The Great Barrier Reef

1. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living organism on earth.
2.Coral extract calcium from the ocean.
3. Red algae bulks up the coral and adds to it.
4. The Great Barrier Reef became a national park in 1975
5. 1/3 of the Great Barrier Reef is protected from fishing.
6. Scientists think that the reef is 500,000 years old and the ancient reef may be up to 2 million years old.
1. A polyp is a tiny animal that lives in the sand that later grows and looks like an upside down jelly fish. In order for a polyp to become a coral there must be many of them and there must be a colony.
2. Corals are very sensitive to change in temperature.
3. Coral beaching occurs when it looses its color and doesn't get food. This can happen from warm temperatures.
4. Scientist think that coral bleaching is occurring more now than ever because of climate change.
5. Some ways to reduce coral bleaching are to save energy by turning of electricity when not in use, use your car as less as possible, and recycle.

1.There are 1500 species of fish, 350 species of hard coral, 1/3 of the worlds soft coral, 22 species of sea birds, and 32 species of shore birds.
2. The cause of warming our oceans are climate change which bleaches our coral.
3. Increased flooding pollutes the reefs which kills fish and then there' less food for many birds.
4. ways to stop this are to save energy, open a window instead of using A.C., donate instead of throwing away, and recycle.

video 3 and 4 is unavailable.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UgVN6OjFOA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCQ2IwFuwxE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQp19u_MH-Q