How is the Great Barrier Reef dying?

Answer 1

The great barrier IS changing nf not in a good way. Its changing due to water tempurtures rising, over fishing and pollution. And the only people we can blame is US- the human race. We can improve it by NOT over fishing (for food or aquatic pets) and recycling all of our trash. It can be done! It will work- just try it! Every year, we LOSE parts of the barrier reef because of this- we really can't stop water temps, but we can change the other two.

Answer 2

The Great Barrier Reef, like any natural habitat, faces numerous threats to its existence, largely as a result of human impact. Although it does not have an official listing of endangered, it is shrinking, and it is unknown by how much, or whether this is permanent. Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory of anthropogenic global warming (i.e. caused by man's activities) predict that the Great Barrier Reef may lose up to 95% of its coral by the middle of the current century. Although the coastline parallel to the Great Barrier Reef has been settled by Europeans for less than 200 years, these scientists believe that the Reef has been shrinking by 20% every 100 years.

Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory that global warming is cyclical perhaps have a less drastic view, as they believe that the coral will regenerate, as it has apparently done so in the past. There is evidence that the coral goes down much deeper than first thought, and this is an important factor in its regeneration. It is a very emotive topic.

Pollution and chemical runoff pose a very real threat to the reef. The water quality of the reef is affected by sediment and nutrients, and 80% of this is caused by cattle grazing on the land adjacent to the reef. Mud and chemical runoff tend to limit the sunlight that reaches the coral, causing it to die off, and they increase the macro-algae, which is a weed.

Tourism is a threat to the reef, as tourist boats damage the delicate framework of the reef; fishing and pollution left behind by visitors also is a threat.

A natural threat to the Great Barrier Reef is the Crown of Thorns starfish. Outbreaks of this starfish are a constant threat to the animals of the Great Barrier Reef, though in small numbers it poses no threat.

There are about 40 species which live in and around the Great Barrier Reef which are listed as endangered, mostly due to human impact.

Answer 3

There are animals in every habitat around the world that are dying or being added to the endangered species list, and the Great Barrier Reef is no different.

Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory of anthropogenic global warming (i.e. caused by man's activities) predict that the Great Barrier Reef may lose up to 95% of its coral by the middle of the current century. Although the coastline parallel to the Great Barrier Reef has been settled by Europeans for less than 200 years, these scientists believe that the Reef has been shrinking by 20% every 100 years.

Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory that global warming is cyclical perhaps have a less drastic view, as they believe that the coral will regenerate, as it has apparently done so in the past. It is a very emotive topic.

However, it should be noted that pollution and chemical runoff pose a very real threat to the reef. The water quality of the reef is affected by sediment and nutrients, and 80% of this is caused by cattle grazing on the land adjacent to the reef. Mud and chemical runoff tend to limit the sunlight that reaches the coral, causing it to die off, and they increase the macro-algae, which is a weed.

Tourism is a threat to the reef, as tourist boats damage the delicate framework of the reef; fishing and pollution left behind by visitors also is a threat.

There are about 40 species which live in and around the Great Barrier Reef that are listed as endangered.

Answer 4

Any habitat on earth is in danger at any given time, and the Great Barrier Reef is no exception.

The Great Barrier Reef does not have an official listing of endangered, but it is shrinking, and it is unknown by how much. Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory of anthropogenic global warming (i.e. caused by man's activities) predict that the Great Barrier Reef may lose up to 95% of its coral by the middle of the current century. Although the coastline parallel to the Great Barrier Reef has been settled by Europeans for less than 200 years, these scientists believe that the Reef has been shrinking by 20% every 100 years.

Climate scientists who subscribe to the theory that global warming is cyclical perhaps have a less drastic view, as they believe that the coral will regenerate, as it has evidently done so in the past. It is a very emotive topic.

However, it should be noted that pollution and chemical runoff pose a very real threat to the reef. The water quality of the reef is affected by sediment and nutrients, and 80% of this is caused by cattle grazing on the land adjacent to the reef. Mud and chemical runoff tend to limit the sunlight that reaches the coral, causing it to die off, and they increase the macro-algae, which is a weed.

Tourism is a threat to the reef, as tourist boats damage the delicate framework of the reef; fishing and pollution left behind by visitors also is a threat.

Answer 5

Sections of the Great Barrier Reef are starting to die because of pollution and global warming. Tourists and recreational fishermen are particularly damaging to the Great Barrier Reef, as they drop their plastic bags and other non-environmentally friendly items into the water. Shipping causes damage to the reef. Runoff of pesticides from farmland is also a problem, although significant tests have been done, and it seems the farmers are being blamed for more than is fair.

The evidence of global warming has partially hit the Reef but scientists are divided about whether the Reef naturally goes through these phases of dying-off and regeneration. Whilst the jury is out on current effects of global warming, it is generally accepted that it would take a mere couple of degrees of warming of sea temperatures to wipe out some species on the Reef. Evidence indicates that the Reef has undergone periods of warming and cooling through the millennia, yet has always recovered.

Answer 6

The great barrier reef is very much alive but it used to be bigger because there are only bits of it dieing off everyday and I don't mean to be hippy but we do need to start looking after it. It isn't just Australia it is the rest of the world helping us to pollute it SAVE THE Reef DUDE

Answer 7

It is unlikely that the Great Barrier Reef will disappear anytime soon. Although it has certainly shrunk during the time that Europeans have known about it, there is also clear evidence that it can - and does - regenerate. However, it is possible that conditions could change so much that the coral is unable to regenerate.

Answer 8

I think it may, unfortunately, if global warming continues, because the coral will be bleached and the fish will die and there will be less and less life...