Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Coral crisis

Abstract

The topic of this research paper is coral crisis. It argues that coral reefs are still shrinking and bleaching because of other hidden factors. There are three elements for this argument. First, marine tourism is a real killer that destroys coral’s habitats. The soil erosion of grazing land, furthermore, injects a huge amount of chemical substances into the marine ecology. Finally, the jellyfish feed on corals as nutrients, and some underwater creatures absorb many algae which adhere to the surface of coral reefs.

“Coral reefs are made of limestone and are created by living things. The most important reef-building organisms are corals. Coral support over 25% of all known marine species” (Levinton, 1995, para.1). Coral reef organisms and communities have evolved over the past 40-55 million years (Bothner, 2002). By 1998, an estimated 11 percent of the world’s reefs had been destroyed by human activity, and an additional 16 percent were extensively damaged in 1997-98 by coral beaching (Wilkinson, 2000). According to Liebeler (2002), furthermore, coral reefs are the rainforests of the ocean. Reefs lay a foundation of ecological ecosystems for marine creatures, and have a high biodiversity that serves as a storage bank of rich genetic resources. They can not only provide a source of food and medicine, but also protect the coast from wave erosion. “Reefs support at least a million described species of animals and plants, and 8 million coral reef species are estimated to be as yet undiscovered” (Moore, 2003, para.2). In recent years, some scientific reports have already proved, coral reefs have been severely damaged by human activities, and the coral crisis is happening over the world. In Caribbean, “nearly two-thirds of coral reefs are threatened by at least one form of human activity. An estimated one-third of coral reefs are threatened by coastal development, sediment, and pollution from land-based sources” (Burke, 2005, para.5). Moreover, corals are subject to global warming, “man-made activities, trawling, ocean acidification and other influences” (Loft, 2008, para.8).

With those obvious hurtful reasons, coral reefs are still shrinking and bleaching because of other factors. Firstly, tourism is a real killer that destroys coral’s habitats. The scuba diving is not only a famous oceanic activity in the world, but also one of the serious culprits that pollute natural resources. The soil erosion of grazing land, moreover, injects a huge amount of chemical substances into the marine ecology. Parts of the sediments contain rich nutrition to enrich bacteria and algae, which affect coral’s growth and reproduction. Finally, the jellyfish feed corals as nutrients, and some underwater creatures absorb algae which adhere to the surface of coral reefs. Those tiny plants are like an umbrella that shields reefs from direct sunlight.

Marine tourism, first, is continually killing coral reefs. It is difficult to draw a dividing line between tourism and coral reefs. According to the Nature Conservancy, “the annual economic value of coral reefs to world tourism is $9.6 billion” (Tsui, 2007, para.3). This is a serious statistic that indicates that a number of countries’ development is related with the tourist industry, which hangs on the natural environment. In 2003, according to a 2002 report, “between 28,000 and 100,000 people per year visited coral reefs, with diving and snorkeling being the most popular marine recreation activities” (Moore, 2003, para.12). These oceanic activities not only produce oil spills and sewage to stain the quality of the water, but also become a lure to invite more tourists. Scuba diving, for example, is a famous oceanic activity over many countries. When people join scuba diving activities, some divers collect these coral reefs as souvenirs, take them away in aquariums, or touch them. If humans continue to expand the development of the tourism in coral regions, marine tourism will also become a helper of global warming. If countries do not ban or reduce the tourism in these natural fields, corals will constantly be wiped out in decades. How to solve the tourism problem and balance the ecosystem? Governments must migrate marine tourism to terrestrial activities. In the beginning, they can chart more working opportunities for residents, or reduce the tax to invite investors. Then, the development of terrestrial tourism will follow the step to grow up. This method can both shield these precious creatures, and balance business for people who depend on oceanic industries for survival.

Second, sediments shrink the reproduction of corals. The soil erosion of grazing land dumps large amounts of sediments and nutrients into the ocean. They contain various chemical substances and nutrients that pollute the quality of water. A number of coral reefs are influenced by the pollutants that diminish their spawning capacity. The highest erosion risks that affected coral ecosystem have occurred “in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Eastern Jamaica, Haiti, and Puerto Rico” (Hodgson, 2002. para.3). Besides, the soil erosion provides nourishment to stimulate algae and decline the growth of underwater plants. Coral reefs are subject to the crown of thorns starfish, because sediments inject abundant nutrients into the marine ecology that stimulate starfish’s growth. “The plagues of starfish are a sign of the Reef being out of balance” (Wylie, 2007, para.6). Also, farming is the other culprit to use poisonous products. Farmers, for example, have employed a huge amount of pesticides to keep their agriculture from other insects. These agricultural chemicals have already accumulated into underground soil for a long period. When a flood flushes the soil into the water, these pollutants will bruise the living system of corals, prevent coral spawning, and deprive it of its capacity of regeneration. Following human activities, the erosion rates have elevated in recent decades. With the accelerated erosion, the sediment drastically reduces the amount of light reaching coral reefs. The result is corals cannot acquire sufficient oxygen to survive, because these zooxanthellae which stick to the surface of reefs cannot complete photosynthesis. Also, a huge amount of accumulation of sediment will wipe out coral communities, because these creatures require hard and stable surfaces to grow. Without coral reefs on the underwater land, many beaches and buildings would become vulnerable to wave action and storm damage. To prevent the sediments, therefore, a suitable grazing management program will be a crucial key in protecting and balancing the coral reefs. If we forbid poisonous products, also, land will not become saturated with pollutant. Using the organic material to irrigate and nurture the agriculture is the best way to shelter corals from pesticides. Consumers can support organic farming by purchasing organic foods, and this action will encourage farmers to advocate the organic policy.

Lastly, the jellyfish feed on corals as nutrients, and some underwater creatures such as stonefish consume algae as food that stick to the coral. Coral reefs are easily attacked by jellyfish, which are the most poisonous creatures that feed on corals in marine ecology. Jellyfish is one of the true coral-killers. “In Australia, box jellyfish are among the deadliest forms of ocean life, with one species, Chironex flecken, considered the world’s most venomous marine creature” (Burke, 2005, para.12). Following the agricultural activities and some industries, for instance, sewage and sediments become good helpers that store rich nourishment below the soil and underground reservoirs. These substances can not only stimulate the growth of bacteria and algae, but also enrich the energy for reef-predators. With the growth of jellyfish, coral reefs will rapidly lose their life. According to Levinton (1995), global warming and the loss of predators to fishing nets are leading to a bloom of jellyfish all over the world (para.12).

Stonefish, furthermore, absorb algae which adhere to the surface of the coral reefs. These fish depend on the algae, so coral reefs continually lose their natural protection. “When the algae die, corals appear white and are referred to as bleached” (Loft, 2008, para.6). Coral reefs, under the umbrella of algae, can avoid bleaching from the sun, because they need to grow in the shadow environments. A huge amount of light will bleach these underwater creatures. Besides, the zooxanthellae can provide corals with oxygen. These algae not only support corals’ abundant nutrients, but also shield them from bleaching. “Algae is critical to the growth and maintenance of the reef ecosystem. If there is not enough algae, the coral will die because it will not be able to acquire food and oxygen” (Moore, 2003, para.4). Consequently, if the population of coral-eaters, which are not seriously affected by rising temperature or pollutants, cannot be controlled by the food chain, coral reefs will keep being killed. How to avoid the phenomenon? Some scientists suggest that “corals and reef-building could migrate to higher latitudes in response to global warming” (Hodgson, 2002, para.23). With the suggestion, the marine ecosystem will maintain a number of green plants that support the food chain. Therefore, they will support enough algae to shield corals.

Opponents of depending on coral reefs declare that it is unreasonable to forbid the man-made activities in coral regions, because the coral crisis is a natural process and an ecological phenomenon. This argument, however, does not illustrate a clear-cut testimony of avoiding global warming. When residences overly employ the natural treasures to balance their business, the global temperature is rapidly rising to render more huge natural disasters. In recent years, an example of natural havoc is the weather crack in the regular activity that made a serious change in China. Parts of the Chinese continent were covered by a severe storm of snow in summer. This catastrophe destroyed thousands of humans’ lives, because people wildly damaged the natural conditions to fulfill their desires. Moreover, coral reefs can keep humankind from floods, because they are attached to the solid land at the bottom of the ocean. These creatures can reduce the impact of waves when hurricanes happen on the ocean. Because of these harmful influences, coral reefs must be sheltered to balance the ecosystem. All hurtful actions which are related with corals must be banned by every country in the world.

With this powerful evidence, coral reefs are continually attacked by oceanic tourism, sediments, and some poisonous creatures. These influences seem to be some inevitable evils that shadow corals. If human beings do not focus their attention on those physical factors, the marine resources will vanish from the earth in decades. This result will not only affect the living of all organism and humans, but also elevate greenhouse effects. Human beings must remember that the oceanic ecosystem occupies a fourth of natural resources on earth. The royal road to cherish our globe, therefore, is to restrict man-made activities in these corals’ environment right now.


References

Bothner, T. (2002, March 23). Early warning signs: Coral reefs bleaching. UCS. Retrieved June 10, 2008, from http://wwwucsusa.org/global_warming/sicence/early-warming-signs-of-global-warmimg-coral-reef-bleaching.htm

Burke, L. (2005, August 12). Reefs at risk in the Caribbean. EarthTrends. Retrieved June 10, 2008, from http://wwwearthtrends.wri.org/features/view_feature.php

Hodgson, G. & Liebeler, J. (2002, August). The global coral reef crisis: trends and solutions. Reefcheck. Retrieved June 9, 2008, from http://www.reefcheck.org/about_RC_Reef/The_Global_Coral_Reef_Crisis_Trends_and_Solutions.php

Levinton, J.S. (1995, January 23). What are corals and coral reefs? Coris. Retrieved June 9, 2008, from http://coris.noaa.gov/about/what_are

Loft, K. (2008, April 21). Coral Crisis: Global warming, trawling, pollutants threaten the world’s coral population. Journalnow.com. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/apr/21/coral-crisis-global-warming-trawling-pollutants-th

Moore, F. (2003, May 8). Coral reef crisis: Causes and consequences. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved June 9, 2008, from http://www.aaas.org/international/africa/coralreefs/ch1.shtml

Quek, T. (2007, June 28). Tourism players dive into bid to save Barrier Reef; One shopowner even forms political party to push for government action. Straits Times (Singapore). Retrieved May 28, 2008, from LexisNexis.

Tsui, B. (2007, June 24). Saving coral reefs becomes a tourism priority. Toronto Star. Retrieved May 29, 2008, from LexisNexis.

Wilkinson, T. (2000, November 12). Coral reefs still in danger from tourism head. Science. Retrieved June 10, 2008, from http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sci

Wylie, P. (2007, September 29). Less beef could mean a healthier Reef. Courier Mail (Australia). Retrieved June 2, 2008, from LexisNexis.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Chat and writing

Is instant message a better writing tool for students? Following the advance of the technology in 21st century, the IM technology is a popular tool for young students. They can not only type the message to chat with each other, but also improve social skills by Internet. Many students think that chatting by instant message will sharpen their writing abilities. In my opinion, however, using IM technology is only helpful for social skills or conversation, because it is a knee-jerk response. In a writing class, students need to focus their attention on grammar, logic, rhetoric and diction.

Grammar, first, lays an elementary foundation for writing. To understand the functions of grammar will benefit people in expressing correct information. Also, the grammar is related with structure and organization in composition. When writers compose an essay, for instance, they need to branch an article into three parts, including introduction, body paragraph, and conclusion. Students will learn how to use the correct grammar, to manage the powerful structures, and to organize the ideas into each parts.

With the grammar element, furthermore, logic is a clear-cut sign of composition. To chat with IM technology, people do not pay attention to think about anything or meaning. According to Lee (2002), teenagers write their composition with shortened words, and employ informal characters like &, $, and @. They use the same thinking model, instead of the one preferred for formal writing at school (paras.12-14). In writing assignments ,however, to exhibit logical expression will play a significant role.If students do not obey the logical principle to write an essay, for example, each idea or purpose cannot be pieced together. They will also jump their central thesis out of the article.

Finally, diction and rhetoric are the crucial ingredients: there is nothing that can be paralleled or on the same parity with them. Reading is the key point to enrich the article before writing at school. To write a compelling composition, the diction and
rhetoric will be like the diamonds that make the content sparkle. Nowadays, students do not pay more attention to enlarging their knowledge for writing. “Traditional ways of thinking and learning are undergoing a “sea change”” (Guess, 2007, para.17). Chatting with IM technology makes it impossible to improve their writing abilities.

Grammar, logic, diction and rhetoric are the critical elements to manage a compelling composition. Using instant message, therefore, is not the royal road to enforce their writing skills. The IM technology only fulfills the need for social conversation for students.

References

Guess, A. (2007, September 17), Students’ Evolving use of technology, Inside Higher Ed, Retrieved June 17, 2008, from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/09/17/it

Lee, J. (2002, September). Nu shortcuts in school R 2 much 4 teachers, NY Times,Retrieved June 17, 2008, from http://www.tinyurl.com/5p7vtb

Friday, June 6, 2008

The crisis is hidden on sediment

In Wylie’s (2007) article entitled “Less beef could mean a healthier Reef”, the author illustrates that the soil erosion of grazing land dumps large amounts of sediment and nutrients into the ocean. They contain various chemical substances and nutrients that pollute the quality of water. First, sediments shrink the reproduction of corals. A number of coral reefs are influenced by the pollutant that diminishes their spawning capacity. The soil erosion, furthermore, provides nourishment to stimulate algae and decline the growth of underwater plants. Coral reefs, finally, are subject to the crown of thorns starfish, because sediments inject abundant nutrients into the marine ecology that stimulate starfish’s growth. “The plagues of starfish are a sign of the Reef being out of balance” (Wylie, 2007, para.6). In conclusion, suitable grazing management will play a significant role in protecting and balancing the barrier reefs.

In my opinion, the phenomenon of soil erosion is a serious warning that strikes between grazing land and coral reefs. According to some reports, those soils which are eroded from grazing land still contain a diversity of pesticides, encourage poisonous creatures to grow, and consist of plentiful acid ingredients. With these harmful factors, organizing grazing lands will be the best method to control the coral crisis.

The first effect to leap on the stage is the pesticide. Farming is the main culprit to use poisonous products. Farmers, for example, have employed a huge amount of toxic products to protect their agriculture from other insects. These agricultural chemicals have already accumulated into underground soil for a long period. When a flood flushes the soil into the water, these pollutants will bruise the living system of corals, prevent coral spawning, and deprive it of its capacity of regeneration.

Sediments, moreover, contain abundant nutrients to furnish jellyfish, which are the most poisonous creatures that feed on corals in marine ecology. Jellyfish is one of the true coral-killers. Agricultural activities become a good helper that gather and store rich nourishment below the soil of the ground. These substances can not only stimulate the growth of bacteria and algae, but also enrich the energy for reef-predators. With the growth of jellyfish, coral reefs will rapidly lose their life.

The rising level of ocean acidification, finally, will destroy underwater corals. With the development of farming, grazing lands are already saturated with injurious materials that carry high acidity. Those chemical substances will accompany floods that pour the acidic elements into the ocean. Following the escalating sediments, for instance, it will not only shrink the living space of marine capacity for corals, but also damage its reproductive system. highlighting the threat of ocean acidification, additionally, we see that it will kill the amount of marine plants that circle the quality of water for reefs.

In conclusion, if human beings want to shield the coral reefs, managing the grazing land will lay a foundation for them. It is difficult to draw a dividing line between soil and marine ecosystems. To preserve and cherish the grazing land is the key to keeping these natural resources. With the pesticide, jellyfish, and acidification, coral reefs will quickly be extinct in marine ecology.

Reference

Wylie, P. (2007, September 29). Less beef could mean a healthier Reef. Courier Mail (Australia). Retrieved June 2, 2008, from LexisNexis.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Save economy or Save Barrier Reef

In Quek’s (2007) article entitled “Tourism players dive into bid to save Barrier Reef; One shopowner even forms political party to push or government action”, the author states that some tourism operators have organized a group to support the global warming phenomenon in Australia. They describe that it is global warming that has destroyed the reef. First of all, the Great Barrier Reef attracts more than two million visitors to visit Australia every year. Most tourist industries depend on natural resources to survive. Moreover, if government forbids the tourism industries to protect the natural treasures, which reduce the global warming effects, the country will not exist. Lastly, an environmental lawyer announced that he is pushing “Australian policymakers on the need to set appropriate targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions” (para.15). In conclusion, these coral reefs clearly indicate that “global warming in the last 20 years is real. It is not just a geological phenomenon” (para. 23).

In my opinion, I strongly suggest to ban tourism in Australia, because it is the best way that prevent the damage of rising temperature to threaten coral reefs. If tourism is forbidden in Australia, first, residents will lose their income to survive. Education, additionally, is the central key to protect these natural resources. Finally, government can divide the area of coral reefs into two parts, one part is provided for visiting, the other is shielded to balance the environment.

The first reason is the business effects. “Australia’s Great Barrier Reef alone draws about 1.9 million visitors a year, supporting a $4.2 billion industries. According to the Nature Conservancy, the annual economic value of coral reefs to world tourism is $9.6 billion” (Tsui, 2007, para.3). It is difficult to draw a dividing line between income and coral reefs, because the country’s development is a tourist industry that hangs on the natural environment. For example, scuba diving is a famous activity in Australia. There are many industries to produce the related equipment, to supply entertainment, and to service the tourists. If the area of coral reefs is closed to reduce the rising crisis in the marine ecosystem, the unemployment caused by residents losing their income will hit a new high.

Moreover, education lays the foundation of protecting the environment for a global climate. Educating human beings to cherish and maintain our precious marine ecology is a basic key resolving the global crisis. For instance, government can arrange some marine program that introduces endangered species in a compulsory education system. When people join scuba diving activities, they should not be able to take these coral reefs off as souvenirs or touch them. Additionally, tourists should not be able to pour any chemical substances into the oceanic environment. If humans obey these rules when they enjoy oceanic entertainment, tourism will not become a helper of global warming.

With the business and education factors, finally, government can separate the underwater area into two parts. One part of coral reefs can be exhibited for visitors to cruise, dive, and admire. To prohibit travel in coral reefs, human beings will use illegal behaviors to enjoy the oceanic environment. The policy will invite a far-reaching impact to make a dent in underwater ecology. Officers, for example, can chart a clear-cut management to employ some of natural resources. This field provides researchers with research, attracts visitors to consume, or stimulates the local economy.

In conclusion, restricting the tourism protects coral reefs in Australia is not a suitable or permanent policy to reduce the global effects. Some countries which depend on tourism for business will raise the unemployment. Also, the education is the most fundamental way to protect the Earth. Finally, people still need some natural places to relax and research. Following these factors, tourism and coral reefs are related with each other. We can’t restrict anyone.

Reference

Quek, T. (2007, June 28). Tourism players dive into bid to save Barrier Reef; One shopowner even forms political party to push or government action. Straits Times (Singapore). Retrieved May 28, 2008, from LexisNexis.

Tsui, B. (2007, June 24). Saving Coral Reefs Becomes a Tourism Priority. Toronto Star. Retrieved May 29, 2008, from LexisNexis.