Climate Change
Climate Change is one of the greatest threats to the long-term health of the Great Barrier Reef. This is because Climate Change affects and increases water temperatures, ocean acidification and rising sea levels.
The fish and marine reptiles all rely on the right temperature of the Great Barrier Reef for a successful reproduction process as well as maintaining appropriate biological developments such as growth, reproduction, swimming abilities and behavior. Also an increase in water temperatures creates more coral bleaching leading to disease susceptibility, which causes detrimental ecological effects for reel communities.
Ocean acidification which is a change in ocean chemistry modifies fish reproduction. This is because fish eggs are more sensitive to pH changes than fish adults, therefore the population numbers may decrease.
Rising sea levels changes mammals’ spatial range driving protected animals out of the Great Barrier Reef. For instance sea-grass beds will grow further south out of the Great Barrier Reef carrying along with them dugongs as sea-grass bed is their food source.
Climate change also cause strandings for Turtles and Dugongs leading to death and a decrease in population for these endangered animals. Look at the graphs below....
The fish and marine reptiles all rely on the right temperature of the Great Barrier Reef for a successful reproduction process as well as maintaining appropriate biological developments such as growth, reproduction, swimming abilities and behavior. Also an increase in water temperatures creates more coral bleaching leading to disease susceptibility, which causes detrimental ecological effects for reel communities.
Ocean acidification which is a change in ocean chemistry modifies fish reproduction. This is because fish eggs are more sensitive to pH changes than fish adults, therefore the population numbers may decrease.
Rising sea levels changes mammals’ spatial range driving protected animals out of the Great Barrier Reef. For instance sea-grass beds will grow further south out of the Great Barrier Reef carrying along with them dugongs as sea-grass bed is their food source.
Climate change also cause strandings for Turtles and Dugongs leading to death and a decrease in population for these endangered animals. Look at the graphs below....