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An issue is an important topic of interest or discussion that has two or more opposing sides. Issues are often controversial matters that stimulate debate within the media and community. How to address the threats facing the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most hotly debated issues in Australia today. Why is protecting the Great Barrier Reef an issue? The Great Barrier Reef is important to Australia for its high biodiversity, its economic importance to the fishing and tourism industries, and its cultural and historical significance. Despite being one of the best-protected reefs in the world, the Great Barrier Reef’s health is declining. This has prompted debate about whether more should be done to protect it. What makes the Great Barrier Reef so ‘great’? • It is the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world. Its coral reefs cover an area of around 20 000 square kilometres. • It is home to around 10 000 species of animals and 500 different seaweeds. Why is the Great Barrier Reef under threat? The health of the Great Barrier Reef has been declining because of human activities ever since Europeans settled in Australia. More recently, the effects of climate change are also threatening the Reef. What is the effect of these threats? The effect of threats to the Great Barrier Reef is that the Reef’s water is becoming warmer, cloudier, more polluted and more acidic. These changes in water quality are killing coral and reducing biodiversity. Major threats affecting the health of the Great Barrier Reef Threat Climate change Overfishing Tourism Pollution (catchment run-off or shipping accidents) Problems caused Increases seawater temperature and acidity and raises the sea level, which leads to coral bleaching Increases storm activity, which breaks corals Decreases the number of a species in an area, which affects other species in the food web Potentially damages the coral reef and disturbs species Poisons, chokes or entangles species Pest species Pests and diseases kill native species You decide… In this book you can learn about the various issues surrounding the Great Barrier Reef. Like a good debate, the book will present you with the key facts and viewpoints, providing information that will help you develop and justify your own opinions and arguments. 4 The Great Barrier Reef stretches more than 2000 kilometres along the northeast coast of Australia. Fishing is a popular tourist activity on the Reef, but it can also cause harm to the ecosystem. 5 Macmillan Digital Library: What’s the Issue? Set 2 © Michelle Atkins, Julie Murphy, Greg Reid, Geoff Thompson, Ashten Warfe/Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9209 1 Macmillan Digital Library: What’s the Issue? Set 2 © Michelle Atkins, Julie Murphy, Greg Reid, Geoff Thompson, Ashten Warfe/Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9209 1
The Great Barrier Reef is not a single structure. It is a complex ecosystem made up of around 2900 coral reefs, 900 islands and thousands of plant and animal species. Like all coral reefs, the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem is very fragile. How is the Great Barrier Reef formed? It took thousands of years for the Great Barrier Reef to form. All coral reefs are made by small animals called hard coral polyps. They attach to a solid surface and make hard outer skeletons to support their bodies. After they die, their skeletons remain and these form the coral reef. Why is the Great Barrier Reef fragile? Corals get energy to survive from tiny plants living inside them. These plants need sunlight to make that energy. Coral bleaching happens when the corals become stressed and eject the coloured plants. The corals’ white skeletons become visible, making them appear bleached. Coral bleaching can be caused by unusually high or low water temperature, light levels and salinity, as well as pollution and disease. Corals may or may not recover from bleaching, depending on how long the cause of stress continues. Healthy communities of marine life require a healthy environment and we need to ensure that our activities do not have any detrimental impacts on the rich and diverse communities that make Australian seas such special habitats. Dr Tony Ayling, marine biologist on the Great Barrier Reef, 2008 How old is the Great Barrier Reef? The current living Reef is thought to be between 6000 and 8000 years old. 6 Coral polyps have tentacles that catch small pieces of food floating in the water. The Great Barrier Reef is a complex ecosystem. Changing even one aspect of the Reef’s ecosystem could upset the balance of the whole Reef. 7 Macmillan Digital Library: What’s the Issue? Set 2 © Michelle Atkins, Julie Murphy, Greg Reid, Geoff Thompson, Ashten Warfe/Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9209 1 Macmillan Digital Library: What’s the Issue? Set 2 © Michelle Atkins, Julie Murphy, Greg Reid, Geoff Thompson, Ashten Warfe/Macmillan Publishers Australia 2011 ISBN 978 1 4202 9209 1
Page 1: Contents What’s the issue? Great
Page 5 and 6: The Great Barrier Reef is the world
Page 7 and 8: The Great Barrier Reef is an import
Page 9 and 10: The fragile Great Barrier Reef ecos
Page 11 and 12: Despite fishing restrictions and zo
Page 13 and 14: Some issues are not serious now but
Page 15 and 16: There are two sides to every issue.
Page 17: A acidification 21, 28 acidity 5, 1

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