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Coral reef - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Coralline algae are important contributors to the structure of the reef in those parts of the reef subjected to the greatest forces by waves (such as the reef front facing the open ocean). Reefs are also home to a large variety of other organisms, including sponges, Cnidarians (which includes some types of corals and jellyfish), worms, crustaceans (including shrimp, spiny lobsters and crabs), molluscs (including cephalopods), echinoderms (including starfish, sea stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers), sea squirts, sea turtles and sea snakes. However, growth in some reefs due to global warming is expected to be offset by declines in other reefs, due to the comfortable temperature range for a coral being close to the temperature at which they bleach. en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Coral_reef   (3778 words)

Great Barrier Reef - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Unlike most reef environments worldwide, the Great Barrier Reef is the only one where the water catchment area is home to industrialised urban areas and where extensive areas of coastal lands and rangelands have been used for agricultural and pastoral purposes. Due to the range of human uses made of the water catchment area adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef some 400 of the 3000 reefs are within a risk zone where water quality has declined owing to sediment and chemical runoff from farming, and to loss of coastal wetlands which are a natural filter. Many of the corals of the Great Barrier Reef are currently living at the upper edge of their temperature tolerance, as demonstrated in the coral bleaching events of the summers of 1998, 2002 and most recently 2006. en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef   (3135 words)

Great Barrier Reef - MSN Encarta The reef extends about 2,010 km (about 1,250 mi) roughly parallel to the coast of the state of Queensland, from the Torres Strait in the north to near the town of Bundaberg in the south. A barrier reef lies parallel to a coastline and is always separated from the shore by a wide lagoon. The growth of the Great Barrier Reef was subsequently interrupted by global changes in sea level and temperature during periods of glaciation, when more of the planet’s water was frozen in glaciers due to global cooling (see Ice Ages). encarta.msn.com /encyclopedia_761575831/Great_Barrier_Reef.html   (1243 words)

Great Barrier Reef - MSN Encarta Common in all areas are the gobies, the smallest fish of the reef; some of the reef’s dwarf gobies are fully grown at 2.5 cm (1.0 in). The butterfly fish is one of the most colorful reef dwellers, with 45 different types known to live in the Great Barrier Reef, including some that eat coral. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is an important refuge for a number of threatened species, including 30 species of whales and dolphins, 6 species of sea turtles, the dugong (sea cow), and giant clams. encarta.msn.com /encyclopedia_761575831_2/Great_Barrier_Reef.html   (1354 words)

Great Barrier Reef The corals which make up the various reefs and cays, and which are the base for this variety of sea and animal life, consist of individual coral polyps; tiny live creatures that join together to form colonies. Most of the Reef is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and various parts of it are protected in certain ways - for example, fishing is restricted in some areas, particular animals - like whales, dolphins, green turtles and dugong - are protected. The latest scourge of the reef is bleaching, where corals have died in large numbers. www.crystalinks.com /greatbarriereef.html   (776 words)

Coastal Treasures of Belize Zonation of the barrier reef is evident as the distribution of several coral types occurs in specific zones. The back reef zone is also termed the landward side of the reef, followed by the reef crest which may be exposed to air at low tide as well as receiving the greatest physical action of the waves. Reefs are those that form close to the mainland or to islands, for example, the reef between Placencia and Punta Ycacos. www.belizenet.com /coastal/3.html   (1967 words)

BARRIER CASE The Great Barrier Reef alone is home to "10,000 species of sponge, 350 species of coral, 4,000 species of molluscs, 350 species of echinoderms and more than 1500 species of fish. The reef cement is partially formed by encrusting algae, and partially by chemical precipitation from the water. Reef building corals need warm waters in which to grow and their plant helpers, the zooxanthellae, need light, just as plants on land do. www.american.edu /TED/barrier.htm   (3596 words)

Scuba diving great barrier reef, liveaboard accommodation and Cairns snorkeling Reeftrip.com is a team of like-minded individuals who share a passion for the Cairns region and the Great Barrier Reef, and want to share their enthusiasm by assisting with your holiday needs to exceed your expectations and meet your budget. Reef Encounter is large enough to provide all the comforts of larger cruise ships, yet small enough to enable access to spectacular reef locations inaccessible to other vessels. Reef Encounter is a team of like minded individuals who share a passion to provide the best environment for people to experience the Great Barrier Reef in comfort and style. www.reeftrip.com   (856 words)

Great Barrier Reef The reef also supports a wide variety of fleshy algae that are heavily grazed by turtles, fish, sea urchins and molluscs. Reef herons, osprey, pelicans, frigate birds, sea eagles and shearwaters are among the numerous sea birds that have been recorded. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was declared in 1975 with the purpose of preserving the area's outstanding biodiversity whilst providing for reasonable use. www.australia-about.com /reef.html   (917 words)

Great Barrier Reef This reef is formed as coral grows in the shallow waters along the shores of land. A lagoon separates the barrier reef from the shore. An Atoll reef is a circular reef, usually with a lagoon in the center. library.thinkquest.org /J002388/gbreef.html   (480 words)

Barrier Reef, Belize So Charles Darwin referred to the Belize Barrier Reef in 1842, in his study of the origin and evolution of coral reefs. Most species on a reef are in fact never seen by divers and snorkellers as they are tiny, cryptic invertebrates that live in cracks and crevices and can be equated with the insects of the tropical rain forest. It is also likely that about 90% of all reef species, particularly the small invertebrates, are still undiscovered: SCUBA diving equipment was invented less than 50 years ago, and most reefs have only relatively recently become accessible to researchers. www.westminster.edu /staff/athrock/BELIZE/Reef.html   (1144 words)

The Great Barrier Reef - Australia - Goway Travel Australia's Great Barrier Reef is the largest complex of coral reefs and islands in the world, comprising 3,000 individual reefs and about 600 islands covering an area half the size of Texas. The Great Barrier reef is a living work-in-progress, believed to be over 10,000 years old and over 500 meters thick in some places. The Reef is closer to the coast in northern Queensland - as near as nine miles from Port Douglas and Cairns - while at its southern end it is nearly 100 miles away. www.goway.com /downunder/australia/au_gbr.html   (972 words)

Aquarium.Net Oct 96 The Great Barrier Reef However, the Great Barrier Reef located very far from land and is in fact very difficult to explore even if one is a SCUBA diver. The Great Barrier Reef is put on the "Worlds Heritage List" and the people of Australia (and the rest of the world) should have the opportunity to know "why". The average tidal range of the Great Barrier Reef is about 3 metres, but since the aquarium is "only" 5 metres deep, a compromise with a tidal range of 1 metre has been made. www.reefs.org /library/aquarium_net/1096/1096_5.html   (1852 words)

Geoscience - The Earth - Australian Landforms - Great Barrier Reef Individual reefs are of two main types: platform reefs formed from radial growths, and wall reefs resulting from elongated growths, often in areas of strong water currents. Each reef has a thin layer of living coral capping a structure made up mainly of calcareous sand and rubble from the breakdown and consolidation of coral and other skeletal material. Many of the present reef areas were once hills on a former coastal plain, and these became islands when the water level rose after the last Ice Age, to be colonised by coral polyps. www.amonline.net.au /geoscience/earth/barrier_reef.htm   (387 words)

Reef Madness - Great Barrier Reef, Australia | Travel + Leisure   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09) That's the dilemma on the Great Barrier Reef, a 1,240-mile sweep of spectacular biodiversity off the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia (and, before we forget to mention it, one of the seven natural wonders of the world). Before I visited the Great Barrier Reef, everything I'd read had led me to picture it as one continuous, massive living structure; in fact, it's thousands of reefs, with coral and fish populations that are by no means equal. Last year, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site measuring 135,000 square miles, was dramatically and triumphantly rezoned by the Australian federal government. www.travelandleisure.com /articles/reef-madness   (839 words)

Protected Areas Programme -   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09) CULTURAL HERITAGE The Great Barrier Reef, and in particular the northern sector, is important in the historic and contemporary culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups of the coastal areas of north-east Australia. The arrangement recognises that the islands, reefs and waters of the area are a continuum and that they should be managed on a complementary basis. The education of reef users to appreciate the reef environment and exercise care when visiting the reef, is a third major element in managing and protecting this resource. www.unep-wcmc.org /protected_areas/data/wh/gbrmp.html   (3356 words)

Fishing Relief For Barrier Reef   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09) The ban comes in response to concerns that overfishing is depleting the reef's rich marine life. The reef is home to sharks, turtles and numerous brightly coloured fish. The Great Barrier Reef, situated off Queensland state in north-east Australia, injects an estimated A$1.5bn ($975m) into the economy each year through tourism and fishing. www.flmnh.ufl.edu /fish/InNews/barrierreef2004.html   (360 words)

Great Barrier Reef It was just a tiny tiny fraction of the Great Barrier Reef - the Eighth Wonder of the World extends over 2000 km along the Queensland coast, ranging from fringing coastal reefs to lagoons, outer reefs and then to the open ocean, and includes biological diversity at ecosystem, community, species and genetic levels. The reef is closely guarded by the Australian government through the GBRMPA, which acts as a steward of all aspects of the reef environment, from water quality to aquaculture to coral bleaching issues. The reef is very fragile, despite its age and vastness; human activity is damaging to the reef, so when we were out there we were asked to not touch the coral and not 'souvenir' anything, lest the ship loses its permit. conniechai.tripod.com /plumpudding/id7.html   (724 words)

Fiberglass Pools US: Fibreglass Pools and Manufacturer Contact Us Barrier Reef Pools was established over 20 years ago in sunny, tropical Cairns and today we have established ourselves as the largest manufacturer of fiberglass pools in the Southern Hemisphere. Barrier Reef Pools specialize in quality fiberglass pools coming in a range of shapes and colors. Barrier Reef Pools 25 year Structural Warranty is backed by Barrier Reef Pools and FGI. www.barrierreefpoolsusa.com   (274 words)

Great Barrier Reef travel guide - Wikitravel The Great Barrier Reef is a coral formation, the largest such in the entire world, located off the Pacific coast of Queensland, Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is a famed diving destination, although divers with experience of the tropics find parts of it overused and damaged. The southern part of the reef off Townsville is known mostly for the wreck of the Yongala, visited on both liveaboards and day trip operators from Townsville, Ayr and Magnetic Island. wikitravel.org /en/Great_Barrier_Reef   (990 words)

Great Barrier Reef One of the main aims of the Reef Plan is to maintain biodiversity within the larger ecosystem of the Reef as well as different habitats to help sustain the biodiversity of species and population levels. Since 2004, rezoning different areas of the reef was introduced to try and recognise important habitats as well as identify different species of fish as key targets of protection. Before visiting the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it is important you study the zoning map for the area you are visiting to be sure of the activities that you can do and where you can do them. www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au /articles/greatbarrierreef   (1174 words)

Great Barrier Reef, Australia   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09) The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest marine park and stretches over 3000km (1800 miles) along the Queensland coast from Lady Elliot Island, off the coast of Bundaberg, up past the tip of Cape York. The Great Barrier Reef originated during the last ice age when the continental shelf was exposed creating a band of beaches, dunes and 'barrier islands'. The Great Barrier Reef Sections were created to make the vast reef system more manageable by dividing it into distinct zones. www.auinfo.com /great-barrier-reef.htm   (487 words)

Reef ED - GBR Explorer   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-09) Reef Explorer is your on-line guide to the wonderful living world of the Great Barrier Reef. It is an interactive resource for teachers and students designed to introduce the myriad of fascinating animals and plants that inhabit the reef in easily accessible text and images. Reef Explorer is a ‘work-in-progress’ that will build over time into a comprehensive resource spanning all the major groups of plants and animals that live on and around the Great Barrier Reef. www.reefed.edu.au /explorer   (135 words)

The Great Barrier Reef As a result, the Great Barrier Reef is not only the most extensive reef system in the world, it also is the biggest structure made by living organisms. Living among its component reefs are approximately 2,000 species of fish exhibiting an array of hues: orange and white splotched clown anemone, electric blue damselfish, long-snouted yellow butterfly fish, bright pink fairy basslet, red and green striped harlequin tuskfish, to name a few. Located at the southern end of the reef, the 110-acre island seems to be a magnet for wayward ships and has been nicknamed “shipwreck island.” A simple no-frills place popular with divers, it has cabins and tents for 136 guests. www.theculturedtraveler.com /Heritage/Archives/Barrier_Reef.htm   (944 words)

Great Barrier Reef The greatest single living organism on the planet and the only one visible from space, the Great Barrier Reef is made up of hundreds of reefs and almost a thousand islands. Dotted throughout the waters of the Great Barrier Reef are more than 300 coral cay islands and more than 600 continental islands surrounded by reef. The key island resorts of the Great Barrier Reef -- Lizard, Dunk, Bedarra, Hamilton, Hayman and Heron - are as different as night and day, ranging from intimate, luxurious retreats, to those catering to families and a variety of budgets, and avid adventurers seeking some of the best diving, snorkeling and hiking in the world. www.boomercafe.com /Aussie/australia-reef.htm   (864 words)

Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is not in fact one single reef, but a system of about 3 000 individual coral reefs and islands stretching from Cape York to Gladstone off the Queensland coast. This starfish has always been part of life in a coral reef, but the balance has been tipped because the main natural predator of the starfish, the triton, is greatly prized by humans for its shell. When the sea is polluted by rubbish and soil is washed into it by excavation of the land near the reef the coral is affected. www.kidcyber.com.au /topics/barrier_reef.HTM   (267 words)

Great Barrier Reef Travel Guide | Fodor's Online A maze of 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 km (1,616 mi), the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most spectacular natural attractions, and one of which Australia is extremely proud. Known as Australia's "Blue Outback," the reef was established as a marine park in 1975, and is a collective haven for thousands of species of sea life, as well as turtles and birds. It's comprised of 2,500 individual reefs and 1,000 islands, which lie to the east of the Coral Sea and extend south into the Pacific Ocean. www.fodors.com /miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=great_barrier@230   (341 words)

New Barrier Reef The reef is considered the eighth wonder of the world and is the only life-form visible from the moon. The tiny corals - the reef builders - whose skeletons accumulated over millions of years have created this great living structure and are very simple animals, only 1-10 mm across, consisting of a mouth and stomach surrounded by a ring of stinging tentacles. The reef which is composed of millions of tiny coral creatures acts as a shelter for over 500 fish species, more than are found in the Atlantic Ocean. www.ozbird.com /oz/OzCulture/australiana/reef/default.htm   (438 words)

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