Coral Reef Case study The Great Barrier Reef - Australia

Introduction
Coral reefs are teeming with life and the coral itself is made up of billions polyps. Polyps attach themselves to the reef and leave skeletons behind when they die, building up hard limestone (Calcium carbonate). New polyps attach to the limestone and the reef grows larger. The Great Barrier Reef, one of several coral reefs around the world, stretches for almost 2000 km along Australia.

Geographical location
The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea. It is off the northeast coast of Australia's state of Queensland. The reef itself stretches over 1,600 miles (2,600 km) and most of it is between 9 and 93 miles (15 and 150 km) from shore. In places the reef is up to 40 miles (65 km) wide. The reef also includes Murray Island. Geographically, the Great Barrier Reef stretches from Torres Strait in the north to the area between Lady Elliot and Fraser Islands in the south.

Types of reefs in the great barrier reef

Although it is called the "Great Barrier Reef" ,the ecosystem really is made up of a number of different reefs - only some of which are true barrier reefs. The rest are a combination of barrier, fringing, atoll and ribbon reefs.

Ribbon reefs only occur in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef extending from Cooktown to eastern Torres Strait, a distance of 670 kilometers. Ribbon reef a long, narrow, possibly winding reef, usually associated with an atoll lagoon.

Major regions
Northern Great Barrier Reef Cape York Peninsula Region and Cairns Region. From Cape York to Hinchinbrook Central Great Barrier Reef Townsville Coast and Whitsunday Islands From Townsville to Mackay. Southern Great Barrier Reef Capricorn Coast and Glastone to Fraser Island The Capricorn Coast to Fraser Island

The importance of the great barrier reef to Australia

Tourism Due to its vast biodiversity the reef is a very popular destination, especially for scuba divers. Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef is concentrated in the Whitsundays and Cairns due to their accessibility. These areas make up 7% of the Park's area. Tourism in the great barrier reef generates over A$5 billion. Approximately two million people visit the Great Barrier Reef each year.

Fishing The fishing industry in the Great Barrier Reef, controlled by the Queensland Government, is worth A$1 billion annually. It employs approximately 2000 people, and fishing in the Great Barrier Reef is pursued commercially, for recreation, and as a traditional means for feeding one's family.
Natural barrier and rich ecosystem

Threats to the reef

Industry and sewage: Rivers bring toxic and metal pollutants from factories and industrial places. This leads to the forming of algae over the reef and eutrophication. Dredging: Destruction of reef structure and the stirring of sediments (lack of sunlight). Agriculture: The Queensland coast is sugarcane and cattle country, so pollutants arrive to the reef through rivers. These pollutants are often nutrient-rich and cause eutrophication.

Tourism: Yachts, kayaks, cruise ships are disturbing the reefs. Scuba diving and snorkeling are stirring the sediments and tourists keep bumping and stepping on corals. Building and housing: Building and construction are taking place in the Queensland coast and limestone is needed from the corals and other than that, this creates sediment that flows into the sea. Fishing: Over-fishing and using cyanide bombs. Fishermen are to be banned from one-third of the Barrier Reef.

Sustainable management of coral reefs in the region

A combination of zoning, management plans, permits, education and incentives (such as ecotourism certification) are employed in the effort to conserve the reef. Increasing the water quality, the plan specifically targets nutrients, pesticides and sediment that make their way into the reef as a result of agricultural activities. There will be a 50 percent reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus loads at the end of catchments and that by 2020, and a reduction in sediment load by 20 percent. Protection across the Marine Park.

Conclusion
The Great Barrier Reef is a breeding area for humpback whales, migrating from the Antarctic and is also the habitat of a few endangered species including the Dugong (Sea Cow) and large Green Sea Turtle. In recognition of its significance, UNESCO listed the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

Bibliography
http://geography.about.com/od/australiamaps/a/greatbarrier-reef.htm http://search.about.com/?q=The+great+barrier+reef http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/great-barrier-reef1.htm http://www.reefed.edu.au/home/explorer/landscapes/reefs/r ibbon_reefs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef http://www.rrrc.org.au/mtsrf/theme_4/program_8.html http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/about.php Cambridge IGCSE Geography (Gary Cambers and Steve Sibley) Google Images