The Worlds Largest Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef The Worlds Largest Barrier Reef

The view of the Great Barrier Reef from space Location and Size The Great barrier reef is located off the coast of Queensland, northeast Australia. The actual size is 132, 974 square miles It is so large that it can be seen clearly from space The view of the Great Barrier Reef from space

Coral Inhabitance There are over four hundred species of coral flourishing throughout the Reef The majority of these coral spawn gametes, breeding in mass spawning events that are triggered by the rising sea temperatures of spring and summer

Ecology There are thirty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in the Great Barrier Reef There are six different species of turtle including: the green sea turtle, the leatherback sea turtle, the hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead turtle, flatback turtle, and the olive ridly More than 1,500 species of fish inhabit the reef

Environmental Threats Pollution: 90% of the pollution in the reef are caused by farm runoff Loss of coastal wetlands: It is thought that poor water quality is caused by increased light and oxygen competition from algae Overfishing: I believe the answer to this is in the name. Men leaving nets and dropping anchors subtract the amount of marine life in the reef The Crown of Thorns: This is a starfish that eats all coral in comes upon

Management on the Reef Most of the management is done by starfish, crabs, and some species of fish Certain undesirable bacteria or plants are eaten or removed of by the managers of the reef Sometimes, people are known to volunteer and clean some of the reef Some fish clean larger fish for protection

Endangered Species In the Great Barrier Reef there are many different threatened species of animals such as the blue whale and the sea turtle Another animal that is endangered is a manatee, otherwise known as a sea cow.

Why is the water so still and clear? A common question that I have heard is why is the water so clear and still in the Great Barrier Reef. Well the reason is because of the small reefs. The reefs spread all throughout the surrounding area, causing the water to slow down.

Conclusion So that is a little about the vibrant and serene Great Barrier Reef. Just like all things it needs help to stay in good conditions. Everything has a part in the wondrous coral reef. The fish do their small parts as well as the small crabs. Even the flourishing smaller reefs have a great participation

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