| One of the great natural wonders of the
| |
| | fished for their shells. This leaves the
|
| world, one would think the Great Barrier
| |
| | population of starfish unchecked.
|
| Reef was permanent. Unfortunately, it is
| |
| | Another of the several dangers to the
|
| proving to be all to vulnerable to the
| |
| | Great Barrier Reef is global warming.
|
| effects of a changing world.
| |
| | While many of the other effects of global
|
| Impending Doom for the Great Barrier
| |
| | warming are much more publicized, this
|
| Reef?
| |
| | warming trend also affects coral. Many of
|
| With the diverse ecosystems that have
| |
| | the types of coral on the Reef are
|
| evolved around coral reefs, it is very
| |
| | already living at the top end of their
|
| important to protect them and keep the
| |
| | temperature tolerance, and some of them
|
| areas in balance. In no coral reef area
| |
| | have been "bleached" by releasing their
|
| is this more important than in the Great
| |
| | photosynthesizing components due to the
|
| Barrier Reef area near Australia. The
| |
| | high temperature of the water. This shows
|
| largest coral reef in the world, the
| |
| | the white exoskeleton of the coral. If
|
| Great Barrier Reef is home to over 500
| |
| | the water that causes this bleaching does
|
| different types of algae, 30 types of sea
| |
| | not lower within a month, the coral will
|
| grasses, 30 species of whale and six
| |
| | die under these conditions.
|
| different breeding species of sea turtle
| |
| | Of course, the biggest danger to the
|
| - and that's just the beginning!
| |
| | Great Barrier Reef comes from man.
|
| One of the biggest dangers to the Great
| |
| | Chemical and farming runoff, as well as
|
| Barrier Reef is not man-made or caused by
| |
| | other pollutants, creates an
|
| man in any way. The Crown-of-thorns
| |
| | uninhabitable water area around the Reef.
|
| starfish is devastating to the coral reef
| |
| | This can kill off the coral as well as
|
| itself, as it is a natural predator of
| |
| | the other animals and plants that live in
|
| coral. Thought to be native to Australia
| |
| | the area. Coastal development of the
|
| (but not known for sure), the
| |
| | cities around the ocean shore area has
|
| Crown-of-thorns starfish is thriving at
| |
| | also affected the Reef. Our best bet for
|
| this time because it actually does better
| |
| | taking care of the Great Barrier Reef is
|
| in the poor quality water that has begun
| |
| | to watch out for human impact on the
|
| to infiltrate the area. This starfish
| |
| | area.
|
| also reproduces quickly by laying many
| |
| | Richard Monk is with Facts Monk - a site
|
| eggs at a time, and it's natural
| |
| | with facts about everything.
|
| predators, the Giant Triton, are being
| |
| |
|
