Great Barrier Reef Research Paper

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Choose one of the main water systems you have learned about that is also in your country
(do you have a lake, river, coast, or coral reefs in your country?).
Rivers and lakes
Coastal areas
Deep sea/Oceans
Coral reefs

The Great Barrier Reef is located of the coast of Queensland, Australia and is the world’s largest reef system. Comprises over 2,900 individual reefs, 900 islands it is home to over 1,500 species of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins and 215 species of birds and many more. The reef stretches out over 2,600 kilometres and is larger than the combined area of Holland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In fact, the reef is so large it can be seen from outer space. The Great Barrier Reef is not only unique and special …show more content…
Then list what you consider to be the two (2) main environmental problems associated with it. Please do not forget to list the references you used. A recently released report card on the health of the Great Barrier Reef suggested poor water quality due to current agricultural practices was one of the largest contributors to the reefs demise over the years. For example, outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish have been linked to increases in nitrogen levels caused from excessive fertiliser use ("Reef Plan 2015 Report Card", 2016).

Climate change has also had a dramatic effect on the health of the Great Barrier Reef. For example, increased water temperatures is leading an increase in the condition known as coral bleaching. Rising temperatures stress the coral enough to expel the algae living in their tissue thereby causing them to turn completely white. This process leads the coral to be more susceptible to disease and starvation and eventually die ("What is coral bleaching?", 2016). This year, the Great Barrier Reef has suffered one of the worst bleaching events on record which has a detrimental impact on at least 93% of the reef ("Reef survey shows 93 per cent bleached", …show more content…
I have had the privilege of visiting the Great Barrier Reef many times throughout my life and I agree with those that consider it Australia's greatest natural wonder. However, the future of the reef is looking very grim with one expert arguing that unless something is done within the next five years it will be too late to save the Great Barrier Reef from destruction. This effects my family and I as I would like my son and future generations to enjoy the reef as I have and he may not get that opportunity which I feel will be a crying
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