Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are arguably the world's most beautiful habitats. Coral reefs have been called the rainforests of the oceans, because of the rich diversity of life they support. Scientists have not yet finished counting the thousands of different species of plants and animals that use or live in the coral reef. There are three types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs are located close to shore, separated from land by only shallow water. Barrier reefs lie farther offshore, separated from land by lagoons more than ten meters deep. Atolls, on the other hand, are formed far offshore and they make a ring-shaped reef that close a circular lagoon. Coral reefs are the largest biological structures on the planet, with the largest being the Great Barrier Reef covering over 2000 kilometers along the east coast of Australia (Focus, 1995). The reef is said to be 500,000 to 2,500,000 years old and is said to be visible from the moon.(Scientif! ic, 1987). There is only one problem with this beautiful structure and that is the carelessness of man. Silt from deforested lands and pollution from crowded coastlines choke them, and overuse by coal miners, fisheries, and even tourists deplete and destroy coral reefs.
Goreau, Thomas (August, 1987) "Coral and Coral Parks" Scientific American. More promising testing is being done on other reef organisms to generate chemicals for cancer and AIDS research. There are four environmental factors that effect their growth: temperature, salinity, water depth, and wave action. This teamwork is what allows the reef to survive in nutrient-poor tropical seas. Such as Australia and the Caribbean who are making billions of dollars on their coral reefs. it is not just one thing that is destroying the reefs! it is many factors together that are destroying it. Japan's coast is one of the most studied coral coast in the world. Died corals lead further on to the death of the reef. This should be a wakeup call to humans that we as a whole group have to do something about saving these coral reefs. Every year the numbers of visitors increase by 10%. This relationship is sensitive to such changes in the environment as cloudy waters or extreme temperatures. Works Cited Aldridge, Susan (April, 1995) "Coral: Replacement for Human Bones" Focus. Scientists have found that temperatures more than 4 degrees Celsius above normal, even for a few hours, will result in greater that 90% coral mortality. With the algae gone, the coral skeleton is visible and eventually it dies.
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Acceptance Essays
