What are some of the risks concening the great barrier reef?

Question

School assinment I Already have abit about coral and water contamination but I need at least one other risk and abit more on what I already have.

Answer 1

Global warming.  Coral reefs are fantastically sensitive to temperature.  The impacts are showing up already.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...

Answer 2

sharks

Answer 3

Humans activities are actively destroying the coral reef ecosystems on our earth. Human populations are increasing and today especially reefs in developing countries are seriously threatened.

Reefs are overfished, bombed and poisoned, smothered by sediment, and choked by algae growing on nutrient rich sewage and fertilizer run-off. They are damaged by irresponsible tourism too. Some 58 percent of the world's reefs are reported as threatened by human activities. Fishermen don't care about conservation!

Answer 4

The biggest threat facing the GBR today is coral bleaching, which is caused by higher than usual sea surface temperatures -- a major and immediate consequence of the greenhouse effect and resultant climate change.  Basically, the tiny creatures that make the coral die because the water is too warm, and since they are the cause of the bright colours, the reef appears white (bleached).

Alot of research has been done into coral bleaching, particularly into two major bleaching events in the late nineties and in 2002. See the CSIRO Reef futures website for great background and ongoing study: www.reeffutures.org

The other well-known threat is from the Crown of Thorns star-fish, which overpopulates and damages extensive areas of the reef.