Coral Reef Research Paper

October of 2016 was a sad month for tourists and marine enthusiasts alike. At the age of 25 million years old, the Great Barrier Reef, in Queensland, Australia, was pronounced dead. Being one of Australia's biggest tourist attraction, the reef brought in over 5 billion dollars a year. Due to its death, it is safe to assume that the economy of Australia will greatly suffer. With coral reefs dying at a rate of 40 to 50 percent per year, it is essential to look at the impact it will have on economies throughout the world. In order to do this one must first explore the causes of death, the effects it has on the environment, and then one can fully understand the effect it has on the economy. Coral reefs can hold an average of 15 tons of fish. That …show more content…
When on a beach vacation, it is not uncommon for families to go snorkeling. However, if not careful, the flippers of snorkelers could potentially hit and break the coral reef. Similarly, anchors from boats can also have a detrimental effect on coral reefs. When anchors are dropped from boats they can possibly land on a reef and cause breakage to the reef. However, humans are not the only cause. In 1998, a massive heatwave caused the death of 16% of coral reefs around the world. This heatwave was triggered by El Nino. In 2010, another heatwave caused by El Nino was the second worst coral bleaching around the globe. When the temperature inside the reef gets too hot, the coral stresses and expels their zooxanthellae. The role of the zooxanthellae is to make products of photosynthesis like glucose, glycerol, and amino acids. These products are mandatory for the coral because with them, the coral makes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. In return, the coral provides shelter for the zooxanthellae. Reefs are only .1% of the oceans sea floor, but they support a home for over 25% of all marine …show more content…
With the death of coral reefs and fish, not only will the U.S lose billions of dollars, they will also lose millions of jobs. While it may seem odd that something so small as coral reefs could have such a large impact on something as big as our economy, it is the sad reality of the situation. Not only is money lost through the sales of fish, but it is also lost in the tourism industry. If coral reefs continue to keep dying at the rate they are, tourism will greatly decline in beach areas. With coral reefs and fish being two of the most entertaining parts of foreign beaches, it is easy to understand how big the impact of their deaths will have on tourism and the

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