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Coral Reefs as Nature's Rainforests of the Deep SeasBY: Eve | Category: Nature | Post Date: 2010-02-02
Coral Reefs are considered ecosystems for most marine life. There are many coral reefs scattered over the world, mostly popular diving sites for tourists and adventurers. The coral reefs are now considered delicate and in poor state and are almost in danger of disappearing from the waters due to environmental problems and human neglect. There are plenty of multi-colored fish and other marine species that dwell in coral reefs. The reefs are in fact composed of many minute living animals called polyps. They are similar to cup-like figurines made up from limestone skeletons that form within themselves availing of the calcium sourced from the sea water. It takes a lot of generations to grow coral reefs; years of growing, building, creating and replacing of polyps determine the strength and steadfast builds of these reefs. Some marine plants and other living organisms also contribute to the formation of these reefs. Suffice to say, coral reefs take thousands of years to make, usually slowly growing as many as 5 millimeters and not more than 20 millimeters annually. It was studied that coral reefs may have evolved about 200 million years ago. Yet, the existing coral reefs we have today are just about the periods between 5,000 to 10,000 years of existence. But then again, with the environmental problems and the downright neglect by humans for nature's natural resources, the reefs can be ruined in such a short time. There are ongoing threats for the coral reefs. There have been millions of acres of reefs that have been wrecked and trashed by man's uncaring activities. Most coral reefs are being cut up or poked by sharp objects just to get some parts to be used as coral collections or souvenir items. People like to walk on coral reefs, scratch on them, kick or thrash the tiny polyps and throw parts and bits into the water, at one another or just plainly throw these around the area. Boats drop their anchors on the coral reefs which cause damage on their body forms. The petroleum and other toxic chemicals from boats and other sea vessels are harmful to the reefs. Pollution is a major cause of destruction of the coral reefs. Most adventurers go snorkeling and diving into the reefs to collect corals and other marine life; others go fishing; as such all these activities contribute to the dying state of the coral reefs. Recreational activities and urban development have also contributed to the decay of the coral reefs. In the US alone, mostly in Florida and other states where most reefs have been declared as national parks, there have been ongoing land development for recreational fishing and boating, which in turn have encouraged more tourists to avail of such activities. Land developments have destroyed many mangrove trees and sea grasses which are important filters for the reefs. Other detrimental effects are excessive soil erosion, sewage and fertilizers are dumped into the waters blocking clean air and sunlight for the coral reefs to breathe in and more pollution continue to poison the reefs. All of us must be made aware of the importance of the coral reefs to our environment. These reefs serve as the rainforests for most marine life. They are part of an ecosystem that would serve as a balance in the sea waters and other living organisms. These reefs are nature's gift to us to take care of and appreciate. These may also be considered as research and studies about how marine life has come to existence for so many years, and thus, we can learn from these findings as well. To show that you care enough for our coral reefs, you may have to do some practical ways so as not to damage them. If you like diving or snorkeling, make sure that your diving equipment don't bang against the reefs. Remember not to touch, pick or collect the corals no matter how tempting. Make sure to just appreciate the beauty you see, and taking a part away from the reefs would lessen the beauty you see. Avoid buying coral items, coral jewelry and other marine keepsakes that you know may come from the reefs. When along a coral reef, don't throw any garbage around, instead collect your garbage in a bag and throw them once you get on land in garbage stations. If you are using a sea vessel across the waters, take care not to bump against the reefs, don't drop your anchor on the reefs and never throw your trash into the reefs. If you happen to like having an aquarium, you must make sure that the tropical fish you place in there has a ‘cyanide free' certification. This is to make sure that no coral reefs were destroyed when collecting these fishes. As added information, some people use cyanide poison into the water to collect tropical fish to stun them for easy catching, but this kills the coral reefs and other marine species. Avoid using ‘live rock' or corals in your tank because they would naturally die under such conditions. In specialty restaurants, avoid ordering shark fin, turtle or other similar foods derived from threatened natural wildlife. You can do your own small share to take care of the coral reefs. By doing so, you are saving one of nature's natural resources for more generations to come. Article Source: http://www.writearticles.org About Author / Additional Info: Additional Articles: * Trust is a Key Factor to Have a Successful Relationship * Shopping For Your Perfect Facial Foundation- Helpful Tips * Helpful Tips to Reduce Baby's Teething Aches and Hurts * Protect Yourself From Elbow Injuries * Women's Lipstick: Helpful Tips To Know the Right Shade for You Does this article violate or infringe on your copyright ? It is a violation of our terms for authors to submit content which they did not write and claim it as their own. 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