Anthropogenic Effects on Coral Reefs Essay -- Unprecedented Stresses t

Abstract Humans have a very bulky effect on the ecosystems of coral reefs. Sensitivity of coral reefs causes them to be more(prenominal) susceptible to harmful anthropogenetic practices. Some of these are sedimentation, global warming, unpaid activities, poison fishing, blast fishing practices, water pollution, and coral mining. All of these very different practices domiciliate effectively end up with the same results the mortality rate of coral reefs around the world. Coral reefs are an important ecosystem of the world, and support umpteen different industries and millions of people. Introduction Coral Reefs are said to be the equatorial rainforest of the sea. They are home to over 25% of all devil dog life (http//coralreefalliance.org.stories/storyReader$77). Over the past few decades they have been subjected to destructive anthropogenic practices. Some of the major threats to coral reefs include sedimentation, water pollution, harmful unskilled activit ies, and global warming. All of these things cause stress on corals and can potentially cause mortality. Corals are made up of two articulations, a polypus and zooxanthellae. A polyp is a calcerous body that grows from a hard part of the ocean floor. Zooxanthellae is a photosynthetic algae which lives in the polyp and render energy for themselves and the coral. In many cases, corals undergo bleaching, which is a process where corals retrogress the zooxantheallae or chlorophyll pigment, and turn white (Wilkinson et all). After bleaching corals can get through for several months. It is possible for corals to recover by hosting more zooxantheallae, but it can take between 5 and 50 years for them to recover entirely (Wilkinson et all, 1999). Sedimentation As the human p... ...h Letters, v. 27, no. 23, p. 3901-3904. Nowlis, J., Roberts, C., Smith, A., and Siirila, E., 1997, Human Enhanced affects of a Tropical Storm on Nearshore Coral Reefs Ambio, v. 26, no. 8, p. 51 5-521. Rouphael, A.B. and Inglis, G.J., 1997, Impacts of Recreational scuba Diving at Sites with Different Reef Topographies Biological Conservation, vol. 82, no. 3, p. 329-336. Wilkinson, C., Linden, O., Cesar, H., Hodgson, G., Rubens, J., and Strong, A., 1999, bionomic and Socioeconomic Impacts of 1998 Coral Mortality in the Indian Ocean An ENSO Impact and a Warning for Future Change Ambio, v., 28, no.2, p. 188-196. Wolanski, E., Spagnol, S., 1999, Pollution by dirty of Great Barrier Reef coastal Waters Journal of Coastal Research, V. 16, no. 4, p. 11510-1156. http//www.coralreefalliance.org/stories/storyReader$77 http//www.earthisland.org