Can coral reefs hurt you

Answer 1

The greatest cause of coral death is the sustained increase in temperature that reefs are currently undergoing. (check - GREAT BARRIER REEFS Australia) This is similar to the almost total elimination of the great kelp forests which are now almost totally gone after just 10 years of water temperature increase. Please be wary as oil industry types et al may be dissuading the young and inquiring from looking at the truth of our situation - the reefs are the most dramatic and horrific of all environmental/carbon/greenhouse effect concerns.

---

Yes, they are in danger, and it is due to us, humans. The causes are many, a simple list of a few of them are:

1. cyanide fishing...cyanide kills the polyps in the reef

2. fishing by the use of bombs (people really do it)

3. pollution... gradual posion for every living thing on earth.

---

Yes the coral reef is in danger: Pollution, Over exploitation and Recreation The species that are the reef's foundation have very specific needs for light, temperature, salinity, and oxygen. They are easily damaged or killed because of these complex requirements for survival. Human-caused deterioration lessens the reef's ability to withstand natural events such as hurricanes, cyclones, and other storms. reef are sensitive to unusually warm waters caused by El Nino, a phenomenon thought to be connected to global warming. Large areas of reef died in Costa Rica, Panama, and the Galapagos during the El Nino event of 1984. Population and development pressures have contributed significantly to loss of coral reefs and other coastal habitats, such as salt marshes, mangrove forests, and sea-grass beds, and the fisheries that depend on these. Reefs are smothered by erosion from deforestation and dredging of rivers and bays. They also are blown up by fishers using dynamite, poisoned by collectors working for the aquarium trade, and inadvertently damaged by re creationists (boaters and scuba divers). An estimated 80 percent of Philippine reefs, for example, have been damaged by sedimentation, explosives, and pollution. Recently, scientists have become alarmed by increased occurrences of "coral bleaching." Coral gets its beautiful colors from algae that lives symbiotically with it. Through photosynthesis, the algae produce oxygen and sugars for the coral polyps to eat. The coral, in turn, produces carbon dioxide and nitrogen which enhances algae growth. If coral polyps are stressed by environmental changes, they lose their algae coating and turn white. Cyanide and other toxins are used to stun reef fish so they can be captured alive to be sent to fish markets in Hong Kong and as aquarium specimens for buyers in the United States. The accumulation of poisons is killing the reefs In the past, the corals themselves were mostly sold as dried specimens for jewelry and decorations. Improvements in the ability to keep corals alive, however, has spurred a worldwide demand for live corals for aquariums. Reef recreation, such as glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, and scuba diving, is increasingly popular. Damage from anchors and accidental boat groundings is a severe problem in some popular spots. Divers stand on reefs or inadvertently hit them with fins or dangling equipment, breaking off pieces of the fragile coral.

Answer 2

We generally don't think of coral reefs as "killers" of people. But some animals that live there can (and have) killed swimmers and divers. The reef itself is make up of many kinds of corals, and many of these have hard, sharp structures that can cut or abrade the skin of a swimmer or diver. There is no doubt that the reef can injure the careless adventurer, but we usually don't consider the reef itself as deadly.

Answer 3

yes.