(The adjective hydrous means “containing water.”) Woolsey and her colleagues use virtual reality to create 3D versions of specimens that can be viewed in a laboratory. Woolsey is the CEO of the nonprofit organization, The Hydrous. Woolsey conducts research on coral reefs. Some scientists think these starfish caused over half of the reef damage from 1985 to 2012.įortunately, many people are passionate about protecting the Great Barrier Reef. A starfish may sound harmless, but these venomous creatures voraciously eat coral. One major pest species is the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci). Species that live in the reef can also cause damage. Chemical runoff and other forms of pollution, coastal development, and overfishing all can harm coral and reduce biodiversity. This suggests even greater risks from climate change than scientists had previously thought.Ĭlimate change is not the only threat to the reef. The researchers also found that large amounts of coral had died in the warming water almost immediately-even before there was time to expel their algal partners. A 2018 study showed that about one-third of the Great Barrier Reef had experienced substantial damage from bleaching. This process is called bleaching because the coral becomes white. As sea temperatures rise due to climate change, the algae begin to produce products toxic to the coral, which in turn expel the algae. The coral and algae have evolved together to survive within a particular temperature range. The algae also give coral its many colors. In this way, the algae provide food and oxygen (a byproduct of photosynthesis) for the coral, and the coral protects and provides nutrients for the algae. The algae use photosynthesis to harness solar energy to make sugars. The coral produces fluorescent chemicals that protect the algae from bright sun-almost like a sunscreen. When healthy, coral has a symbiotic relationship with algae. ![]() These tiny animals build a hard external skeleton to make the vibrant structures that we recognize. Yet today the coral-and therefore all the organisms that depend on it-is gravely at risk.Ĭoral is made up of many small animals. These species interact to form a complex and delicate ecosystem dependent on the coral reef for survival. There are also venomous sea snakes, brightly colored worms, and large algae. There are animals you would probably recognize, such as dolphins, turtles, crocodiles, and sharks. The Great Barrier Reef consists of about 3,000 individual reefs of coral, and the biodiversity they contain is remarkable. ![]() ![]() ![]() Yet the reef’s true value, its biodiversity, extends far beyond dollars and cents. This richness and uniqueness make the reef crucial for tourism and the Australian economy-it attracts at least 1.6 million visitors every year. There are likely many more-new discoveries are frequently being made, including a new species of branching coral discovered in 2017. The Great Barrier Reef, which extends for over 2,300 kilometers (1429 miles) along the northeastern coast of Australia, is home to over 9,000 known species.
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