1. Hannah, Brooks, Alex, Kyle

2. Location

3. Background World’s largest reef system 2,900 individual reefs, 7% of reef is coral Tourism generates 4-5 billion dollars of revenue/year 2 million people visit each year Fishing industry worth 1 billion

4. Environmental Issues Sediment and chemical runoff Ocean acidification Climate Change 2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill

5. Runoff Thirty major rivers and hundreds of small streams run through the Great Barrier catchment area. Sediment in rivers run into the reef and make the water murky Sediment smothers coral Farming fertilizers cause chemical runoff. Runoff Includes copper which prevents coral growth Excess nutrients from fertilizers causes poor water quality. Makes coral more susceptible to the spread of infectious disease.

6. Climate Change Climate change is considered the greatest threat to the reef If the ocean raises 1 degree the reef could be destroyed. Atmospheric CO2 has increased 103 ppm this century Higher temperatures cause coral bleaching Causes disease susceptibility and detrimental ecological effects for reef communities

7. Ocean Acidification Caused by greenhouse gas emissions Water in the atmosphere reacts with CO2 and lowers pH. Enters the ecosystem through precipitation Decreases the ability for organisms to make calcium carbonate Disables organisms from defending themselves against predators

8. Oil Spills 2010 Great Barrier Reef Oil Spill Created largest grounding scar ever recorded on the reef The damaged areas are now completely devoid of marine life Often oil spill clean up cause more damage to ecosystem than the spill itself Oil drilling causes marine structural damage

9. The Future Issues Fewer fish White coral Increased bacteria Polluted waters Algae blooms and crown of thorn growth Increased pesticide exposure

10. Saving the Reef No fishing zones, fishing limits Allocating specific wildlife areas. Closed off to tourism. Marine sanctuaries Teach proper irrigation to farmers and fine for chemical runoff Individual action to reduce global warming effects (limit electricity use, recycle)