Caribbean Coral Reef · Coral • Over 2,500 different species • 2 main types – hard or soft...
Transcript of Caribbean Coral Reef · Coral • Over 2,500 different species • 2 main types – hard or soft...
Caribbean Coral ReefA story of beauty, stress, destruction and recovery efforts
Ann Pearson: www.pearsonsplace.weebly.com
Coral• Over 2,500 different species • 2 main types – hard or soft coral
Soft coral – bendable, resemble colorful plants or trees
Hard coral – reef-builders, hard calcium carbonate skeleton, base
and protection
Coral• Corals live in colonies– Individuals are called polyps
• Polyps are mostly stomach• Tentacles release stinging cells
when something brushes by them• At night, polyps come out to catch
plankton floating by.• Polyps take dissolved minerals
from the water to create a limestone cup to hide in during the day
Coral• Zooxanthellae – algae that live inside the coral
– Algae photosynthesize to make oxygen, sugars and fats for the corals – up to 95% of the energy needs
– Coral give algae carbon dioxide, nitrogen, phosphorus and protection
What is a coral reef?• Massive structures made of the limestone
skeletons deposited by coral• The largest structures on Earth built by
living organisms
What is a coral reef?• Ecosystem
– Diverse coral species– Home to almost 1 million
other species – 25% of fish species– Breeding ground for
marine life– Habitats, shelter and food
for marine fauna and flora
• Fringing reefs– Narrow coral platform– Grown near the coastline
around islands and continents
– Separated from shore by narrow, shallow lagoons
– Most common reef– Some evolve
Types of coral reefs
• Barrier reefs– Parallel to the
coastline– Separated by deeper,
wider lagoons– Could evolve further
Types of coral reefs
• Coral atolls– Island continues to sink– As coral reach the
surface, die off– Form sand where
plants can grow
Types of coral reefs
Benefits of coral reefs• Provide costal
protection by slowing waves
• Barriers to storm surges
• Prevent beach erosion
• Aesthetic value• Tourism and recreation• Full of new and
undiscovered biomedical resources
Distribution of Coral Reefs in the Caribbean
https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/big-fish-stories-getting-littler_kw
1950 – 1980s• Overfishing – Grouper,
Barracuda, Sharks– Industrial fishing – Blast fishing– Cyanide fishing
Little Plankton = Big Problem
Plankton
Little Plankton = Big Problem
Plankton
Little Fish Filter feeders Zooplankton Shrimp
Little Plankton = Big Problem
Plankton
Little Fish
Medium fish Big fish
Filter feeders Zooplankton
BIG FISH
Shrimp
1950s1960s1970s
1980s – Present Day
Little Plankton = Big Problem
Plankton
Zooplankton
Related Events• 1980 Hurricane Allen – pounded Caribbean
coral into dust• 1982 Sea Urchin decline
1985• Overfishing - Parrot and Doctor Fish– Smaller but taken to replace the market loss of larger fish– Used to eat the algae and sea weed – coral now overrun
1990s• Industrialized farming – fertilizer pollution• Hotels built along the coast – sewage pollution• This increased food for plants and macroalgae overran the
coral even further
1987 – Present Day• Coral bleaching caused by Global warming– Already living at the upper limits of thermal tolerance
• Algae cannot photosynthesize
• Coral ejects the algae losing its color
• Coral dies
Loss of Coral• Coral reefs in the Caribbean declined 80%• In areas around Jamaica, used to be 60-70% of
the floor covered with coral• Now 2-5%
Are we depressed yet?
Reasons for Hope and Action!
Caribbean Government• Marine protected areas –
fish can restock naturally• Nurseries of baby coral• Fragmenting (2019)• Building regulations• Banning catching certain
fish that clean the reefs• If initiatives are expanded,
coral reefs may recover
Research
MicrofragmentationDecember 2018
Coral SpawningAugust 2019
What can we do?• Captive dolphins and
turtles• Reef-safe sunscreen• Don’t eat reef fish:– Parrot fish– Grouper– Guitar fish– Sharks– Rays
Reduce your Carbon Footprint• 3 Rs• Walk, bike, rideshare• Heating/Cooling• Automobiles• Buy local• Plant trees
Ann Pearson: www.pearsonsplace.weebly.com