The Effects of Global Warming on the Great Barrier Reef Essays -- Geol

The Effects of Global Warming on the Great Barrier Reef Introduction Coral reefs around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef. What is a Coral Reef? A coral reef is a ridge formed in shallow ocean water by accumulated calcium-containing exoskeletons of coral animals, certain red algae, and mollusks. Coral reefs are tropical, forming only where surface waters are never cooler than 20Â ° C (68Â ° F). The only difference between a barrier reef and a coral reef is that a barrier reef occurs farther offshore, with a channel or lagoon between it and the shore. The outer layer of a reef consists of living animals, or polyps, of coral. Single-celled algae called zooxanthellae live within the coral polyps, and a skeleton containing filamentous green algae surrounds them. The photosynthetic zooxanthellae and green algae transfer food energy directly to the coral polyps, while acquiring scarce nutrients from the coral. The numerous micro habitats of coral reefs and the high biological productivity support a great diversity of other life. The Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is a chain of coral reefs in the Coral Sea, off the northeastern coast of Australia. The largest reef in the world, it extends about 1250 mi from Mackay, Queensland to the Torres Strait (between Australia and New Guinea.) The Great Barrier Reef is home to a remarkable number of organisms. The coral itself is made up of the skeletons of tiny, flowerlike water animals called polyps, held together by a limestone substance produced by a type of algae. Hundreds... ...bal Warming kills Great Barrier Reef coral http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/exterel/news/981008News/8.10.coral.html Coral bleaching http://www.uvi.edu/coral.reefer/bleach.htm Coral Reef http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=050FE000 Coral reefs in peril worldwide http://usatoday.com/life/science/environ/lse011.htm Coral 'stress' worsening, expert says http://www.msnbc.com/news/287041.asp?cp1=1 Global warming http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=03CCE000 Greenpeace reports threat to Great Barrier Reef http://www.wwinternational.com/pages/updatecontent/Reef.html Protecting Coral Reefs http://coralreef.gov/how.html What are Some Solutions to Global Warming http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/9520/whattodo.html What are the Causes of Global Warming? http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/9520/causes.html The Effects of Global Warming on the Great Barrier Reef Essays -- Geol The Effects of Global Warming on the Great Barrier Reef Introduction Coral reefs around the world are in danger. One of the causes is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. This essay will focus on damage occurring to the Great Barrier Reef. What is a Coral Reef? A coral reef is a ridge formed in shallow ocean water by accumulated calcium-containing exoskeletons of coral animals, certain red algae, and mollusks. Coral reefs are tropical, forming only where surface waters are never cooler than 20Â ° C (68Â ° F). The only difference between a barrier reef and a coral reef is that a barrier reef occurs farther offshore, with a channel or lagoon between it and the shore. The outer layer of a reef consists of living animals, or polyps, of coral. Single-celled algae called zooxanthellae live within the coral polyps, and a skeleton containing filamentous green algae surrounds them. The photosynthetic zooxanthellae and green algae transfer food energy directly to the coral polyps, while acquiring scarce nutrients from the coral. The numerous micro habitats of coral reefs and the high biological productivity support a great diversity of other life. The Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is a chain of coral reefs in the Coral Sea, off the northeastern coast of Australia. The largest reef in the world, it extends about 1250 mi from Mackay, Queensland to the Torres Strait (between Australia and New Guinea.) The Great Barrier Reef is home to a remarkable number of organisms. The coral itself is made up of the skeletons of tiny, flowerlike water animals called polyps, held together by a limestone substance produced by a type of algae. Hundreds... ...bal Warming kills Great Barrier Reef coral http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/exterel/news/981008News/8.10.coral.html Coral bleaching http://www.uvi.edu/coral.reefer/bleach.htm Coral Reef http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=050FE000 Coral reefs in peril worldwide http://usatoday.com/life/science/environ/lse011.htm Coral 'stress' worsening, expert says http://www.msnbc.com/news/287041.asp?cp1=1 Global warming http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=03CCE000 Greenpeace reports threat to Great Barrier Reef http://www.wwinternational.com/pages/updatecontent/Reef.html Protecting Coral Reefs http://coralreef.gov/how.html What are Some Solutions to Global Warming http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/9520/whattodo.html What are the Causes of Global Warming? http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/9520/causes.html