I guess by living in Florida for 8 years it has made me aware that we are losing our reefs.
After a few snorkeling trips, I have found that our coral reefs are one of the most beautiful and visually impressive habitats on earth, swarming with life with an abundance of color, they are just amazing.
I guess by living in Florida for 8 years it has made me aware that we are losing our reefs.
After a few snorkeling trips, I have found that our coral reefs are one of the most beautiful and visually impressive habitats on earth, swarming with life with an abundance of color, they are just amazing.
Quick Facts: Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems on earth. Hosting hundreds of different species, one square kilometer of healthy reef can produce food for 2,500 humans per year.
Tiny animals related to jelly fish and living attached in colonies of millions build up the massive reef structure by secreting calcium carbonate, the same chemical material of limestone and marble, to form a protective outside skeleton. Coral reefs flourish in warm, clear, shallow waters of tropical oceans worldwide.
The highly productive coral reefs provide significant benefits to the human population. The reefs are sources of food. They are a major source of sand as they erode. As buffers, they provide protection to coastlines from waves and currents. There is increasing interest in reef species as sources of biologically active compounds for medical drugs.
But for the past 30 years there has been significant decline in coral reefs from massive hurricane damage, plus a number of other factors mostly caused by human action have led to the deterioration of the reefs. Over-fishing, sedimentation, the increase of nutrients in the water and a large scale die-off of Diadema, the black sea urchin (sea egg), have been identified by the researchers as being among the major causes of the decline of coral reefs.
The growth of large algae (seaweed type marine plants), if not kept in check, smother existing coral and prevent coral larvae from settling to form new colonies. The algae are kept under control by herbivorous organisms which graze on them. The parrot fish, a Jamaican dinner delicacy, is one of the most important grazers, and over-fishing of parrot and other reef species allows the algae to flourish. Blast fishing using dynamite kills living coral and does damage to the physical structure of the reef.
Sea urchins (sea eggs) are also important grazers on the reefs. Between 1982 and 1984 there was a mass die–off of the black sea urchin, Diadema, from a disease which attacked only that particular species. The Diadema population fell a hundred-fold and has not recovered. So algae flourish on the reefs.
Sedimentation leading to turbid water conditions also blocks coral growth. The coral polyps share a symbiotic relationship of mutual assistance with microscopic algae living in their cells. These algal partners, as plants, need sunlight for photosynthesis. Sedimentation from land run-off reduces sunlight.
Peter Edwards and Tatum Fisher identify sewage and agricultural fertilizers as the major sources of nutrient-supplying pollution affecting coral reefs. Additional nutrients mean additional growth.
...My vision with this new line is to bring awareness to our Coral Reefs and to donate a portion of the sales to an organization to support long term restoration.
Once these pieces are completed, I will locate an organization that help coordinate a donation program ...if anyone can give me a name of an organization, please e-mail me this information and I will be more than happy to post the results.
Ocean Reef Cuff
