2B+Coral+Bleaching


 * __Notes on threats __**
 * - It’s estimated that we have lost 10% of the world’s largest coral reefs already. Many Scientists say that in the next 50 years, a lot of the coral reefs on the Earth will be gone because of the cyanide fishing, blast fishing, pesticide and fertilizer, erosion, global warming, other poisons, sediment from river runoff and more human activity. **
 * - Cyanide fishing destroys a lot of coral reefs because when the fishermen spray cyanide, (which being a very toxic poison) into the water to stun the fish (it does not kill them) they take crowbars and tear apart the coral to get to the disoriented fish. Small organisms, algae and coral polyps also die from cyanide. Cyanide fishing is common in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Cyanide fishing and blast fishing (destroys reefs with shockwaves) are two examples of irresponsible fishing and kills a lot of coral reefs. **
 * - Pesticide, fertilizer and other poisons damage and kill coral, even sediment from river runoff kills coral to because if a lot of sediment goes into reefs it is possible that it can become too much and block the sunlight coral needs to survive. **
 * - Sudden temperature change can kill coral. **
 * - Human activities like dropping anchors and boats damage and kill them ****. **
 * - Sewage can hurt the coral reef, because untreated sewage can cause the growth of algae which harms coral. **
 * - Even humans just touching them in the slightest manner can hurt coral **

**__The importance of the coral reef.__**
 * -the coral reef is important because its home/shelter to more than 25% of ocean life. **
 * -coral reefs help organisms survive. **
 * - Coral reef ecosystem removes and recycles carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide is a gas that contributes to global warming. **
 * - Coral reefs also protect land from the harsh weather. The coral reef absorbs the import from big and strong winds, also storms. **
 * - The coral reefs provide food. For example the coral reefs provide food for lobster and conch. **
 * -Did you know the coral reefs are a big source of biodiversity? If reefs were not here, a lot of ocean life would die. **
 * <span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Some people believe sometimes that the coral reefs may provide important medicines for people, like the hard skeleton of the coral can be bone substitutes in reconstructive bone surgery. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-People can learn a lot of stuff from studying coral reefs such as biomes, interrelationships with other organisms and their environment. **

<span style="color: #660066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif';">Blue Marlin- Fish. Clown Fish- Plankton. Great <span style="color: #660066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; line-height: 115%;">Barracuda- Fish <span style="color: #660066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">. <span style="color: #660066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; line-height: 115%;">Porcupine Fish- Shell Fish. Skip Jack Tuna- Fish. Smooth Hammer Head- Fish. Stone Fish- Fish. Four eyed butterfly fish- Algae. Zooplankton- Phytoplankton. Barracuda- Parrotfish, Four eyed butterfly fish, Silver porgies, squid. Fish fry- Zooplankton. Coral- Zooplankton Squid- Fish Fry. Silver porgies- Fish Fry.
 * __<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 28pt; line-height: 115%;">Biotic: __**
 * <span style="color: #002060; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Fish: **

<span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; line-height: 115%;">Brown Booby- Fish.
 * <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Birds: **

<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; line-height: 115%;">Green Turtle: Seaweed. Hawksbill- Shell Fish.
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">Reptiles: **

<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; line-height: 115%;">Dugong- Seaweed. Finless Porpoise- Mollusks.
 * <span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Mammals: **

__<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Temperature- __ <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Elephant','serif';">Stays the same temperature year round. Coral is found in shallow warm waters. Usually temperatures are between 68-84 degrees (best at 77-84). __<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Skeletons __<span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">- <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Elephant','serif';"> Coral skeletons stay there when they die and the baby skeletons attach themselves to the skeletons. __<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sunlight- __<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif';"> Coral needs sunlight to survive. __<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Waters __<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">- <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Elephant','serif';">There is a tiny bit of waves. There is little sedimentation by river runoff.
 * __<span style="color: #660066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%;">Abiotic __**

__<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Climate __<span style="color: #ff0066; font-family: 'Elephant','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">- <span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: 'Elephant','serif';"> In tropical/subtropical areas

__<span style="color: #95b3d7; font-family: 'Elephant','serif';">Location __<span style="color: yellow; font-family: 'Elephant','serif';">- Warm water Reefs are mostly in the Western parts of the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Oceans (warmer than the Eastern areas).

A couple main threats to coral are temperature, runoff, and sediment. We can help extreme temperature changes by decreasing pollution from factories and power plants. Runoff and sediment from rivers can cause zooxanthellae to lose pigment and bleach because the chemicals like pesticide and fertilizer are toxic to coral. Sediment from the river block the sunlight that coral needs to survive, we can definitely help runoff and be cautious about what runs into the river that leads to oceans.
 * Conservation plan **