The Great Barrier ReefSara Ibrahim

What is a Coral Reef?

Coral Reefs are a huge component of a larger eco system. In warm climates and clear waters. The colorful underwater rainforests are made up of tiny animals called polyps. They gather in colonies and over time become hard skeletal forms.

http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm

What is the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef on earth. It is located on the coast of Australia and is larger than the Great Wall of China, and is also the only living thing visible from space. It is composed of 2900 individual reefs, and over 2500 species of fish, dolphins, whales, turtles, and other animals that live or visit the reefs. Although 1/5 of the reef has been permanently damaged, they are taking action to prevent further harm.

http://www.great-barrier-reef.org/great-barrier-reef-facts.php

Where is it?

http://www.ilike2learn.com/ilike2learn/seamaps/GreatBarrierReef.jpg

Abiotic Factors

Climate is tropical and warm all year round, as there are only two seasons. In summer, there is higher rainfall, and in winter, there is less. Yearly, there is around 2010mm of rainfall.

Average minimum temperature: 21 degrees

Average maximum temperature: 30 degrees

http://www.great-barrier-reef.org/great-barrier-reef-weather.html

DugongsDugongs, also known as Sea Cows, are huge grey mammals, that can grow up to 3 meters long. They are herbivores and feed on sea grass. Dugongs are very slow moving, but because of their large size, only sharks and saltwater crocodiles and very few other creatures feed on them. Humans also pose as a threat to dugongs.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--acZxqeTwyE/TWG3KZOS0mI/AAAAAAAAA8U/4IEfrUR2SnQ/s1600/dugong_image_by_barry_ingham_75dpi.jpg

http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/species/dugongs/index.html

Dwarf Minke WhalesDwarf Minke Whales are very curious. In the northern parts of the Great Barrier Reef, they are known to come very close to divers and boats. http://www.reef.crc.org.au/publications/broch

ures/minke_2002_www.pdf

http://www.reef.crc.org.au/publications/explore/images/minke.jpg

In early 2010, researchers found that the seaweed was actually harming the Great Barrier Reef. There was so much seaweed that they say the coral was choking on it.

Seaweed

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/3224/seaweed-chokes-great-barrier-reef

http://www.greenorganics.com.au/organic-natural-skin-care-products/wp-content/images/top-10-natural-seaweed-skin-care-health-benefits.jpg

Sea GrassThere are around 60

species of sea grass, around 30 of them can be found in Australia, and 15 of them just in the Queensland waters. The are different from seaweed because they have true roots and are flowering plants, and they are also food for turtles and dugongs.http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/i

mages/SeaGrass1.jpg

http://www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/plantsanimals/facts_plantanimal.htm

How are humans affecting it?

Pollution, over-fishing, and global warming are slowly but surely destroying the Great Barrier Reef. Global Warming is affecting it with the rising temperatures of the oceans will have adverse effects on the eco-system. Over-fishing will cause a domino effect in the food chain, which will mess up a lot of things. Pollution is affecting the refs because all of the waste being thrown into the seas will damage the reefs.

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/gc2sec7labgroup3/introduction

Oil Spills

Because of many laws, people are not allowed to pollute the reefs or harm them in any way, and they do not exactly affect the economy, but they are affected by many things, such as oil spills. In 2010, a Chinese-owned coal carrier, which was 230 meters long, ran aground, just on the edge of the reefs.

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/barrier-reef-oil-spill-20100404-rl65.html

How does it affect the Economy?

The Great Barrier Reef makes around 6 billion dollars from just tourists, which is pretty impressive.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_the_Great_Barrier_Reef_affect_the_people

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4HAO68Gk9Zc/TvNAsABvzEI/AAAAAAAAAuw/3E-DGrRrVOE/s1600/%2528Australia%2529+%25E2%2580%2593+The+Great+Barrier+Reef+1.jpg

How have the reefs affected Society?

I think that the Great Barrier Reef has taught us to appreciate the natural beauty of the world, and to protect it as well as we can. Although laws are being passed, there will always be a few rebels who will attempt to break the rules. The reefs help us in many different ways, such as removing CO2 form our air, and it has also helped scientists learn new things about marine life and such.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_the_Great_Barrier_Reef_affect_the_people

The End! (: