Transcript Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

Mesoamerican Barrier
Reef
Zoe Chung 07/06/2011
What’s the MBR?





Second largest coral reef in the world.
Home to a rich biodiversity.
Helps the economy by providing a place to fish,
collect local food supplies, and to support marine
tourism.
Acts as a safety barrier from storms.
Stretches over 1000km, hosts more than 65 species of
coral and 500 species of fish.

Extends along the coast of Mexico, Guatemala,
Honduras and Belize.
How Coral Reefs Are Built
-Coral Polyps are tiny plant-like animals that secrete
Calcium Carbonate.
-Calcium Carbonate is used to build back coral
structure.
-Coral Polyps work together with a uni-cellular algae
called zooxantellae, which uses photosynthesis to
provide oxygen to both the coral and the Coral
Polyps.
Con’t
• The oxygen alters the carbon dioxide concentrations in coral
•
•
•
tissue and increases the Coral Polyps’ ability to secret Calcium
Carbonate.
Organisms such as sponge and worms break down dead coral.
The dead sediments settle into the reef and is cemented by
Algae.
The Calcium Carbonate gradually accumulates and the reef
grows and rebuilds itself.
What destroys the Coral Reefs?
• GLOBAL WARMING!
• OVERFISHING!
Global Warming
Changing weather patterns causes fluctuations
in the surface dynamics of oceans.
 Ex. Rises in sea temperature = Damaged
Coral.
 An increase in temperature causes coral’s
natural algae to disperse.
 Algae is important because it helps coral to
survive and gives them their coral.

Further…
An increase in climate affects the dangers and
frequency of hurricanes.
 This intensifies the physical damage done to
the coral reefs.

FACT:
An increase in temperature of only two
degrees Celsius is enough to cause coral
bleaching!
Overfishing
• Fishermen dynamite reefs and inject cyanide into the
water.
• This stuns fish, making them easier to catch.
• Effect? Overfishing of certain species can easily
affect the reef’s ecological balance and biodiversity.
The Grouper Fish
• The grouper fish is a popular fish to catch.
• A declination in its population means an
increase in the Damselfish’s (a prey of the
Grouper Fish) population.
• Damsel fish create pockets in coral which
allows Algae to grow.
• The Algae can take over a reef and smother it,
causing it to be destroyed.
What’s Being Done About It?
Belize Bans Trawling
• Trawling- the act of using a strong fishing
net that drags along the sea bottom to catch
shrimp.
• They are known for the amount of by-catch
(unintended catch) they haul in.
Effect of Trawling
• Bottom Trawlers (weighted nets) graze the
ocean floor, destroying corals and habitats.
• They also pick up organisms and wildlife
that are necessary for the ecosystem to
thrive. Ex. Sea turtles and marine mammals.
TAKING ACTION!!!
• The call to ban Trawling has been brought up in
the past, however the political support was
lacking.
• When UNESCO (United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization) threatened to
strip the Belize Barrier Reef of its World Heritage
Site status, the government took notice.
• They agreed to BAN TRAWLING!
Sources







http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean
http://www.coral.org/where_we_work/caribbean/mar
http://www.oceanus.org.mx/web/index2.php?option=com_doc
man&task=doc_view&gid=7&Itemid=3
http://www.gvi.co.uk/expeditions/centralamerica/mexico/marine-conservation-expedition-mexico/theprogram
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/coralreef/CRanthro.html
http://centralamerica.panda.org/about/countries/belize/?uNewsID=70840
http://na.oceana.org/en/category/blog-free-tags/mesoamericanreef
Created by: Zoe Chung