marine ecosystems

• what do coral reefs provide?

  • diversity
  • shoreline protection
  • food (fishing)
  • medicine
  • decoration
  • construction
  • habitats
• SE Asia has 30% of worlds coral reef, and 70% of coral species.
• coral reef are found in shallow seas, at 18 degrees celcius.
• coral are killed when there is too much land sediment.

  they need salt water and waves to oxygenate.

  it is illegal to trade coral internationally.
• how are humans destroying coral?

  • pollution
  • onshore development
  • desalination
  • tourism
  • fishing
  • removing coral reef
• plastic sediments poison coral by suffocating them.

  this is expected to get worse as human development grows.