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Coral Reef Research Paper

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Coral Reef Research Paper
Coral reefs have existed on this planet for approximately 450 million years. They provide an extremely diverse marine ecosystem. (Bellwood and Wainwirght2002) Coral reefs are the largest natural structures in the world and occur in over 100 countries. They are the result of a remarkable relationship between coral animals and microscopic algae. The microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) coverts sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen (photosynthesis) and carbohydrates for the coral animals (polyps) to use and make into calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate forms marine organisms known as coral. Coral reefs are like underwater jungles that host twenty-five percent of marine species and yet occupy less than one percent of the ocean floor. Coral …show more content…
The reefs can be a source of medicines for serious diseases. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says nearly half of the medicines in use today have their origins in natural products, mostly derived from terrestrial plants, animals, and microorganisms. (NOAA 2010) The coral ecosystem is a source of medicines developed to induce and ease labors: treat cancer, arthritis, asthma, ulcers, human bacterial infections, and hear disease. AZT is a recognized drug used to treat HIV. The compounds in the drug are found in a Caribbean reef sponge. (NOAA …show more content…
and P.C. Wainwright. 2002. The history and biogeography of fishes on coral reefs. In Coral reef fishes dynamics and diversity in a complex ecosystem, ed. P.T. Sale. London: Academic Press.

Conservation International. 2008. Economic Values of Coral Reefs, Mangroves, and Seagrasses: A Global Compilation. Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA.

Hazen and Sawyer 2001. Socio-economic Study of Reefs in Southeast Florida. Final Report to NOAA, October 2001.

Hodgson, G. 1999. A global assessment of human effects on coral reefs. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 38(5): 345-55.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 2010. Medicine. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/medicine/ (accessed April 2nd, 2011)

ScienceDaily (Oct. 28, 2009) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091016093913.htm (accessed April 7th, 2011)
Wilkinson, C. 2008. Status of the Coral Reefs of the World: 2008. Townsville, Australia. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/facts/coral_dependence.html (accessed April 2nd, 2011)
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