The Restoration Of Coral Reefs

Brett Crawford

What are Coral Reefs?Represent one of the

most diverse ecosystems on planet; “Rainforest of the ocean”.

Tropical and Semi-tropical waters. Temps range from 61-86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Three types of Coral Reefs.

What are Coral Reefs?Barrier ReefOccur offshore, separated

from mainland by water.Great Barrier ReefLargest reef system,

2,900 individual reefs, 900 islands, stretches 1,600 miles.

Can be seen from space.

What are Coral Reefs?Fringing ReefHas shallow back

reef zone, reef grows directly from shoreline.

Most common reef type in Caribbean and Red Sea.

What are Coral Reefs?AtollsAn island of coral

that encircles a lagoon partially or entirely.

Most are in Pacific Ocean.

What are Coral Reefs?Corals are very

small animals.SessileEat small fish and

plank-tonic animals using tentacles.

Corals grouped into colonies, individual parts are “Polyps”.

Polyps secrete Calcium Carbonate skeleton from base.

Substrate for Corals.Coral grows as more

Calcium Carbonate skeleton deposited.

Living Coral on surface.Average growth 0.3-10

cm/per year.

What are Coral Reefs?Coral Polyp

What are Coral Reefs?Zooxanthellae AlgaeLive in Polyps.SymbioticAlgae-

photosynthesizes and creates food for coral.

Coral-provides protection and gives access to light.

What are Coral Reefs?Provide food and habitat for

Sponges, Crabs, Shrimp, Sea Slugs, Sea Stars, Oysters, Sea Turtles and Fish.

Good indicators for water quality in ocean.

Protect coastlines from erosion.

Coral Reef ValuesNatural goods for fisheries industry.High value as fish sanctuary and nurseries.Tourism$483 million in annual net benefits to U.S.

economy from tourism and recreational activities related to U.S. coral reefs.

$1.1 billion in annual net benefits to U.S. economy from overall goods and services related to U.S. coral reefs.

Threats to Coral ReefsPollutionAgricultural and

Industrial runoff.Sewage and toxic

waste discharge.Erosion and

sedimentation.

Threats to Coral ReefsFishingOver-fishing can

drastically decrease certain fish species, disrupt multiple Trophic levels.

Fishing techniquesFishing gearAnchoring of fishing

vessels

Threats to Coral ReefsGlobal Climate ChangeBiggest threat to coral

reefs.Bleaching and spread of

infectious diseases.CO2 in atmosphere

causing “ocean acidification”.

Rising water level, harder for light to get to corals.

Solutions to Coral Reef Threats

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program and other agencies.

Fishing“No Take” Zones-Florida KeysFish Replenishment Areas-West

Hawaii

Solutions to Coral Reef Threats

PollutionControl land based pollution sources.Focus on protection of watershed

qualityEasements, Trusts or Reserves from

stakeholders party (local, state, federal, etc.)

Global Climate ChangeToo big for NOAAReduce the emissions of Green House

Gases.Too much excess CO2 already in

atmosphere, coral reefs will be affected throughout this century.

Ocean absorbs 1/3 of additional CO2 from humans, causes further “ocean acidification”.

Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs

Many coral reefs have passed their Abiotic threshold.

Assisting recovery of “freak landscapes”.

Increase ecological integrity and historical fidelity.

Goals must be dynamic, b/c ecosystems are dynamic.

Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs

Coral Farming or Gardening

Fragment poorly spaced Corals.

Attach to grate in nursery area.

Transplant when mature.

Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs

Collection of gametes during coral spawning.

Rear juvenile coral communities in lab from fertilized eggs.

Once mature, transplanted back into reef.

Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs

Education“Adopt-A-Coral”

program.Increase public

awarenessNo social constraint

Restoration Ecology & Coral Reefs

Coral Farminghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

feature=player_embedded&v=I69isSS1TvI

References Coral Reef-http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.sciencedaily.com/2008/04/080401200446-

large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401200446.htm&usg=__OfeYb3DVdB119mxWw3u7GKcCq0c=&h=398&w=600&sz=64&hl=en&start=93&sig2=C48b32QlA1EtXazfawCRqw&zoom=1&tbnid=ls3a2X-frUifwM:&tbnh=175&tbnw=233&ei=iGKsTc_bB8rkiAKw7a3vDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCoral%2Breef%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D680%26tbm%3Disch0%2C3453&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=760&vpy=158&dur=2158&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=154&ty=80&oei=cWKsTfb0H-Tm0QGqyb3-BQ&page=7&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:93&biw=1280&bih=680

Barrier Reef-http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.treehugger.com/great-barrier-reef.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/oceans-of-change-protecting-the-planets-life-support-system.php&usg=__dJhOHd-VKHyMQonREyaG5skqXu4=&h=351&w=468&sz=36&hl=en&start=57&sig2=jTGYuRZOicd7vPjOcHHGSg&zoom=1&tbnid=rv_vPRGrszDiWM:&tbnh=152&tbnw=205&ei=BmOsTcjGA-HiiAKWucnvDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbarrier%2Breef%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D680%26tbm%3Disch0%2C1711&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=792&vpy=282&dur=295&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=168&ty=136&oei=_mKsTfveL9KP0QHJtsT5CA&page=4&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:57&biw=1280&bih=680

Fringing Reef-http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://coralreef.capiz.biz/images/fringing.jpg&imgrefurl=http://coralreef.capiz.biz/fringing.html&usg=__yxNGO3mcOQA-mrDfxNQq9_w5vaU=&h=285&w=380&sz=39&hl=en&start=0&sig2=L8eDdYLIJC73J6alqhafkg&zoom=1&tbnid=97AoOHm_GQS-MM:&tbnh=156&tbnw=208&ei=d2OsTeLrI8OP0QH2pYX5CA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfringing%2Breef%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D680%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=143&vpy=139&dur=777&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=219&ty=128&oei=d2OsTeLrI8OP0QH2pYX5CA&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Atolls- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atafutrim.jpg

References Coral Polyp-http://gc.kuty.cz/redsea/coralpolyp.jpg

Zooxanthelae Algae-http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/aquatic-bt/sites/default/files/zooxanthellae_SANTOS.jpg

Sedimentation-http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/reprioritization/wgroups/resources/lbsp/resources/kanakakai_%20wharf_kc.JPG

Blast Fishing-http://w3.shorecrest.org/~Lisa_Peck/MarineBio/syllabus/ch11_ecosystems/ecosystem_wp/coralreefs_johnathan_alexj/dynamite_reef_1.jpg

Bleaching-http://africanalchemy.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/coral-bleaching.jpg

Coral Farming-http://www.ramadianbachtiar.com/assets/20060512_Indonesia_VoicesFromTheSea_RB_010.jpg

Coral Spawning-http://img-ak.verticalresponse.com/media/d/5/1/d51c21facf/be324c6740/63b08ae701/library/CORAL%20NL%20Aug%202010/Coral-spawning.jpg

Adopt-A-Coral-http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3Mp5QFpdLmE/Sq832mSGT2I/AAAAAAAAEd4/1vzCk8aA3q8/s400/sidebar.jpg

Adopt-A-Coral-http://www.floridakeysdivectr.com/images/adopt-a-coral-program-key-largo.jpg

References EPA, . "Coral Reef Protection: What Are Coral Reefs?." United States

Environmental Protection Agency 04/06/2011: n. pag. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#problems>.

NOAA, . "NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program." U.S. Department of Commerce:National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration . NOAA, 02/02/2010. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/>.

Linden, B., and B. Rinkevich. "Creating Stocks Of Young Colonies From Brooding Coral Larvae, Amenable To Active Reef Restoration." Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 398.1-2 (2011): 40-46. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T8F-51Y4500-1&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2011&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=975b5f37c85c2ce41be64b08e1b27d90&searchtype=a>.

Waddell, , and Clark. "The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems Of The United States And Pacific Freely Associated States." NOAA's State Of The Coast 2008: n. pag. Web. 18 Apr 2011. <http://stateofthecoast.noaa.gov/coral/welcome.html>.