Minor Threats
The Us Navy was forced to drop 4 unarmed bombs into the Great Barrier during a training exercise in central Queensland. The US warplanes were dangerously low on fuel and could not land safely with the amount of ordnance so the pilots decided to let them go. Soon the bombs were retrieved and disposed but still two remain in the ocean. The head of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority announced that they would keep a strong eye on the bombs and hope it won’t cause major damage to the environment.
The crown of thorns is a starfish that victimizes on coral polyps. A small amount of these starfish allows the reef to recover from any damage from their feedings but when the crown of thorns have a large outbreak, the reefs can’t recover causing danger for the health of the reefs. In 2000, a major outbreak occurred contributing to a loss of 66% of live coral. Outbreaks are believed to occur in natural cycles, worsened by poor water quality and over-fishing of the starfish’s predators, for example the Giant Triton snail and the hump-head wrasse.
The crown of thorns is a starfish that victimizes on coral polyps. A small amount of these starfish allows the reef to recover from any damage from their feedings but when the crown of thorns have a large outbreak, the reefs can’t recover causing danger for the health of the reefs. In 2000, a major outbreak occurred contributing to a loss of 66% of live coral. Outbreaks are believed to occur in natural cycles, worsened by poor water quality and over-fishing of the starfish’s predators, for example the Giant Triton snail and the hump-head wrasse.