Coral Bleaching Essay -- Geology

precious coral BleachingAbstractCoral reefs piddle been called the rainforests of the ocean and are one of the most diverse and important ecosystems on the planet. This paper will explore how global warming has effected these slender ecosystems. It will focus on the impact of increasing ocean temperatures on coral reefs.Coral let downsCoral reefs exist globally from 30N to 30S latitude and energise existed in some form on Earth for over two hundred million years. Over 2500 species of coral have been identified 1000 of which are reef building hard coral. Reefs are actually limestone structures pull ind by wasted animals called coral polyps. These polyps quit unicellular plants (algae) called zooxanthellae in their tissue. They have a dependent relationship which means, living together. During the day the zooxanthellae rise to the surface of the animal and produce food by photosynthesis. At night the polyp extends a stinging, multitenticled speak that feeds on any planktoni c animals. They both benefit from the waste products of the other. They too work together to capture calcium carbonate from seawater and diversify it into the hard limestone structures in which they live. Because corals survive due to this fragile relationship, they are rattling sensitive and tolerate relatively narrow ranges of water temperature, salinity and transparency.Coral reefs are estimated to cover less than .2% of the ocean floor but contain approximately 25% of the oceans species. They provide protection for shorelines, minify erosion. They also give food, shelter and protection to almost one million marine species and act as a nursery for growing fish. human beings benefit directly from coral reefs. They supply us with food, jobs (through fishing and tourism) a... ...astrous to discharge the existing coral reefs of the world.References 1. William Fitt. Bleaching of Symbiotic Algae operational http//zircon.geology.union.edu/Carb/fitt 2. Reef Relief. Reef Relief purchasable http//www.blacktop.com/coralforest/index.html 3. Knauer Communication. Global Warming is a Problem Available http//www.enviroweb.org/edf/isproblem/isproblem_frameset.html 4. Michael Van Woert. ORAD Available http//140.90.191.231/orad/ 5. Indiana University. Reef option Page Available http//www.indiana.edu/reefpage/. 6. Ingrid Guch. NOAA Available http//www.ara.polytechnique.fr/surface.html 7. PCRF. Planetary Coral Reef understructure Available http//www.pcrf.org/ 8. The Coral Reef Alliance. Get the Facts on Coral ReefsAvailable http//www.coral.org/Facts.html