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Cities Under the Sea
- 1. Keeping the Balance Right Coral Reefs CITIES UNDER THE SEA Presented by: Barry Lovelace, MSc., Environmental Science Educator
- 2. Coral Reefs Our Amazing Very Rich Biodiversity • Well over 1 million different kinds of organisms share small space (only 10% Identified) • Cities under the sea • Rainforest of the Sea
- 3. … are large underwater structures (ridges and mounds) built from the calcium carbonate (limestone) deposits of animals (mainly coral polyps). What are Coral Reefs?
- 4. Coral Reef in Tobago
- 6. Largest brain coral in the Western Hemisphere at Speyside, Tobago
- 7. Coral ReefsCollage of colourful soft corals
- 8. Coral Reefs Diving between barrel sponges at Speyside, Tobago
- 9. Coral Reefs Manta ray at Speyside, Tobago
- 10. Coral Reefs Feather duster worm, Tobago
- 11. Coral Reefs Yellow tube sponge, Tobago
- 12. Why are Coral Reefs important to T&T?In 2006 the World Resource Institute (WRI) presented the estimates of an economic valuation of several Caribbean reefs, Tobago included.
- 13. Why are Coral Reefs important? Coral reef-associated Tourism and Recreation Contributed $130 million to the national economy in 2006
- 14. Divers examine largest brain coral
- 16. Why are Coral Reefs important? Coral reef-associated Fisheries provide annual economic benefits estimated $1.3 million
- 17. Important source of protein in the Caribbean parrot fish parrot fish Spanish hogfish grunt snapper grouper
- 18. Why are Coral Reefs important? Shoreline Protection Services of Coral Reefs avoided erosion and storm damage from waves valued $33 million per year
- 19. Buccoo Reef Tobago’s largest fringing reef on the way to becoming a small barrier reef
- 20. Why are Coral Reefs important? Tourism and recreation Fisheries Shoreline Protection US$ 130 US$ 1.3 US$ 33 US$ 164 Mil These are significant compared to Tobago’s GDP, which was US$286 million in 2006. Coral reefs provide other important values not captured in study (beaches, cultural, pharmaceuticals).
- 21. Understanding the threats to coral reefs Temperature 21 to 29ºC Salinity >20ppt Water Clarity/Light mostly above 30m as they require sunlight Firm Base for attachment Water Movement for food and oxygen Optimum conditions for survival
- 22. Found worldwide in tropical waters….. ….warm, clear shallow water.
- 23. Coral Polyps build reefs
- 24. Most corals consist of many small animals (polyps) living together in a large group or a colony. Coral Polyps build reefs
- 25. •Tube-shaped body •Sessile The Polyp Tentacles – capture food Mouth – ingests food; expels waste Gut – digests food Skeleton (coralite cups) – protective calcium carbonate structure Skin – contains zooxanthellae
- 26. Sunlight (90%) Filter feeding (10%) The Polyp Gets Energy from:
- 27. Filter feeding nematocyst zooplankton At night, polyps feed on tiny floating animals (zoo- plankton). They paralyse prey with stinging cells called nematocyst. Tentacles pass food to the mouth which then gets digested in the stomach. Waste is expelled through mouth.
- 28. Energy from sunlight Inner cells zooxanthellae sunlight Coral polyps retreat into their coralite cups during day. Single-celled plants in skin (zooxanthellae), produce food (sugars) from sunlight (photosynthesis).
- 29. Coral Bleaching!!! Inner cells zooxanthellae sunlight •Stress: Temperature rise •Polyp expels zooxanthellae •colony appears brilliant white •4 – 6 week of bleaching, corals would starve to death.
- 30. SEPTEMBER 2005 Bleaching of Fire Corals and Brain Corals first observed!
- 31. OCTOBER 2005 Bleaching spread to most coral species
- 32. OCTOBER 2005 Buccoo Reef Trust and Coral Cay Conservation Team up to survey main reefs for severity and extent of bleaching…
- 33. Method 25 Sites were surveyed using Point Intercept Transect Report available at www.buccooreeftrust.org
- 34. Results Overall 66% of hard coral bleached!! At some sites over 85% bleached Report available at www.buccooreeftrust.org
- 35. NOVEMBER 2005 - SEPTEMBER 2006 Buccoo Reef Trust continue to monitor reefs for recovery/mortality
- 36. Method 8 stations were established from previous survey sites
- 37. At each station, 20 discrete colonies were tagged, photographed repeatedly, and analyzed over the period the 10 month period
- 38. Results 66% Bleached colonies: November 2005 A Bleached colony
- 39. Results Partial Mortality: 32.5% Some areas died: Sept. 2006A Bleached colony: Nov. 2005
- 40. Results November 2005 A Bleached colony
- 41. Results Total Mortality: 6.6% Sept. 2006A Bleached colony: Nov. 2005
- 42. How do we deal with Coral Bleaching? Reduce stress from human activities
- 43. Reef Walking…
- 47. Simple solutions to preventing anchor damage - Install moorings and reef demarcation buoys - Avoid reef walking and contact with corals
- 49. Runoff from cleared lands results in sedimentation of water… Sediment kill reef
- 51. Coral reefs are in crisis!!! • Less than 0.2% of ocean is reefs • Reefs are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide.
- 52. Coral reefs are in crisis!!! • 75% of the world's coral reefs are currently threatened by local and global pressures (WRI)
- 53. Coral reefs are in crisis!!! • Left unchecked, the percent of threatened reefs will increase to more than 90% by 2030 and to nearly all reefs by 2050
- 55. SPEAK OUT!!
- 56. Thank you
- 57. Buccoo Reef Tobago’s largest fringing reef on the way to becoming a small barrier reef