YOU can make a DIFFERENCE. (:

2008-10-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

Hey, everybody!

Corals are realllyy beautiful .
How would you feel if ALL of them were gone ,
even before we got th chance to take a good look at them ?
Or even touch them ?
I would be really disappointed .
We should really help and save th corals ,
before its too late .

I know most of us have not really seen a live coral before .
So let's save th corals together! :D

KIMBERLEY:D

what I feel about coral reefs conservation

2008-09-14T00:01:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!

I personally think that if the reefs are gone forever,
the ocean would not be as beautiful as it is right now.
One of my relatives is a diver and everytime he dives,
he brings back so many amazing and beautiful pictures of the reefs.
To think that i may never ever get to see those corals with my very own eyes,it is really a pity.
BUT,
if everyone in the whole world participates in helping to save the reefs NOW,
we may just be able to preserve them for the generations to come.
And i think that the other members of my group will also agree that the reefs are god's GREATEST creations.

THENGHUI

2008-09-13T23:04:00.000-07:00

Hello!!

Below are 10 tips on what YOU can do to save the coral reefs.

EVERYONE has the power to save them.

it only depends on whether you really wanna do it or not.

1.Be an informed consumer. Always consider carefully the coral objects that you buy for your coffee table. Ask the store owner or manager from what country the coral is taken and whether or not that country has a management plan to insure that the harvest was legal and sustainable over time.

2.Don’t use chemically enhanced pesticides and fertilizers. Although you may live thousands of miles from a coral reef ecosystem, these products will eventually end up in the watershed and may ultimately impact the waters that support coral.

3. When you visit a coral reef, help keep it healthy by respecting all local guidelines, recommendations, regulations, and customs.

4.Spread the word on how important the planet’s coral reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem.

5.Don’t litter. Never put garbage or human waste in the water and NEVER leave trash on the beach.

6.Keep the beaches clean. You may be in the habit of picking up your own trash. You may even participate in an organized cleanup. But have you considered carrying away the trash that others have left behind

7.Only buy marine aquarium fish if you know they have been collected in an ecologically sound manner.In some areas, marine fish harvested for the pet trade, are stunned with sodium cyanide.Although this makes catching fish eaier, this actually shatters the reef structure and the reefs are broken apart.

8.Don’t start a liverock aquarium. Although this living rock is still harvested legally in some places, its collection is devastating to the reef organisms habitat as reefs take a very long time to build.

9.If you dive, don’t touch! Take only pictures and leave only bubbles! Keep your fins’ gear, and hands away from the coral, as this contact can hurt you and will damage the delicate coral animals. Stay off the bottom because stirred-up sediment can settle on coral and smother it.

10.And finally,inform yourself. Find out about existing and proposed laws, programs, and projects that could affect the world’s coral reefs.

So, now that you know what to do,what are you still sitting in front of your computer for?
Get up and do something to help save the reefs!!

THENGHUI

source:http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/25list.html

2008-09-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

HI!!

Although corals seem to appear almost everywhere, they actually need some specific habitat requirements.

They are:

1.Reef- building corals are generally found at depths of less than 46 m, where sunlight penetrates. Because reef- building corals have a symbiotic relationship with a type of microscopic algae, sunlight is necessary for these corals to thrive and grow.

2.Reefs tend to grow faster in clear water. Clear water allows light to reach the symbiotic algae living within the coral polyp's tissue.

3.Reef-building corals require warm ocean temperatures ( 20 to 28 C).

4.Reef development is generally more abundant in areas that are subject to strong wave action. Waves carry food, nutrients, and oxygen to the reef, distribute coral larvae and prevent sediment from settling on the coral reef.

5.Precipitation of calcium from the water is necessary to form a coral polyp's skeleton. This precipitation occurs when water temperature and salinity are high and carbon dioxide concentrations are low. These conditions are typical of shallow, warm tropical waters.

6.Most corals grow on a hard substrate.

Well, there you have it,what corals really need to survive.

THENGHUI

Adapted fromhttp://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Coral/habdiscr.html

2008-09-04T19:25:00.000-07:00

HELLO!!
I am back with MORE info about corals!!

This time, i am telling you about the physical characteristics of the corals.

1.A coral polyp is a tubular saclike animal with a central mouth surrounded by a ring of tentacles. The end opposite the tentacles, called the base, is attached to the substrate.

2.Depending on the species, coral polyps may measure less than an inch to several inches in diameter

3.Coral colonies also vary in size. Some corals form only small colonies. Others may form colonies several feet high

4.Natural pigments in coral tissue produce a range of colors including white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

5. Algae that live within the tissues of some corals may make the coral appear brown, green, or orange.

6.Depending on the subclass, a coral polyp's tentacles are arranged in multiples of six or eight.

7.The tentacles contain microscopic stinging capsules called nematocysts. A nematocyst is a bulbous double-walled structure containing a spirally folded, venom-filled thread with a minute barb at its tip. A tiny sensor projects outside the nematocyst. When the sensor is stimulated physically or chemically, the capsule explodes and ejects the thread with considerable force and speed. The barb penetrates the victim's skin and injects a potent venom.(ouch!!)

THENGHUI

adapted from:http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/coral/home.html

2008-09-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

Hello!!
Did you know that the corals are home to many animals?

Here are some examples:

1.Sea stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins live on the reef.
2.Shrimps, crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans find protection from predators in crevices or between coral branches
3.Octopuses, squids, clams, scallops, marine snails, and nudibranchs are all molluscs that live on or near the reef.
4.Both schooling and solitary fishes are essential residents of the reef ecosystem.
5.Some species of sharks, skates, and rays live on or near the reef.
6.Some sea turtles frequent reef areas.
7.Sea snakes are rarely found on reefs but do inhabit the waters around reefs in the Indo-Pacific.
8.Eels are one of the reef's top predators.

These are only SOME of the many animals living together with the coral reefs.
If the coral reefs are destroyed,all these animals will become extinct.
So, SAVE THE CORAL REEFS!!

THENGHUI

adapted from:http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Coral/ecocr.html

2008-08-28T23:07:00.000-07:00

HELLO!

Here are some natural disasters that affects the corals.

-A drop in sea level exposes corals.

-A rise in sea level decreases the amount of available sunlight and may inhibit growth. Added emissions of carbon dioxide and other trace gases (called greenhouse gases) into our atmosphere may be causing a gradual warming of our planet. This warming could cause the polar ice caps to melt, thereby raising sea level.

-Rises in sea level can also release nutrients trapped in soil.

-Coral diseases can wipe out entire strands of coral reefs. Diseases may be connected to the sea level rise and nutrient level increase.
Coral bleaching occurs when coral expels its symbiotic zooxanthellae. As a result, the coral loses its coloration. Without zooxanthellae, the coral polyps have little energy available for growth or reproduction. Scientists aren't sure why bleaching occurs. Hypotheses include elevated water temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, and diseases or viruses affecting the zooxanthellae.

-Major tropical storms can strip corals from miles of reef habitat.

ESTHER, THENGHUI, KIMBERLEY

adapted from: http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Coral/deathcr.html

2008-08-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

HELLO AGAIN!
We're gonna talk more about corals!

Did you know that generally, coral colonies may live for several decades to centuries?

Some reasons why the coral population is decreasing :

Ocean pollution poisons coral polyps. Pollution takes on many forms including oil slicks, pesticides and other chemicals, heavy metals, and garbage.

Deforestation degrades more than just land habitats. When tropical forests are cut down to clear land for agriculture, pasture, or homes, topsoil washes down rivers into coastal ecosystems. Soil that settles on reefs smothers coral polyps and blocks out the sunlight needed for corals to live.

Fishing with dynamite, cyanide, or bleach has killed coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. Between 1986 and 1991, half of the coral reefs in the Philippines have been demolished by these and other destructive fishing methods.

Careless water recreationist damage reefs. Divers and snorklers that stand on, sit on, or handle corals can injure the delicate polyps. Dropped boat anchors can gouge the reef and crush corals. (Boaters should be very careful when navigating around the coral reefs. Anchors shouldn't be dropped directly on the reef, but on a near-by sandy area. Divers should rest by floating or standing on the sandy bottom. They should be very careful not to grab on to any coral formations.)

THENGHUI, ESTHER, KIMBERLEY.

adapted from : http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Coral/deathcr.html

2008-08-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

Now we're gonna talk about sexual reproduction in corals.

1. Corals reproduce sexually by either internal or external fertilization. The reproductive cells are borne on mesenteries (membranes) that radiate inward from the layer of tissue that lines the stomach cavity.

a. Internally fertilized eggs are brooded by the polyp for days to weeks. Free-swimming larvae are released into the water and settle within hours.

b. Externally fertilized eggs develop while adrift. After a few days, fertilized eggs develop into free-swimming larvae. Larvae settle within hours to days.
2. Some corals are hermaphroditic (having both male and female reproductive cells). Others are either male or female. Both sexes can occur in a colony, or a colony may consist of individuals of the same sex.

3. Synchronous spawning occurs in many corals. Polyps release eggs and sperm into the water at the same time. This spawning method disperses eggs over a larger area. Synchronous spawning depends on four factors: time of the year, water temperature, and tidal and lunar cycles.

a. Spawning is most successful when there is little variation between high and low tides. The less water movement over the reef, the better the chance that an egg will be fertilized.

b. At least one-third of the reef-building corals of the Great Barrier Reef are synchronous spawners. These corals spawn (release eggs) annually in the spring. Spawning occurs on the third through sixth nights after a full moon. Larvae usually settle in four to ten days.

4. Once the larva settles on a substrate, it develops into a polyp. Some scientists believe that most larvae settle within 2,000 ft. (600 m) of the parent reef. Others contend that some larvae travel longer distances. Research is ongoing.

we're gonna post another post a short while from now.

see ya till then! :P

KIMBERLEY, THENG HUI , ESTHER.

2008-08-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

Hi! Again...

Corals can reproduce both sexually and asexually. An individual polyp may use both reproductive modes within its lifetime.

Asexual reproduction

Environmental disturbances may dislodge some polyps or portions of colonies from the parent colony and deposit them on another part of the reef.

Sometimes, newly developing coral colonies split and form separate colonies.

Often a polyp produced by sexual reproduction initiates growth of a colony asexually by budding. Budding occurs when a portion of the parent polyp pinches off to form a new individual.

Budding enables the polyp to replicate itself several times and at the same time maintain tissue connections within the colony. Later, the same polyp may reproduce sexually.

Budding occurs when a portion of the parent polyp pinches off to form a new individual.

THENGHUI,ESTHER, KIMBERLEY.

adapted: http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Coral/reprocr.html

2008-08-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!
We're back! again!

Do you know what different corals eat?

Some corals eat zooplankton (tiny drifting animals) or small fishes. Others consume organic debris. Many reef- building corals derive their nutrition from zoonxanthellae.

How they eat :

1. Some corals secret films or strands of mucus to collect fine organic particles.

2. In reef-building corals, to mobile filaments originating from the stomach cavity can capture larger food particles. These filaments are also capable of digestion.

3.The stomach cavities of colonial corals are interconnected. Meaning that food obtained by one polyp can be passed to other polyps in the colony.

4.After all that, a polyp excretes solid wastes through its mouth. (ew!)

ESTHER,THENGHUI AND KIMBERLEY.

2008-08-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
wanna make your own corals ?
Here's how to do it.

Materials you need :
-plasic bowls
-pieces of charcoal, porous brick, tile, cement, or sponge
-water
-table salt (iodized or plain)
-liquid bluing (found in bleaches at grocery stores)
-food coloring
-measuring tablespoons
-masking tape
-pens

Here's what you have to do :

1.Put some pieces of charcoal, brick, tile, sponge, or cement into your bowls.

2.Pour two tablespoons of water, two tablespoons of salt, and two tablespoons of liquid bluing over the base material (charcoal, etc.) Set bowls on a table or counter top. Formations need free air circulation to develop.

3. The next day add two more tablespoons of salt.

4. On the third day, pour in the bottom of the bowl (not directly on the base material) two tablepoons each of salt, water, and bluing, then add a few drops of food coloring to each piece of base material.

5. A crystal formation should appear by the third day. If not, it may be necessary to add two tablespoons of household ammonia to aid the growth. (Only adults should handle and add the ammonia). To keep your formation growing, just add more bluing, salt, and water from time to time.

6. The water, bluing, and dissolved salt combined to form crystals, coral polyps use dissolved calcium carbonate to create the stony cup that protects their soft bodies and creates reefs.

WOW!
I didnt know we could create "corals".
Until now.

KIMBERLEY,ESTHER,THENG HUI(:

adapted: http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Coral/gcoral.html

2008-08-08T02:16:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of a coral BEFORE it got treatment for its black band disease.

Poor thing!

Half of the coral is like,

GONE!

Can you imagine that happening to us?

THAT would be interesting.

After looking at this picture, i started to look for the other types of diseases that coral are suffering from. And here are some of them:

- White Pox disease.

-Sea Fan Browning & fungus.

-Blackband disease.

-Yellowband or Yellow Blotch Disease.

-White Plague disease.

-White Plague Type ll Disease.

To read more about the diseases, CLICK HERE!

adapted from : www.reefrelief.org

2008-08-02T23:59:00.000-07:00

Distribution of Coral reefs.

Coral reefs are estimated to cover 284,300 square kilometres, with the Indo-Pacific region (including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and the Pacific) accounting for 91.9% of the total.[citation needed] Southeast Asia accounts for 32.3% of that figure, while the Pacific including Australia accounts for 40.8%. Atlantic and Caribbean coral reefs only account for 7.6% of the world total.[5]

Coral reefs are either restricted or absent from the west coast of the Americas, as well as the west coast of Africa. This is due primarily to upwelling and strong cold coastal currents that reduce water temperatures in these areas.[6] Corals are also restricted from off the coastline of South Asia from Pakistan to Bangladesh.[5] They are also restricted along the coast around north-eastern South America and Bangladesh due to the release of vast quantities of freshwater from the Amazon and Ganges Rivers respectively.[citation needed]

Famous coral reefs and reef areas of the world include:
The Great Barrier Reef - largest coral reef system in the world, Queensland, Australia;
The Belize Barrier Reef - second largest in the world, stretching from southern Quintana Roo, Mexico and all along the coast of Belize down to the Bay Islands of Honduras.
The New Caledonia Barrier Reef - second longest double barrier reef in the world, with a length of about 1500km.
The Andros, Bahamas Barrier Reef - third largest in the world, following along the east coast of Andros Island, Bahamas between Andros and Nassau.
The Red Sea Coral Reef - located off the coast of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Pulley Ridge - deepest photosynthetic coral reef, Florida
Many of the numerous reefs found scattered over the Maldives

WOW!
There are SOOOO many coral reefs in th world!
Can you imagine if they are ALL destroyed?
Like in th other post,
parts of FLORIDA would be underwater!
So let's try our best to prevent that from happening! ;D

adapted from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef

2008-08-02T03:01:00.000-07:00

This is a Aspergillious on a Sea Fan.

Threats to the coral reefs.

Water Quality Decline: Corals require clear, clean, nutrient-free waters to thrive. Algal blooms caused by excess nutrients in the water column out-compete slow growing corals for habitat and reduce oxygen levels, decreasing visibility, increasing chlorophyll levels, and inhibiting photosynthesis dependent on sunlight. The kinds and extent of diseases attacking corals have increased in recent years and have reduced coral coverage. As oxygen levels are reduced, fish and other sealife cannot survive at the reef.

Pollution: Coral reefs are impacted by multiple stressors including agricultural runoff from pesticides and fertilizers, inadequate sewage and stormwater treatment, siltation from coastal development and beach renourishment projects, contamination from petroleum products, and sewage, oil and toxic discharges from boats, including antifouling paint applied to boat bottoms.

Overharvesting: As fish and other wildlife populations decline, the delicate predator-prey balance of life on the reef is upset. Experts warn that fish populations are at risk because maximum sustainable yields for many species around the world, including some that are endangered, have been exceeded. Destructive fishing techniques such as the use of cyanide and trawling gear damage reef habitat. The outright depletion caused by the harvest of coral and live rock for construction and the aquarium/curio trade has destroyed many reefs around the world.

Physical Damage: Anchors dropped on reefs, as well as accidental boat groundings and propellor dredging can crush and scar coralheads, destroying years of growth. Diver/snorkeler impacts from fins, hands, equipment or standing on corals can crush the fragile living coral polyps. Marine debris, especially plastics and monofilament line, can smother or abrade corals and is deadly for birds, fish and turtles that become entangled in it or mistake it for food and ingest it. Storms and hurricanes wreak extensive damage on coral reefs, which serve as a barrier to adjacent lands.

Global Climate Change: Rising sea temperatures cause coral bleaching, stressing corals that expel their symbiotic algae, lose their color, and lose their vitality. Corals are the canaries in the coal mine for our planet's health.

click here to read more about reef threats in the Florida Keys.

2008-08-01T04:11:00.000-07:00

What President Bill Clinton had to say about coral reefs.

" Pollution, overfishing, and overuse have put many of our unique reefs at risk. Their disappearance would destroy the habitat of countless species. It would unravel the web of marine life that holds the potential for new chemicals, new medicines, unlocking new mysteries. It would have a devastating effect on the coastal communities from Cairns to Key West, Florida -- communities whose livelihood depends upon the reefs. "--President Bill Clinton

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE : FROM TH WEATHER, TO SATELLITES!

adapted from : http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/

2008-07-31T02:59:00.000-07:00

Some interesting facts about coral reefs:

Coral reefs are among the oldest ecosystems on Earth.

Coral reefs are the largest living structure on the planet.

Although coral reefs cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, they are home to 25% of all marine fish species.

500 million people rely on coral reefs for their food and livelihoods.

Coral reefs form natural barriers that protect nearby shorelines from the eroding forces of the sea, thereby protecting coastal dwellings, agricultural land and beaches.

Without the existence of coral reefs, parts of Florida would be under water.

Coral reefs have been used in the treatment of cancer, HIV, cardiovascular diseases and ulcers.

Corals' porous limestone skeletons have been used for human bone grafts.

It is estimated that coral reefs provide $375 billion per year around the world in goods and services.

If the present rate of destruction continues, 70% of the world's coral reefs will be destroyed by the year 2050.

After reading the last fact, I realised that most of us would live to see that! Eeeeps!
So i hope that you would try to prevent that from happening, as it would really be an ugly sight!

2008-07-30T04:20:00.000-07:00

There were once over 60 offshore islands and patch reefs around Singapore, most of which were situated south of mainland Singapore. However, since the mid 1970s, major land reclamation was carried out on the mainland as well as the offshore southern islands. Most of the southern islands were reclaimed, adding 1695 ha to Singapore's total land area.

Some islands were merged as a result. The reef flats of many islands e.g. Pulau Sudong, Pulau Hantu and Kusu Island were reclaimed right up to the reef slope. Many of the coral reef organisms were smothered by the reclamation, while others were severely affected by the resulting increase in water turbidity. Since 1986, most coral reefs in Singapore have lost up to 65% of their live coral cover.

The high turbidity of our waters restrict light penetration and reef life ends at a depth of only 12m, marking the lower growth limit for hermatypic corals. Sedimentation rates ranged from 3-6mg/cm2/day in 1979. In 1994, these increased to 5-45mg/cm2/day (the higher value obtained from localised areas close to reclamation projects).

This reduced visibility from 10m in the 1960s to 2m or less today. As a consequence, the reef is very compact, as opposed to reefs in clear waters, which can be found at depths of 20m and more.

click here to read more!

adapted from : http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/