Threats to coral reefs

Introduction

After convincing the Minister of Tourism about the benefits of reefs to your island, and collecting so many signatures, you must examine the numerous threats faced by the reef.

Task

Identify the numerous natural and man made threats to the reef.

Process

 

  THREATS TO CORAL REEFS

 

 

 

Task One  (10 minutes)

Click on the following links to gather information to fill in the table below. Use short phrases only

http://www.wri.org/publication/reefs-risk-caribbean

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_reefs/coral_threats/

http://science.jrank.org/pages/1794/Coral-Coral-Reef-Natural-threats-coral-reefs.html

 

NATURAL THREATS

THREATS DUE TO HUMAN ACTIVITIES

NATURAL THREATS WHICH  ARE ACCELERATED BY HUMAN ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task two (10 minutes)

Click on the following link  http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralreef-climate.html

View the infographic then,

Scroll down and Read the section headed “Climate change dramatically affects coral reef ecosystems”

Climate change greatly impacts on coral reefs in several ways. Complete the table below.

Effect of climate change

Impact on reef

1. Warming Ocean

Causes heat stress that leads to coral bleaching

2.

 

3.

 

 

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Task 3 (10 minutes)

Log into the Edpuzzle classroom

Click on the video titled “Coral bleaching in the Caribbean”

Answer the following questions based on the video

1.  What is major cause of coral bleaching? _______________________________________________

2. By what percentage has coral declined in the Caribbean? ___________________

3. What organism gives the coral its colour? __________________________

4. How is this colour lost? ___________________________________________________________      _______________________________________________________________________________      _______________________________________________________________________________

5. What happens if corals remain bleached for too long?____________________________________

6. When did the most severe bleaching event happen in the Caribbean? _______________________

7. What triggered this event? __________________________________________________________     

8.  Click on the following link http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html                               List other factors that can cause coral bleaching.                                       

A.__________________________     B.__________________________     C._____________________

 

 

 

 

 

Stay logged in to Edpuzzle for Task 4

Task 4 (5 minutes)

Click on the assignment titled  “Ocean acidification”.

Answer the questions along the video.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Task 5 (5 mins)

While fishing is an important source of food and income for millions of people. Overfishing and poor fishing practices are some of the greatest threats to the coral reef ecosystem.

Click on the follow link http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral-overfishing.html

Read the section “Threats to coral reefs: Overfishing”

List three poor fishing practices

a. _______________________________________

b._______________________________________

c._______________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Task 6 (5mins)

Pollution from land based human activities eventually makes it way to the ocean and adds to the reef destruction

Click on the following link  http://www.reefresilience.org/coral-reefs/stressors/local-stressors/coastal-development/

Read the section titled “Coastal development”, including the captions in the photographs

Complete the table by writing one sentence to explain the impact of the activity on the reef.

Land based activity

Impact on the reef

1. Land clearing

 

2. Nutrient Polllution

 

3. Sewage

 

 

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Click on the following link http://www.ausarabexplore.info/interactives/coral/coral.html

Play the game and record your score here               

Evaluation

At the end of the lesson, please submit your WebQuest worksheet for grading.

Your group's worksheet will be graded based on the following rubric:

CRITERIA

EXCELLENT (4-5 MARKS)

GOOD (2-3 MARKS)

POOR (0-1 MARKS)

COMPLETION

All activities of each task in the WebQuest are completed

One or two activities in the WebQuest are omitted or incomplete

More than 3 activities in the WebQuest are omitted or incomplete

ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

All points of information are accurate

There are one or two incorrect points of information

There are more than 3 incorrect points of information

PARTICIPATION

All group members were observed participating in all of the tasks and activities.

Two to three group members were observed participating in tasks and activities.

One group member was observed participating in/directing the tasks and activities.

 

Conclusion

In your previous lesson, you have established the economic and environmental importance of healthy

coral reefs. Now that you know which threats face the reefs, get ready to take action in your next

adventure.