Understanding of Coral Reefs

Summary and Response #2
In the article, “Coral Reefs”, J.S Levinton describes coral‘s growth, types, areas of distribution, and threats. In the first place, he explains that coral’s size depend on the “amount of carbonate calcium”(Levinton, 1982) in its frame, also different types of corals can grow quick or slow, for example branching corals can grew very swiftly, but they are easily destroyed by strong storms or human activities. In addition, the coral’s age can be calculated, like calculating the tree’s age. There are two kind of coral’s propagation, which are asexual reproduction or sexual propagation, also the producing of sexual reproduction is very wonderful which it happens on “August full moon in the Florida Keys” (Levinton, 1982) every year. Next, the coral reefs have three different types, which are “barrier reefs, fringing reefs, and atolls” (Levinton, 1982). Moreover, the distributional areas of coral reefs depend on their level of emerge and “amount of wave action” (Levinton, 1982). For example, Soft corals are Caribbean characteristic, such as sea whips and sea fans. In the most important thing is the function of coral reefs, which are preventing the shoreline from being to destroyed “tropical storm waves”, and offer habitat for several hundred species of marine lives, such as fish. Furthermore, coral reefs also offer coast’s economic benefits, such as diving, snorkeling, and sport fishing…etc. Unfortunately, the aggravation of the oceanic environment causes condition of coral health that became to go down. For example, In Florida Bay, there was a decreased freshwater flow that caused “sponge and seagrass die-offs, and fish kills” (Levinton, 1982). Also, the tourists damage the coastal environment, which can be discriminated between “direct human impacts” and indirect human impacts (Levinton, 1982). The coral reefs bring or offer to marine life and human economy and entertainments, but some people don’t know how to treasure the valuable coral.
To begin with, humans usually only consider how to have fun on their trip, but they forget the coral reefs are the most important things that offer habitat for many beautiful marine life. Assuming there weren’t any coral reefs, and then there would not be many beautiful marine lives. At the same, if the human will go to diving or fishing, or not. After that the local economy will descend. So, people should consider more about their activity if can effect the coral life or not.
The valuable coral reefs offer many species life, and supposing they are destroyed, then human will not have delicious food from sea to eat, because the coral protect these marine lives from tropical storm waves. Humans dump a lot of pollution into sea that can effect these coral’s health and marine life’s survival. Such as, tourist waste, pleasure-boat waste and dash against coral. So, human activities are most important key to destroy coral.
So, when people travel to beach, I hope people don’t make any human waste into seawater. Also, when people leave, they can do some things to protect the marine life and coral reefs such as picking up and clean up your own trash. Encourage your friends to protect and don’t touch coral reefs with you, if you are a dive.
In conclusion, coral reefs offer to human economy and entertainments, and give many species to life. So, people should know the protecting coral is very important thing because human and marine lives should depend on its functions.

Reference
Levintion, J.S. (1982). Coral Reefs. Marine Ecology. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Retrieved Feb. 03, 2005 from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary website.
Posted by Yen