Environmental Threats to the Great Barrier Reef

Allison Botkin

General Information• The Great Barrier Reef is located

off of the Queensland coast of Australia

• The Great Barrier Reef is approximately 3,000 km (1,800 miles) long

• The reef is home to:-400 species of coral-1,500 species of fish-200 types of birds-20 different species of

reptiles

Environmental Threats to the Great Barrier Reef• Human Threats:

-Ship wrecks/accidents-Oil Spills-Tourism-Over-fishing

• Natural Threats-Coral Bleaching-Rising climate and

water temperatures

Human Threats

• Since 1987, approximately 283 oil spills have occurred taken place in the waters above and surrounding the Great Barrier Reef

• In 2010, a shipping accident caused 3 km of damage to the reef that could take 10-20 years to recover from

• $1 billion is made from the fishing industry each year in Australia; this is causing a decrease in the fish population

• Tourism activities on the reef, such as “reef-walking”, are damaging the ecosystems

Coral Bleaching• Zooxanthellae and coral need to exist within the same

ecosystem in order for coral to survive and be healthy • Warmer sea temperatures causes zooxanthellae to escape

from the coral which causes the coral to loose its vibrant colors and turn white

• Without zooxanthellae, the coral will die within 4-6 weeks• In 2002, 60% of the Great Barrier Reef was affected by

coral bleaching due to warmer weather causing an increase in sea temperatures

• If no changes are made with rising sea temperatures, the Great Barrier Reef will bleach 97% each year by 2050.

Rising Climate and Water Temperatures

• 97% of the Great Barrier Reef is at risk of coral bleaching every year if the temperature rises only 2-3 degrees Celsius

• The marine life and ecosystems on the Great Barrier Reef need a controlled level of sea temperature to maintain stable

Save The Reef!• Approximately ½ of the

Great Barrier Reef has been lost since 1985!

• With the sea temperatures rising, all 1,600 species of fish (approximately) that live in the Great Barrier Reef will be affected.

• Protecting the Great Barrier Reef is essential to keep the plants, animals, and ecosystems healthy!

Works Cited•About the Great Barrier Reef. (n.d.) Retrieved March 17, 2014, from http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/about.php •Climate change impacts on fish. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2014, from http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/outlook-for-the-reef/climate-change/what-does-this-mean-for-species/fish•Gammon, K. (2012, October 1). Half of Great Barrier Reef lost in past 3 decades. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/23612-great-barrier-reef-steep-decline.html•Great Barrier Reef facts and information. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2014, from http://www.greatadventures.com.au/great-barrier-reef-info.html•Great Barrier Reef foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2014, from http://www.barrierreef.org/research/why-research/the-reef-and-climate-change/what-is-coral-bleaching•Threats to the Great Barrier Reef. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2014, from http://www.greatbarrierreef.com.au/information/great-barrier-reef-threats/