Courtesy of Digital Explorer
TASK 1: Study the information above
What are your emotions? Describe the reasons behind your feelings/reactions
Threats to Coral Reefs
Task 2: Research each of the threats above by using the information and links below.
Complete the table.
Complete the table.
Crown of thorns starfish
Perhaps highest on the list of dangers to the Great Barrier Reef is an inhabitant of the reef itself. The Crown of Thorns starfish gains its sustenance from feasting on the polyps of coral, releasing neurotoxins to absorb the tissue of the coral and quite literally “sucking the life” out of the reef’s backbone.
Once sufficient numbers of Crown of Thorns starfish are grouped together, their impact of the reef can be catastrophic – if the number of over 30 adult starfish reside in a 10 metre squared area, it can be classed as an “outbreak” which is usually a result of a lack of predators (such as the Giant Triton) of the starfish within the area. Many researchers believe that the current abundance of Crown of Thorns starfish could be a result of agricultural runoff which increases the amount of algae which serve as food for the starfish.
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OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
Coal is one of Australia's top export earners and the state of Queensland is the country's largest coal-producer. It also has a rapidly growing coal-seam gas industry for LNG exports.
Earlier this year, Greenpeace estimated port expansion could more than triple Queensland's coal export capacity by 2020 from 257 million metric tons (283.29 million tons) now. That would mean as many as 10,000 coal ships per year could make their way through the Great Barrier Reef area by 2020, up 480 percent from 1,722 ships in 2011, according to the group. The Queensland and national governments, which jointly manage the reef, have launched a major review of managing the risks facing the UNESCO-listed reef and its surrounding marine area. The review will look at managing the threats from increased shipping to urban development. Gunn said better management was all about buying time and improving the reef's resilience to climate change. A key area was improving water quality from rivers flowing into the reef area, with studies suggesting fertilizer-rich waters help the crown-of-thorns starfish larvae rapidly multiply.
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To end: How would you feel if you or your children did not get to see a coral reef?