Endangered Coral Reefs Die as Ocean Temperatures Rise and Water Turns Acidic (Dec. 5, 2012)
Synopsis
In addition to negative consequences caused by overfishing and pollution, coral reefs face another major existential threat: increased acidity from warming oceans. Hari Sreenivasan reports from Florida about the dire outlook for coral reefs, as well as efforts and research to try and save them.
Source: PBS NewsHour
Length: 6:44
Click the Next button to answer the questions.
Watch the video and answer the following questions:
During the past 2-3 decades, there have been obvious losses of coral reefs.
| A. |
| B. |
Coral reef ecosystems have relatively very high levels of biodiversity.
| A. |
| B. |
Coral Reef ecosystems are threatened with which of the following?
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Coral Bleaching occurs when
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Coral reefs are dying due to in large part to
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Increased acidity (as indicated by a decrease in pH) of ocean water is caused by
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
Watch the video and answer the following questions:
The video describes the involvement of ecotourists in battling coral reef declines. What role did these ecotourists play? How might ecotourism be involved in other environmental issues or conservation projects that you are aware of? List 2-3 advantages and 2-3 potential disadvantages of using ecotourists or other volunteers to assist with conservation projects. How might declines in coral reefs impact local economies of residents living near reef systems?
Arguments have been made that extinction events are natural, and therefore there is no need for concern as we lose species globally. With respect to the ongoing losses of coral (and most other species) why is this argument flawed? That is, why are the widespread losses of coral not natural? Including background material that you learned in Chapter 11 of your text, how is the current rate of declines in biodiversity different that the background rate? Why aren’t corals just adapting to environmental changes, rather than dying off?
Why are biologists and others so concerned with losses of coral reef ecosystems? Please include in your answer both environmental and economic reasons. Why should humans who will never visit or experience coral reefs be concerned about coral bleaching? What might be one cascading impact from the predicted further losses of coral reefs?
Activity results are being submitted...