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Coral Reefs

Importance of Coral Reefs: 0.2% of world’s ocean. Habitat for 1/3 of marine fishes. Habitat for tens of thousands of other animals. The rainforests of the oceans. Destruction of other ecosystems upon which coral reefs depend. Possible disruption of reproduction and recruitment. | http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ mccarty_and_peters/coral/C-intro.htm Coral Reefs http://tools.coralreef.org/content/ objects/view.acs?object_id=545 Importance of Coral Reefs 0.2% of world’s oceans Habitat for 1/3 of marine fishes Habitat for tens of thousands of other animals The rainforests of the oceans Importance of Coral Reefs PROTECTION TO COASTLINES ECONOMIC RESOURCES BIODIVERSITY NATURAL BEAUTY Importance of Coral Reefs PROTECTION TO COASTLINES absorb energy of ocean waves reduce erosion of shoreline storm damage flooding Importance of Coral Reefs ECONOMIC RESOURCES Fisheries for food Fisheries for jobs Tourism Building materials Aquarium trade Importance of Coral Reefs BIODIVERSITY The rainforests of the sea Genetic diversity Pharmaceuticals Importance of Coral Reefs NATURAL BEAUTY http://sustainableseas.noaa.gov/missions/ florida2/background/coralspawning.html $375 billion in environmental goods and services Reefs at Risk 1998 . | http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ mccarty_and_peters/coral/C-intro.htm Coral Reefs http://tools.coralreef.org/content/ objects/view.acs?object_id=545 Importance of Coral Reefs 0.2% of world’s oceans Habitat for 1/3 of marine fishes Habitat for tens of thousands of other animals The rainforests of the oceans Importance of Coral Reefs PROTECTION TO COASTLINES ECONOMIC RESOURCES BIODIVERSITY NATURAL BEAUTY Importance of Coral Reefs PROTECTION TO COASTLINES absorb energy of ocean waves reduce erosion of shoreline storm damage flooding Importance of Coral Reefs ECONOMIC RESOURCES Fisheries for food Fisheries for jobs Tourism Building materials Aquarium trade Importance of Coral Reefs BIODIVERSITY The rainforests of the sea Genetic diversity Pharmaceuticals Importance of Coral Reefs NATURAL BEAUTY http://sustainableseas.noaa.gov/missions/ florida2/background/coralspawning.html $375 billion in environmental goods and services Reefs at Risk 1998 (http://www.wri.org/powerpoints/reefswww/sld011.htm Caribbean reef values (annual net benefits in 2000) Fisheries: $310 million Dive tourism: $2.1 billion Shoreline protection: $0.7-2.2 billion Total: $4.1-4.6 billion REEFS WORLDWIDE ARE THREATENED 11% of reefs have been lost 16% of reefs severely damaged ~60% of studied reefs threatened by human activities No pristine reefs left CARIBBEAN REEFS DECLINING 1970s: ~50% coral cover Present: ~10% coral cover =80% reduction in coral cover over last 30 years Gardner et al. 2003 Science 301: 958-960 Threats to coral and coral reefs: 1) Natural 2) Anthropogenic of human origin Natural disturbances that affect corals and coral reefs? Hurricanes Tsunamis Volcanoes Earthquakes Predators & competitors Bleaching Pathogens Hurricanes Physical damage http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ 1989hugo.html Destruction of other ecosystems upon which coral reefs depend Freshwater poisoning Smothering Tsunamis Physical damage Possible disruption of reproduction and recruitment Erosion Volcanoes Depends upon .