Essay on The Rainforests of Our Oceans - 2018 Words

The first thing that comes to mind when we think of coral reefs is either an image of Nemo swimming through those finger-like plants in the ocean or a jumble of those plants we see on postcards and on television, thinking that one of them (but which one?) must be a coral reef. On the contrary, however, coral reefs are far from being plants but are in fact, an ecosystem filled with corals, both hard and soft, and endless reef species. The coral itself is made of many coral polyps, delicate limestone-secreting animals, which serve as a skeleton for the coral. The impact of these reefs on both marine life and humans is immense, but as of today, we have lost almost twenty to twenty-five percent of the world’s coral reefs and about another†¦show more content†¦However, alerting us of changes in water salinity and water quality are not the only benefits coral reefs provide us. In addition to their role as indicators of water salinity and water quality, coral reefs also bene fit us by providing our communities, harbors, coastal cities, and beaches with protection from heavy wave action caused by coastal storms (U.S. EPA). Their complex and deep roots help to stabilize our shorelines and protect the inshore area by breaking the impact of waves hurtling towards the shore from the ocean. As a result of healthy coral reefs, coastlines were spared further damage in the disastrous Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. Also, when those living on the Maldive Islands decided to mine away its sand and coral reefs, it cost them about ten million U.S. dollars per kilometer to build a wall to protect their coastline when leaving the reefs alone would protect their coastline more effectively and less costly (Talbot, F. and Wilkinson, C.). If the reefs are left unprotected, they will eventually die out, and it will be more costly for us to attempt to build manmade objects as a replacement for them than to spend a portion of that money to keep the reefs safe from huma ns and healthy. One major aspect of coralShow MoreRelatedThe Sustainability Secret755 Words   |  4 PagesSustainability Secret is a 90-minute film asking why the leading environmental organizations are acting uninterested and ignoring a leading cause of environmental damage. It s co-producers Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn are the leading the argument that our ways of trying to save the world individually by ways like taking shorter showers, not letting the faucet run, changing the lightbulb to fluorescent, riding a bike instead of your car, and many other little way people believe will save the environmentRead MoreNatural Resources and Energy in the Rainforests1550 Words   |  7 PagesNatural Resources and Energy in the Rainforests The beauty, majesty, and timelessness of a primary rainforest is indescribable. It is impossible to capture on film, to describe in words, or to explain to those who have never had the awe-inspiring experience of standing in the heart of a primary rainforest. Rainforests have evolved over millions of years to turn into the incredibly complex environments they are today. Rainforests represent a store of living and breathing renewable natural resourcesRead MoreThe Amazon Rainforest Is A Vital And Spectacular Part Of Our Planet1514 Words   |  7 PagesThe Amazon Rainforest is a vital and spectacular part of our planet. The forest spreads over nine countries on the South American continent which are Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It is the world’s largest remaining rainforest covering over 2.5 million square miles, with 63 percent of it resting in Brazil. (Finer 2008). It is considered the lungs of Earth. Giving the entir e world population daily oxygen and absorbing our carbon dioxide. IndustrializationRead MoreCoral Reefs : A Study From National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration923 Words   |  4 PagesTo our eyes we see a beautiful, diverse, colorful reef that adds beauty to the ocean and to the fishes. Others see a peaceful bed for the oceans floor. 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