Coral Reef Dying
At our present time, Coral Reef is dying quickly. Most scientists agree that if no action is taken, up to forty percent of the world’s Coral Reef will be destroyed by 2010. The death of a great amount of Coral Reef could drastically affect all living organisms on earth.
Coral Reef Dying From Climatic Stresses
Nature has created the Coral Reef and it one of the reasons why it is now dying. Some of the causes are from flooding, tropical storm damage, and earthquakes. In 1998, an unusually severe El Nino increased the temperature of the ocean, which bleached many of the Coral Reefs around the worlds. Scientists say that up to ninety percent of the Coral Reefs in the Indian Ocean died because of El Nino.
Coral Reef Dying from Man-Made Stresses
People are blamed for causing endangerment of up to fifty-eight percent of the Coral Reefs. Humans are killing the Coral Reefs by depleting the fish stock, operating coral sand mining, and producing pollution from ships and runoff. Tourism is another major factor since many tourists break off pieces of Coral Reef to take home as souvenirs. This leads to the Coral Reef dying.
Coral Reef Dying From Organisms
The Coral Reef supports the lives of over one millions species of aquatic life, but some of these creatures harm the Coral Reef. There are many types of microorganisms that cause natural disease within the Coral Reef, causing them to die off. The greatest organism threat to Coral Reefs is the Crown of Thorns Starfish. One can consume up to six meters of Coral Reef in a year.
Coral Reef Dying Can Affect Us All
A Dying Coral Reef could affect more than just the Coral. Coral Reefs consume carbon like the rain forests. The Coral pulls harmful Greenhouse gases out of the air. Without the Coral performing this process, the buildup of carbon could cause devastation on the whole earth.
Protecting Coral Reef from Dying
Worldwide, scientists are trying to save Dying Coral Reefs. The United States has formed the Coral Reef Task Force, which are trying to comprehend the geological and biological powers that affect the reefs. If we learn these controls, it will give us essential information for preventing the Coral Reefs from Dying.
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