coral reef

What is a
coral reef?
Coral reefs are the most biologically diverse marine eco-systems on earth, rivaled only by the tropical rainforests on land. Corals grow over geologic time and have been in existence about 200 million years. Corals reached their current level of diversity 50 million years ago.

The delicately balanced marine environment of the coral reef relies on the interaction of hard and soft corals, sponges, anemones, snails, rays, crabs, lobsters, turtles, dolphins and other sea life.


What is a
coral reef made of?
A coral reef is composed of thin plates or layers of calcium carbonate secreted over thousands of years by billions of tiny soft bodied animals called coral polyps. It takes years for some corals to grow an inch and they range in size from a pinhead to a foot in length. Each polyp excretes a calcereous exo-skeleton and lives in a symbiotic relationship with a host algae, zooxanthellae, that gives the coral its color. Zooxanthellae takes in carbon dioxide, process is through photosynthesis, and then gives off oxygen as a by-product that is used by the host polyp. Millions of polyps grow on top of the limestone remains of former colonies to create the massive reefs. Yet these tiny animals form the only natural formation visible from outer space.
More about corals

Corals are divided into two kinds and both are stationary on the ocean bottom. Hard corals such as brain, star, staghorn, elkhorn and pillar corals have rigid exoskeletons, or corallites, that protect their soft delicate bodies. Gorgonians, or soft corals, such as sea fans, sea whips, and sea rods, sway with the currents and lack an exoskeleton.

Coral reefs depend upon mangroves and sea grasses

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees with submerged roots that are a nursery and breeding ground for birds and most of the marine life that migrates to the reef. Mangroves trap and produce nutrients for food and habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and filter pollutants from the landbase.

Seagrasses are flowering marine plants that are an important part of the food web. They provide foods and habitat for turtles, manatees, many fish, filter-feeding organisms and foraging sealife such as sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Seagrasses are a nursery for pink shrimp, lobster, snapper and other sealife. They filter the water of sediments, release oxygen and stabilize the bottom.

Where are
coral reefs located?
Coral reefs occupy less than one quarter of one percent of the earth's marine environment, yet they are home to more than a quarter of all known fish species.
Click here for a map of the World's Coral Reefs

Why is the
coral reef important?
Coral reefs deserve protection for their intrinsic natural value. In addition, the economic, tourism, fishing and recreational resources of tropical areas around the world depend upon healthy coral reef ecosystems. Barrier coral reefs protect shorelines from erosion and storm damage.

The food, tourism revenue, coastal protection and new medications that reefs provide are worth about $375 billion each year.

Why does the coral reef need protection?
Reefs at Risk: A Map-based Indicator of Threats to the World's Coral Reefs, produced by the World Resources Institute (WRI at http://www.wri.org) in collaboration with the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is the first goal assessment of coral reefs to map areas at risk from overfishing, coastal development, and other human activity ranging from coastal development and overfishing to inland and marine pollution -- leaving much of the world's marine biodiversity at risk.

Coral reefs are suffering globally. Scientists report that 30% are already damaged. Corals grow only in warm tropical waters ideally between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Although climatic and geological changes affect them, human activities have had far greater consequences over the past decade.

The first generation to discover scuba may be the last to enjoy coral reefs, if we don't get involved. Corals are damaged by a variety of physical impacts that include anchor damage, accidental boat groundings, and diver/snorkeler touching, standing and dragging equipment. Propellors tear up shallow seagrasses. Marine debris, especially plastics, damage marinelife and smother corals. Turtles mistake plastic bags for their favorite food, jellyfish.

Water quality declines when pollution discharges from boars or coastal areas reduce visibility and oxygen and increase chlorophyll levels, causing a proliferation of new coral diseases and massive algal blooms. Coral bleaching occurs when sea temperatures rise or other stresses occur and the corals expel their symbiotic algae.

Siltation from coastal development and beach renourishment smothers fragile corals. Agricultural run-off that contains pesticides and fertilizers add toxins and nutrients to reefs that require nutrients-free waters to thrive. Overdevelopment and lack of sewage and stormwater infrastructure in coastal areas is a leading source of damage to reefs.

Outright habitat loss occurs when coral and live rock is harvested for construction or the aquarium/curio trade. Destructive fishing techniques and overharvesting of fish and tropical marinelife is a worldwide problem.

from: http://www.reefrelief.org

Oil and Water Still Don't Mix: Stop Offshore Oil Drilling in Fragile Marine Areas; Protect Our Coral Reefs with a Sustainable Energy Policy

Oil and Water Still Don't Mix: Stop Offshore Oil Drilling in Fragile Marine Areas; Protect Our Coral Reefs with a Sustainable Energy Policy

"The nation's anger over rising gas prices has produced some theatrics at the White House, in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail," reports H. Josef Hebert of the Associated Press. "But the politically charged proposals have little chance of becoming law—and even if they did, motorists would not see any relief."

The New York Times editorial of 6/19/08 says that "This is worse than a dumb idea. It is cruelly misleading. It will make only a modest difference, at best, to prices at the pump, and even then the benefits will be years away. It diverts the public from the tough decisions that need to be made about conservation."

President Bush has proposed opening up areas of America's Outer Continental Coast that have been off limits to offshore oil exploration and development for the past 27 years, including areas of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico that would have debilitating impacts on the downstream coral reefs of the Florida Keys. Presidential candidates and Congressmen are generally following party lines—Democrats opposed and Republicans in support - and governors in California and North Carolina are just saying "No." One remarkable exception is Florida Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) who is opposed to oil development near Florida.

The Eastern Gulf of Mexico is where some domestic oil companies hope to drill. Wells in the Western Gulf are grossly profitable right now. The problem is that the Gulf Loop Current would carry toxic drilling muds that contain mercury, lead and cadmium into the fragile breeding and nursery grounds for shrimp and lobster in the lower Florida Keys and then up the reef tract. The routine discharge of thousands of gallons of toxic pollutants would also include benzene, arsenic, naphthalene, zinc and toluene as well as radioactive agents. These continuing discharges would further degrade the already endangered coral reef ecosystem that sustains the Florida Keys commercial fishing and tourism economy. Add to that accidental spills (a routine occurrence on rigs), hurricane damage, or a tanker accident and beaches all over Florida could be affected. It just doesn't make sense to risk losing Florida's biologically rich coral reef ecosystem.

Reef Relief has been on record opposing offshore oil development in fragile marine areas such as the Florida Keys since 1988 and is part of the OCS coalition of organizations working to protect America's oceans and shores from inappropriate oil development. We received a Point of Light from former President George Bush in 1990, while actively opposing oil development affecting Florida. Bush subsequently recommended a 10 year moratorium. Congressional moratoriums on offshore oil drilling were first established in 1981 and extended since then for good reason. There are better alternatives.

Last year, Lease Sale 181 in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, that will directly impact the Florida Keys, was quietly transferred to Louisiana's jurisdiction so that Florida's long term opposition was circumvented. Louisiana is pursing its development, eager to get a cut of the lease revenues that recent legislation promises. So now, Floridians are partially protected by the 125 mile ban off the coast negotiated last year by Florida Senators and Congressmen. There are 240 current leases in the Eastern Gulf that could be activated by lifting the current moratorium.

The fiction is that huge deposits of oil are hands-off to the oil industry when in fact, studies by the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Wilderness Society show that roughly two thirds of federal leases - or roughly 68 million acres, are not being drilled. Americans have 3% of global petroleum reserves but consume 24% of it. It's time for the Sunshine State and our federal government to adopt solar and other renewal energy sources. If we subsidized this instead of oil companies, we would not be experiencing an energy crisis.

Oil prices have spiked because of stock market speculators and oil companies are making record-breaking profits. Legislation to tax the industry and reform the securities market is going nowhere, despite its potential to help solve the price problem. And energy tax credits for solar and other renewables were not renewed by this same Congress recently.

Take Action Now to Save Coral Reefs!

Frankly, we need your help now. The political momentum to risk fragile coral reefs by expanding offshore oil development is growing, despite its irrelevance to gas prices. Please contact your Congressmen and let them know you oppose offshore oil development that can affect fragile marine areas such as the Florida Keys coral reefs. Tell them to end oil subsidies now and invest in solar and other renewable energy sources that provide a sustainable future for us all. We can't drill our way out of the energy crisis!

To find the email for your representatives, go to: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Thank you. Together we can make a difference for coral reefs.

Reef Relief is a global nonprofit membership organization dedicated to preserve and protect living coral reef ecosystems. Be A Sea Fan! Help sustain these efforts by becoming a dues-paying member today. All donations tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Contact Reef Relief online to make a secure donation. Email us at reef@reefrelief.org. Call (305) 294-3100 or write to Reef Relief, Post Office Box 430, Key West, Florida 33041-0430. When in Key West, visit us at the Reef Relief Environmental Center, 631 Greene Street. Your support makes it all possible!

from: http://www.reefrelief.org