How would you describe the Great Barrier Reef?
The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc.
How can we protect the Great Barrier Reef?
Looking for more ways you can help the Great Barrier Reef?
- Join Oceans 2 Earth volunteer programs.
- Become a volunteer with the Great Barrier Reef Marine conservation volunteer program.
- Only use reef-safe sunscreen and wear high SPF factor clothing where you can in place of sunscreen.
How much seagrass is in the Great Barrier Reef?
In the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the seafloor is 13% seagrass and 6% coral. Although only a few feet high, dense seagrass meadows have as much leaf area as towering rainforests, which have the highest leaf areas on the planet.
What Makes Great Barrier Reef Special?
The Great Barrier Reef is unique as it extends over 14 degrees of latitude, from shallow estuarine areas to deep oceanic waters. Within this vast expanse are a unique range of ecological communities, habitats and species – all of which make the Reef one of the most complex natural ecosystems in the world.
What will happen if the Great Barrier Reef dies?
Developing countries and small island countries like Tuvalu will be most affected by such drastic shifts. Coral reefs provide protection against flooding and the erosion of coastlines. With them gone, there will be rapid erosion of coastlines and many small island countries might even vanish from the world map.
Who is protecting the Great Barrier Reef?
Australian
We all have a common goal—protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef for current and future generations. The Australian and Queensland governments are jointly investing more than $3 billion over 10 years in protecting the Reef.
Why is it important to save the Great Barrier Reef?
A: The survival of our planet depends on healthy coral reefs. They’re home to a quarter of the ocean’s marine life, generate clean air and protect vulnerable coastlines from erosion, flooding and storms. In Australia, our Great Barrier Reef is an irreplaceable and crucial part of our ecosystem – and our economy.
What are 3 facts about the Great Barrier Reef?
10 incredible facts about the Great Barrier Reef
- It’s the only place on earth where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet.
- It’s bigger than Tasmania and Victoria, combined.
- You’ll find a third of the world’s coral here.
- And it’s home to nearly 5,000 marine and mammal species.
- You can volunteer on the Great Barrier Reef.
What’s special about the Great Barrier Reef?
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the planet’s most extraordinary natural wonders, its largest coral reef system and the only living organism that can be spotted from space. Protecting the reef (there are actually almost 3,000 sections) is essential given its remarkable ecosystem and myriad marine life.
What eats dugongs in the Great Barrier Reef?
They have few predators, besides sharks, crocodiles and man. Dugongs were hunted to the edge of extinction in the early part of last century by Europeans for food and oil. These days, dugongs are under pressure from other activities, such as loss of habitat, boat traffic and being caught in fishing nets.
Does seagrass live in coral reefs?
Seagrass beds form an important nursery habitat for several species of fishes and invertebrates that move to coral reefs and other ecosystems as they mature. Cold-water seagrass beds provide an important source of shelter for many species.
Why is seagrass important to the Great Barrier Reef?
These seagrass may seem similar to one another but they do have their own identities and roles. The seagrass is important to the Great Barrier Reef for providing food and habitat to the marine creatures
What is a seagrass?
A tropical seagrass species that occurs in the nearshore environments of the Great Barrier Reef. Seagrasses are unique in the marine environment in that like many land plants they reproduce by flowering and producing seeds.
What is the best seagrass for dugong?
The Cymodocea serrulata is another Dugong’s favourite seagrass to munch on. This species is often known as Serrated Ribbon seagrass. The grass grows in areas where it is muddy. The Cymodocea serrulata’s leaf may seem straight and sharp at first. However, it’s actually quite ribbony and blunt.
What type of seagrass is halophila minor?
The Halophila minor is a small type of seagrass in the Great Barrier Reef. The shape of the leaf on this seagrass is oval. Usually, the grows in pairs on each seagrass. There are also around 12 darkly coloured veins going across each leaf.