h Letters, v. 27, no. 23, p. 3901-3904. Nowlis, J., Roberts, C., Smith, A., and Siirila, E., 1997, Human Enhanced Impacts of a Tropical Storm on Nearshore Coral Reefs Ambio, v. 26, no. 8, p. 515-521. Rouphael, A.B. and Inglis, G.J., 1997, Impacts of Recreational Scuba Diving at Sites with varied Reef Topographies Biological Conservation, vol. 82, no. 3, p. 329-336. Wilkinson, C., Linden, O., Cesar, H., Hodgson, G., Rubens, J., and Strong, A., 1999, Ecological and Socioeconomic Impacts of 1998 Coral Mortality in the Indian Ocean An ENSO Impact and a Warning for Future veer Ambio, v., 28, no.2, p. 188-196. Wolanski, E., Spagnol, S., 1999, Pollution by mud of Great Barrier Reef Coastal Waters Journal of Coastal Research, V. 16, no. 4, p. 11510-1156. http//www.coralreefalliance.org/stories/storyReader$77 http//www.earthisland.org