http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJq9eMTnuAk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx7Ht9O2g_k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtwI6gLZBfE
Friday, April 6, 2007
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef, in Australia is "the world's largest World Heritage Area extending 2 000 kilometres and covering an area of 35 million hectares on the north-east continental shelf of Australia. Bigger than the entire area of Italy, it is probably the best known marine protected area in the world. The Great Barrier Reef's great diversity reflects the maturity of the ecosystem, which has evolved over hundreds of thousands of years. It is the world's most extensive coral reef system and is one of the world's richest areas in terms of faunal diversity.
The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area contains more than just coral reefs. It also contains extensive areas of seagrass, mangrove, soft bottom communities and island communities. Contrary to popular belief, the reef is not a continuous barrier, but a broken maze of coral reefs and coral cays. It includes some 2 800 individual reefs, of which 760 are fringing reefs. These reefs range in size from less than one hectare to more than 100 000 hectares, and in shape from flat platform reefs to elongated ribbon reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef provides habitats for many diverse forms of marine life. There are an estimated 1 500 species of fish and more than 300 species of hard, reef-building corals. More than 4 000 mollusc species and over 400 species of sponges have been identified."(www.environment.gov)
It has been said that the reef as a result of global warming will become functionally extinct in about 50 years. Get more info on this at: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/index.html
To watch a clip of underwater of the Great Barrier reef, click the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqPdcVqLUEI
The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area contains more than just coral reefs. It also contains extensive areas of seagrass, mangrove, soft bottom communities and island communities. Contrary to popular belief, the reef is not a continuous barrier, but a broken maze of coral reefs and coral cays. It includes some 2 800 individual reefs, of which 760 are fringing reefs. These reefs range in size from less than one hectare to more than 100 000 hectares, and in shape from flat platform reefs to elongated ribbon reefs.
The Great Barrier Reef provides habitats for many diverse forms of marine life. There are an estimated 1 500 species of fish and more than 300 species of hard, reef-building corals. More than 4 000 mollusc species and over 400 species of sponges have been identified."(www.environment.gov)
It has been said that the reef as a result of global warming will become functionally extinct in about 50 years. Get more info on this at: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/index.html
To watch a clip of underwater of the Great Barrier reef, click the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqPdcVqLUEI
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Ocean plastic pollution- the trash vortex
Each year about 300 billion pounds of plastic is produced around the world, but only a fraction is recycled. The rest (the majority) ends up up in landfills, but some finds its way into our oceans. Plastic is valued for its resistance to degradation, so its life span can be hundreds of years. When plastic reaches our oceans, it eventually breaks down due to the action of the sun, wind, and currents, into small, literally bite sized pieces that wildlife confuse with food.
As trash swirls through the world’s oceans to a handful of vortexes like this, it leaves a trail of death and destruction along its path. Plastic is often mistaken for food and has been found inside marine life of all sizes, from whales to zooplankton. It has been directly blamed for the death of a wide range of animals including albatrosses and sea turtles.
The trash vortex is one of the most studied areas of plastic accumulation in our oceans. At its maximum the area can reach the size of Texas. It is made up of everything from tiny pieces of plastic debris to large ghost nets lost by the fishing industry.
Only a small percentage of the trash found at sea is thought to originate there. The plastic int he ocean comes from a variety of sources: from street litter to industrial waste. Pollution of various kind is washed from land into storm drains and rivers each time it rains, this trash eventually reaches the ocean. Once there, the long-lasting qualities of plastic mean that it remains in the ecosystem for decades (and potentially longer), and as more trash accumulates, our oceans and the inhabitants within them are facing a crisis.
The world's largest trash vortexes are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This particular trash vortex is sometimes referred to as the North Pacific garbage patch, it is the epicenter of a system of currents and winds covering most of the North Pacific. It has become home to a familiar substance – plastic.
To see this trash vortex, click the link below:
http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/trashing-our-oceans/ocean_pollution_animation
Read more at:http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/trashing-our-oceans
As trash swirls through the world’s oceans to a handful of vortexes like this, it leaves a trail of death and destruction along its path. Plastic is often mistaken for food and has been found inside marine life of all sizes, from whales to zooplankton. It has been directly blamed for the death of a wide range of animals including albatrosses and sea turtles.
The trash vortex is one of the most studied areas of plastic accumulation in our oceans. At its maximum the area can reach the size of Texas. It is made up of everything from tiny pieces of plastic debris to large ghost nets lost by the fishing industry.
Only a small percentage of the trash found at sea is thought to originate there. The plastic int he ocean comes from a variety of sources: from street litter to industrial waste. Pollution of various kind is washed from land into storm drains and rivers each time it rains, this trash eventually reaches the ocean. Once there, the long-lasting qualities of plastic mean that it remains in the ecosystem for decades (and potentially longer), and as more trash accumulates, our oceans and the inhabitants within them are facing a crisis.
The world's largest trash vortexes are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. This particular trash vortex is sometimes referred to as the North Pacific garbage patch, it is the epicenter of a system of currents and winds covering most of the North Pacific. It has become home to a familiar substance – plastic.
To see this trash vortex, click the link below:
http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/trashing-our-oceans/ocean_pollution_animation
Read more at:http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/trashing-our-oceans
Monday, April 2, 2007
A look at Jamaica's Coral Reefs
Jamaica's coral reefs are among the most diverse and beautiful reefs in the world. I have seen them first hand while snorkelling and I would like to share some more information on Jamaica's coral reefs.
Coral reefs are the most important marine natural resource for Jamaica and most Caribbean islands, providing the bulk of fisheries catches and marine bio-diversity, the source of sand for the beaches on which the tourism economy is based, and protecting the shore from erosion by storm waves.
More species of hard corals can be found in Jamaica’s crystal waters than anywhere else in the Caribbean.
I will give some examples of different reefs found in Jamaica. These are reefs found in Montego Bay. Mo Bay as it known locally, is the home of the second of two International Airports on the Island. Being on the western tip, the main tourist area of Jamaica, it is the gateway through which most tourists enter. Montego Bay features a DC-3 aircraft to dive and a Reef conservation area. There is some wall diving and scattered areas of coral reefs. Montego Bay is the second largest city and is known for its beautiful waters, its marine park, mountains and plantations.
It stretches from the east end of the airport to the Great River and contains three major ecosystems, seagrass bed, mangroves and coral reefs.
A delightful little reef just off-shore by the Donald Sangster International Airport, with pretty and very interesting marine life in just 8 meters (24 feet) of water and beautiful coral caverns and crevasses at 10 to 12 meters (30-40 feet). Definitely for "reef- crawling". Very suitable for the novice and experienced diver.
Name: Doctors' Cave Reef
A shallow boat dive across from Doctor's Cave Beach with depths averaging a mere 25 ft., making it a perfect dive site for beginners. Visibility ranges from 40-60ft. The reef is filled with brain coral, star coral heads and “elk horn clumps.” Miniature reef fish are plentiful. Very few currents.
Coral reefs are the most important marine natural resource for Jamaica and most Caribbean islands, providing the bulk of fisheries catches and marine bio-diversity, the source of sand for the beaches on which the tourism economy is based, and protecting the shore from erosion by storm waves.
More species of hard corals can be found in Jamaica’s crystal waters than anywhere else in the Caribbean.
I will give some examples of different reefs found in Jamaica. These are reefs found in Montego Bay. Mo Bay as it known locally, is the home of the second of two International Airports on the Island. Being on the western tip, the main tourist area of Jamaica, it is the gateway through which most tourists enter. Montego Bay features a DC-3 aircraft to dive and a Reef conservation area. There is some wall diving and scattered areas of coral reefs. Montego Bay is the second largest city and is known for its beautiful waters, its marine park, mountains and plantations.
It stretches from the east end of the airport to the Great River and contains three major ecosystems, seagrass bed, mangroves and coral reefs.
These are some examples of the reefs found here are:
Name: Basket Reef
On the edge of the reef you find an abundance of basket sponges in all sizes, as well as sea fans and finger coral, to name a few of the coral types found here. A healthy fish population includes black durgeons, parrot fish, rock beauties and schools of creole wrasse. Sometimes even turtles and dolphins visit this very popular dive site.
Name: Black Coral Alley
A narrow alley with depths ranging from 40-65ft., covered with thick black coral trees divers may see tubeworms, sea worms, crabs, urchins and an occasional hiding octopus. Visibility is almost always good.
A narrow alley with depths ranging from 40-65ft., covered with thick black coral trees divers may see tubeworms, sea worms, crabs, urchins and an occasional hiding octopus. Visibility is almost always good.
Name: Airport Reef
A delightful little reef just off-shore by the Donald Sangster International Airport, with pretty and very interesting marine life in just 8 meters (24 feet) of water and beautiful coral caverns and crevasses at 10 to 12 meters (30-40 feet). Definitely for "reef- crawling". Very suitable for the novice and experienced diver.
Name: Doctors' Cave Reef
A shallow boat dive across from Doctor's Cave Beach with depths averaging a mere 25 ft., making it a perfect dive site for beginners. Visibility ranges from 40-60ft. The reef is filled with brain coral, star coral heads and “elk horn clumps.” Miniature reef fish are plentiful. Very few currents.
Important relationships in the marine ecosystem
I have always learnt how one ecosystem affects another. I want to share and take a closer look at how one marine ecosystem affects another and ultimately life in general. Most marine systems rely on another system for some vital function or protection that could in some cases determine whether it survives or not. An interesting example of this important interaction is the relationship between wetlands such as mangrove forests, mud flats, and sea grass beds and the estuarine system which includes coral reef ecosystems.
Wetlands especially mangroves protect coral reef ecosystems by filtering sediments and absorb massive amounts of nutrients and sediment from runoff caused by farming and construction of roads, buildings, ports, channels, and harbors. If these mangroves are destroyed nutrient-rich water causes fleshy algae and phytoplankton to thrive in coastal areas in suffocating amounts known as algal blooms. Since coral reefs are biological assemblages adapted to waters with low nutrient content, the addition of nutrients favors species that disrupt the balance of the reef communities. The loss of wetlands and importantly mangrove habitats are considered to be significant factors affecting water quality on inshore reefs.
Poor water quality has also been shown to encourage the spread of infectious disease among corals. Corals are very delicate and sensitive organisms and excess sediment and nutrients are just some problems that will have detrimental effects on the reefs.Reefs are very important as they are very diverse habitats for numerous marine life that ultimately provides food for humans. They help to break waves, and thus aids in beach formation (helping to foster tourism in areas that rely on beautiful beaches as part of their tourist attraction package). These are just a few of the functions of reefs. Here it is clear to see why to maintain coral reefs, wetlands have to be protected from development to continue to ensure these vital functions.
Wetlands especially mangroves protect coral reef ecosystems by filtering sediments and absorb massive amounts of nutrients and sediment from runoff caused by farming and construction of roads, buildings, ports, channels, and harbors. If these mangroves are destroyed nutrient-rich water causes fleshy algae and phytoplankton to thrive in coastal areas in suffocating amounts known as algal blooms. Since coral reefs are biological assemblages adapted to waters with low nutrient content, the addition of nutrients favors species that disrupt the balance of the reef communities. The loss of wetlands and importantly mangrove habitats are considered to be significant factors affecting water quality on inshore reefs.
Poor water quality has also been shown to encourage the spread of infectious disease among corals. Corals are very delicate and sensitive organisms and excess sediment and nutrients are just some problems that will have detrimental effects on the reefs.Reefs are very important as they are very diverse habitats for numerous marine life that ultimately provides food for humans. They help to break waves, and thus aids in beach formation (helping to foster tourism in areas that rely on beautiful beaches as part of their tourist attraction package). These are just a few of the functions of reefs. Here it is clear to see why to maintain coral reefs, wetlands have to be protected from development to continue to ensure these vital functions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
