Power Point by Sharon and Rita

Pretty isn’t it?

Not so much anymore

What are coral reefs?coral reefs have been around us

for more than 400 million years

Coral are extremely ancient animals that evolved into reef-building forms over the last 25 million years

There are two main types of coral:

- The hard coral, the major reef-building species

- The soft coral, such as sea whips and sea fans.

How are they made?

They are aragonite structures produced by living organisms.

coral reefs are formed by the aggregation of the calcium carbonate exoskeletons of corals

What are the threats?Human activity is one of the

greatest threats.

Other threats are:– Global warming – coral mining – pollution – over-fishing – blast fishing

The Threat of Human Destruction

Coral is damaged by anchors

Blast fishing will kill coral reefs

This is due to inappropriate fishing techniques

The Threat of Seaweed

Corals overgrown by seaweed

Caused by:– Over-fertilization – Sewage– Agriculture

The Threat of Coral Bleaching

Coral turns white

This is due to:– High temperatures– Climate Change

What happens to dead reefs?They become white in

colour and collapse

It deprives fish of food

Fish diversity is cut in half

How to HelpInstall Moorings

Remove nutrients from sewage

More efficient ways to fertilize

Reduce green house gasses

Thank you for watching