Download Mesoamerican Reef

The Mesoamerican
Barrier Reef
“We need to start looking at having a way of managing the whole
ecosystem, because you can’t pick away at it piece by piece, you
have to truly start being coordinated and managing our resources as
a system. We haven’t gotten to that point yet.”
MESOAMERICAN REEF Abstract
Map of the world,
Mesoamerican Reef
highlighted in green
(WWF, 2010).
The Mesoamerican reef helps to stabilize and protect the
coasts, and serve as feeding and nursery habitats for
marine mammals, reptiles, fishes and invertebrates; many
of which have great commercial importance. The
Mesoamerican reef, however, has been significantly
damaged recently due to a combination of human and
natural perturbations, with threats ranging from fishing,
tourism and coastal development, land use and agriculture
to global climate change. A number of natural disturbances
have threatened the reefs, especially coral bleaching,
hurricanes and disease outbreaks; all of which may be
accentuated by global climate change and thus not entirely
natural. Such events are not readily controllable at the
local management level, while other human threats are
potentially under local, national, or regional control. Reef
managers in the region, however, are often limited by the
resources available to carry out necessary interventions
such as fisheries regulation, protection of coastal habitats,
agricultural run-off and sewage pollution reduction, as well
as possible restorative activities. The following
presentation concludes the threatening effects of global
warming and invasive species on the biological diversity of
the Mesoamerican Reef, concluding with a proposal to
allocate specific funds toward the prevention of these
threatening causes.
MESOAMERICAN REFF Global Warming
Global Warming is the gradual
increase in the temperature of
the earth's atmosphere,
believed to be due to the
greenhouse effect, caused by
increased levels of carbon
dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons,
and other pollutants. The
ecosystem is held in a delicate
balance, and these rising
temperatures have insinuated
two major effects on the
biodiversity of the
Mesoamerican Reef
(WWF,2009):
Coral Bleaching
Natural Disasters
Toluene: What we do with our production
Ramifications
A symbiotic
Relationship
Global
Warming
Impact
How it
happens
Effects
Toluene: What we do with our production
Ramifications
A Symbiotic
Relationship
Global
Warming
Impact
How it
Happens
Effects
MESOAMERICAN REFF Coral Bleaching
A Symbiotic Relationship..
• Corals share a symbiotic relationship with a group of organisms given the
genus name zooxanthellaes (Aquarists, 1998)
• These microbial protists live in hard or stony coral in the coral polyp tissues
(Bouche, 2008)
• The symbiotic relation is based on the corals inability to generate sufficient
amounts of food and the algae’s ability to undergo photosynthesis and
conversion of chemical elements into energy (Bouche, 2008)
• These activities provide the coral with fixed carbon compounds for energy,
enhance calcification ,and mediate elemental nutrient flux (Aquarists, 1998)
• The host coral polyp in return provides its zooxanthellae with a protected
environment to live within, and a steady supply of carbon dioxide for its
photosynthetic processes (Aquarists, 1998)
• The symbiotic relationship allows the slow growing corals to compete with the
faster growing multicellular algae because the tight coupling of resources and
the fact that the corals can feed by day through photosynthesis and by night
through predation (Bouche, 2008)
MESOAMERICAN REFF Coral Bleaching
How it Happens…
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Coral bleaching results from either a decrease in the density of the
zooxanthellae or a loss in the concentration of photosynthetic
pigment in the symbiotic algae (Corals, 1996)
It causes a loss of colour, subsequently leaving the coral white, or
‘bleached’, as an indicator of poor health (WWF, 2010)
Studies of bleached coral in stressed waters show a decrease of 6090% of the symbiotic algae, and a loss of 50-80% of photosynthetic
pigment in the zooxanthellae (Corals, 1996)
Results in disease, failed reproduction, partial/complete mortality
of coral colony (Bouche, 2008)
MESOAMERICAN REFF Coral Bleaching
Effect
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Without the symbiotic relationship in tact, the coral cannot receive
a sufficient amount of food to keep it alive
In 1998, a mass coral bleaching caused significant coral death on the
Mesoamerican Reef. A study conducted in Belize and Honduras
showed that in areas with clean waters and healthy reefs, coral was
able to recover and grow normally within two to three years after
the bleaching (WWF, 2009)
In comparison, corals living with excessive human pressures, such
as pollution, coastal development, and runoff, had not recovered
even eight years after the event
The fast-recovering corals were located far offshore
The corals that took longer to recover were located in areas with
significant land-based runoff and heavily populated and developed
coastlines
As a result, coral that cannot recover will not survive and die off
MESOAMERICAN REFF Coral Bleaching
Global Warming Impact
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Coral reef bleaching is a general response to stress. It has been
happening more frequently as a result of global warming raising sea
temperatures. Coral species live within a relatively narrow
temperature margin, and anomalously low and high sea
temperatures can induce coral bleaching. A small temperature
change of only two degrees can be attributed to an upwelling of
coral bleaching. (Bouche, 2008)
These higher temperatures act as stressor factors, disrupting
zooxanthellae enzyme systems that are responsible for protection
against oxygen toxicity. Without this protection, the algae can die
off contributing to coral bleaching (National Geographic, 2006).
Even further, in more extreme cases, if the water temperature rises
above 30 degrees Celsius, photosynthesis pathways in the
zooxanthellae are impaired, causing a disassociation of symbiosis
because the algae is no longer able to sustain the coral.
Sea temperature shocks, a quick raising in the water temperature
around the coral, can cause a dysfunction in cell adhesion between
the protist and the coral. The coral will release it’s endodermal
cells, carrying the zooxanthellae with it (Nation Geographic, 2006).
Studies have proven temperature (indirectly, global arming) to be a
causative factor (Corals, 1996).
MESOAMERICAN REFF Coral Bleaching
Ramifications
The ramifications of dying coral are extremely appalling within the
Mesoamerican reef. Coral, in terms of the eco system, provides a
habitat and safe sanctuary to over 500 different species of fish,
along with the mammoth whale shark, and the endangered salt
water crocodile (WWF, 2010). The numerous ecosystems of the
Mesoamerican Reef rely on the shelter and nutrients provided by
the vast amount of coral. Without this protection and food, the
delicate balance of nature will be unevenly weighed. Inversely,
other species will begin to decrease because they are no longer
able to proficiently hide from predators, or seek the nutrients they
need. This catastrophic effect will continue to domino down
towards the end of the food chain. Food sources will be depleted
to larger fishes who will begin to dye off as a result. These effects
do not even take into consideration the exponential increase of
other human and environmental stresses. Coral bleaching can lead
to a large decrease to the biodiversity of the Mesoamerican Reef,
affecting tourism and other commercial operations. Further impact
on the poor economies of the Central American countries will leave
even fewer resources to conserve the rest of the reef. Bleached
corals are effectively starving and susceptible to other stresses
including diseases; many will die as a result (Corals, 1996).
MESOAMERICAN REFF Natural Disasters
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As a result of increased sea temperature, hurricanes
and storms are increasing in frequency and intensity.
Studies have proven there to be a strong correlation
between an increase in temperature, and an increase
in wind speeds during natural disasters over the past
few decades. Hurricanes are driven by the transfer of
energy from the ocean to the atmosphere. The
increased ocean temperature translates to an
increase in the kinetic energy of the water molecules,
causing the ability of water evaporation to increase. A
greater evaporation rate will produce a hurricane with
greater intensity because it will allow the storm to
easily draw up more air (TIME, 2009).
Since 1970, ocean temperatures have risen by 0.5
degrees Celsius, accounting for the powerful storms.
According to research conducted by the Nature
Organization, it is estimated that for every one degree
increase in surface temperature, there is a resulting
31% increase in the global frequency of a category 4
or 5 storm (TIME, 2009).
MESOAMERICAN REFF Natural Disasters
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The base coral frame is fairly resistant and
immovable to storms and hurricanes
Strong storm surge and wave energy can damage
and destroy branching corals or smaller coral
colonies
Reef life that consists of soft corals, sponges, and
encrusting organisms living at the base coral frame
can break away and be pulverized by churning
wave surge (TIME, 2009)
Physical ramifications caused by the storm are
usually short term and do not have as great an
impact on the Mesoamerican Reef
Ocean life fragmented by the storm can survive,
reattach, and continue growing if conditions are
not inhospitable
Reefs are able to repair branching corals as long as
damage has been kept to a minimal around the
framework (Corals, 1996)
MESOAMERICAN REFF Natural Disasters
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Hurricanes cause the biggest damage to the Mesoamerican reef after the actual storm through
the initiation of other stressors that can cause long term effects
Storms cause an increase in sedimentation
Muddy runoff and sediment get suspended in the water a result of torrential storm down pour
Sediment laden flood waters can completely block sunlight to some shallow reefs
Hurricanes causing large scale flooding carry land based pollutants such as insecticides, fertilizers,
and herbicides into the reef (TIME, 2009)
Hurricane Mitch, a devastating storm that swept through Central America in 1998, destroyed
almost 80% of Honduras’s crops, along with a fragile economy. As Honduras recovered, many
pesticides were introduced to the agriculture to protect the banana crops. The Honduras
landscape is mostly composed of mountains. Therefore, when it would rain, pesticides and other
sediments would be carried down into the oceans, and into the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
This pesticide runoff damaged the reproductive abilities of the coral, along with the health of the
communities that depend on the reef for sustenance (National Geographic, 2006).
MESOAMERICAN REFF Invasive Species
• The Mesoamerican Reef ecosystems are suffering from invasive species
• Invasive species are organisms that have been introduced to a habitat or ecological niche, other
than their native environment, often causing negative effects
• The new environment contains no natural predators and as a result, allows the species to thrive and
over populate, depleting natural resources for native species (Canada, 2010)
• Ecosystems are delicately balanced, introducing new species changes the functions of the
ecosystems by changing nutrient cycling and hydrology, driving native species to extinction through
competitive exclusion and niche displacement (Canada, 2010)
• Species are always in constant inter-species competition, invasive species always dominate this
competition because they have no natural predators limiting their numbers
• This break in the food chain causes extensive changes in structure, composition, and global
distribution of biotic species (GISD, 2000)
Predators
Ecosystem
Prey
MESOAMERICAN REFF Invasive Species
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The lionfish continues to be one of the biggest
invasive species in the Mesoamerican Reef today
This fish is native to the reefs and rocky crevices of
the Indo-Pacific, using there lightening fast reflexes
and long venomous pectoral fins to catch there prey
and defend against predators
It has become a serious threat to marine ecosystems
It has no natural predators and is beginning to reduce
biodiversity (GlobalGiving, 2011)
Over population is depleting prey for other species
sharing the same ecological niche
These species risk extinction and vulnerability without
food, causing imbalances in population throughout
the entire ecosystem (GlobalGiving, 2011)
The depleted resources are ravishing an economical
impact on the fishing industry
Lion fish are able to produce thirty thousand eggs
every four days, and without any competition there is
no boundaries to which the species can expand within
the reef
The species were unintentionally introduced in the
1990’s when an aquarium overturned into the Atlantic
ocean
MESOAMERICAN REFF Sustainable Solutions
The Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund)
has put together a proposal to help sustain
the biodiversity of the reef and achieve
funding to protect it from global warming
impact and invasive species such as the
lionfish. The goals of the MAR fund are to
provide long term financial stability for
natural resource management and
conservation initiatives in the Mesoamerican
region, and to consolidate and allocate
donor contributions to common and
strategic objectives in the eco-region (Jumo,
2010).
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MESOAMERICAN REFF Sustainable Solutions
The organization is planning to allocate donations to fund a technique to train native species to eat lionfish, and promoting
the lionfish fillet for human consumption (a technique that will ease the fishing of native species as well). Both initiatives
are very worthy as control management strategies for long term sustainability. Since it is a terrible threat not only to other
fish but crustaceans, coral species, and even humans, it is imperative that its population decreases as much as possible.
The MAR fund is dedicated to promoting and implementing transitional solutions for the preservation and sustainable use
of the natural resources provided by the Mesoamerican Reef. A first priority of the fund has been to attract significant new
funding to the area to support the vital work of preserving the reef (Jumo, 2010).
The MAR fund is dedicated to instating more marine protected areas (MPAs) in order to conserve the marine heritage and
life support system of the world, and to ensure that where marine resources are used, they are used in an ecologically
sustained manner (Jumo, 2010). The fund believes that the MAR area needs to urgently expand this comprehensive system
to help rebuild the productivity of the oceans and allow time for the bleached coral to heal undisturbed from other
stressors (Jumo, 2010). MPAs have three main objectives (WWF, 2009):
To maintain essential ecological processes and life support
systems
To preserve genetic diversity
To ensure the sustainable utilization of marine species
and ecosystems
MESOAMERICAN REFF Other Solutions
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Annual report cards are produced which give detailed information on how the
reefs are declining (WWF, 2010)
Coral nurseries have been set up around Belize and Mexico that grow extremely
endangered coral and have been very effective (WWF, 2010)
Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras have all made agreements to protect the
coral reefs and species (Jumo, 2010)
Protected areas have been established that have made a huge impact on the
health of the reef. In these areas, there are many protective features (Science
Daily, 2001) , including
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Maintaining endangered species
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Protecting habitat
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Banning excessive fishing
MESOAMERICAN REFF The Proposal
Through this presentation I would like to propose a new
branch of the MAR fund dedicated to research in pursuit of
developing scientific methods to quicken the process of reef
recovery. Already research has been undertaken to repair
coral damage by breeding it on land in tanks of artificial
sweetener, harvesting it, then placing back on the damaged
reef in the water. Observations show that even though the
coral has been raised in laboratories to repair itself, it can grow
in the water, despite being acclimated to the conditions where
it grew (Science Daily, 2001). With further research it is
believed that corals rescued from human impact can be used
to help restore reefs elsewhere in the ecosystem. This kind of
research can combat the global effects of global warming that
is hard to prevent on a local level. Paired with actions to
promote sustainability, this research could lead to new
discoveries that could help the reef repair within the decade
under strict preservation. Investing in research such as this
will provide long term solutions to ongoing problems that
cannot simply be solved through environmental restrictions.
The research will heavily emphasize on finding plausible
solutions to coral bleaching by studying algae properties and
solutions to strengthen the adhesion of the symbiotic
relationship. The zooxanthellae genome will be studied, to see
if possible genetic engineering could prevent the impairing of
photosynthesis pathways in increasing temperatures.