Environmental Importance
What is Biodiversity Hotspots? Why is it important?
Definition: Areas with many different species living close together.
Why It’s Important: High biodiversity keeps the ecosystem balanced and healthy.
What is Carbon and Nutrient Cycling? Why is it important?
Definition: Moving important elements like carbon and nitrogen through the environment.
Why It’s Important: Keeps ocean chemistry balanced for plants and animals.
What is Coral Bleaching?
People burn fossil fuels which puts a lot of carbon dioxide in the air. This leads to global warming. This warms the water. When the water gets too warm, corals expel the algae that give them color and nutrients, which can kill the coral.
What is Tourism?
Too many visitors or careless activities, like touching or breaking coral, can physically damage the reef and stress marine life.Sunscreens that have harmful ingredients can also harm marine life.
What are solutions for Pollution?
use compostable plastics
properly dispose of chemicals
What is Nurseries for Marine Life? Why is it important?
Definition: Safe places where young ocean animals grow before moving to the open sea.
Why It’s Important: Protects young animals so more can survive to adulthood.
What is Support for Neighboring Habitats? Why is it important?
Definition: Helping nearby ecosystems like mangroves and seagrass beds stay healthy.
Why It’s Important: Keeps the entire coastal ecosystem strong.
What is Ocean Acidification?
People burn fossil fuels which puts a lot of carbon dioxide in the air. This leads to global warming. The carbon dioxide mixes with the ocean water and creates carbonic acid. The carbonic acid eats away at coral.
What are solutions for Overfishing?
government set catch limits
sustainable fishing gear
What is Climate Buffering? Why is it important?
Definition: Helping protect the planet by absorbing heat and carbon dioxide.
Why It’s Important: Slows down climate change by storing carbon.
What are Healthy Fisheries? Why is it important?
Definition: Providing fish and other seafood that people catch for food or income.
Why It’s Important: Feeds millions of people around the world.
What is Pollution?
Agriculture runoff, oil spills, plastic, sewage and toxic chemicals in the water harm corals and the animals that live in the reef.
What are solutions for ocean acidification and coal bleaching?
reduce electricity use at home
switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy
carpool or ride your bike
plant more trees
What is Water Filtration? Why is it important?
Definition: Cleaning the water by trapping or using up harmful materials.
Why It’s Important: Keeps the water clear for sunlight to reach corals.
What is Medicine and Biotechnology? Why is it important?
Definition: Using reef organisms to create new medicines and useful products.
Why It’s Important: Leads to medical discoveries that save lives.
What is Overfishing?
Taking too many fish disrupts the reef’s balance, leading to unhealthy coral and fewer species. Bycatching is when fisherman accidentally catch other animals, like sharks.
What are solutions for tourism?
never touch or step on coral
tour guides educate visitors on reef protection
What is Coastal Protection? Why is it important?
Definition: Acting like a barrier that shields the shore from waves and storms.
Why It’s Important: Protects homes and communities along the coast.
What is Tourism and Education? Why is it important?
Definition: Attracting visitors and teaching people about ocean life.
Why It’s Important: Inspires people to protect and care for the ocean.
What is Coastal Development?
Building along coastlines can cause sediment and pollution that smother corals and damage reefs. It can also physically damage habitats.
What are solutions for coastal development?
using ecofriendly construction materials
building barriers to prevent sedimentation runoff