The Great Barrier Reef
Yes, its the largest single structure made by living organisms
What are polyps & zooxanthellae algae
Polyps gather -> corals -> reefs; zooxanthellae algae provides food and colour to coral = strength
What countries are located within it?
Malaysia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Timor-leste, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea
What is Sasi & where is it used?
Used to mitigate overfishing and applied in Birds Head Seascape.
What are the types of weathering?
Land degredation, coastal degredation, wind erosion & water erosion
What are threats faced by the reef?
Overfishing, rising temps & water quality, pollution (sediment & chemical)
What is calcification and how is it impacted by ocean acidification?
The process in which corals form, as they secrete calcium carbonate forming skeletons within. This calcium carbonate structure can then be damaged by bicarbonate acid created during ocean acidification -> damaging/weakening of structure
Why is it so biodiverse?
Contains 76% of the worlds coral species, due to hydrothermal vents. Openings in seafloor that release superheated nutrient-rich water -> more biodiverse)
How many corals have been transplanted and by whom?
56 000 corals (over 5 yrs) by Coral guardian (over 4yrs -> 30x more fish)
What is an isobar and what does it mean if they're close together?
They signal joint places of equal air pressure; and when they're closer together -> means stronger winds (circles = tropical cyclones/hurricanes)
Who are the stakeholders for the GBR
GBR Foundation, UNESCO, Gov; coral authority & gov department for Climate change
What are the protections used by the Ningaloo Reef
UNESCO (since 2011 -> protects reefs & required monitoring to it) & Marine Park Regulations (Since 1987, prevents all damaging activities)
Why arent they protected by UNESCO?
Too expensive & too large of an area.
What is the Indonesian Throughflow?
The currents that travel between the Pacific & Indian Oceans transporting warm water & nutrients between reefs. (unique to Indonesian Reefs; GBR is just on the Pacific Reefs)
What are the different kinds of pressure systems & what weather do they bring?
Low pressure system; cooler, wet weather, clockwise direction. High pressure system; calmer, dry weather, anticlockwise direction
What are strategies used to manage reefs?
Coral rehabilititation; IVF, cryopreservation & fragmentation. Heat tolerant corals; acropora hyacinthus. Protecting corals; shading reefs (films, physical shade & cloud brightening), Reef 2025
What are the kinds of reefs and whats the most common one?
Fringing; attached to shore MOST common, barrier reefs, separated from land through a channel/lagoon (open water), atolls form after volcanic islands sink (ring shaped)
How does it being on the Pacific Ring of Fire affect it & what are some specific examples.
Causes an increase in seismic activity; earthquakes, tsunamis & volcanic activities. 1983 eruption of Krakatoa -> damaged lots of reefs. 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami damaged Aceh reefs & other.
What issues are they facing?
MPAS (causes spillover & gaps in protection), Coral disease (black band disease, white syndrome, yellow band disease), tourism
What unit is used on Synoptic (weather) graphs?
hectopascals (hPa)
What is RIMReP
Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program is a long term program utilised in Australia to help manage and preserve reefs. Its updated/reviewed every 5 years
What is the heat reistant coral and why are they so reisistant?
Acropora Hyacinthus; 7 degrees celsius more resistant. Linked to their thermal history rather than specific species of coral; eg previous interactions with heatwaves.
Why can't we just eliminate all damaging activities?
Socio economic conflict; 120 million people depend on it to survive & it brings in around $2.3 billion dollars to local economy from tourism & fishing
What are the strategies used to manage it?
COREMAP-CTI, Terumbu Karang Sehat Indonesia Programme, Coral rehabilitation (Fragmentation; cheaest), debt-for-nature swaps
What are the 5 types of environmental worldviews & explain them?
Egocentric - humans on top
Anthropocentric - enviornment for humans
Stewardship - we have to use environment so we must take care of it
Biocentric - humans and environ =, mitigate human impacts
Ecocentric - environment ontop