Conservation and Me!

11/29/2018

My whole project is fulfilling the "conservation track" Masternaut project requirements. So, what is conservation? I view conservation as a necessary means for keeping nature healthy, thriving, and beautiful. Nature has its own ways of building itself up to be strong, however, if we continue on the paved path we have created, then eventually, concrete is the only thing we will see. Nature gives many gifts to us: oxygen, habitat, water, and food. More specifically, the water which covers over seventy percent our planet affects us positively in an abundance of ways. Seventy percent of the oxygen we breathe comes from ocean plants' photosynthesis processes. We use the ocean as means of transport, shipping loads of resources from country to country. The ocean provides a large percentage of food to humans, with 3 billion people relying on seafood as their main source of protein, and supplies people all around the world with jobs and livelihoods. Our coastal regions in America are a spectacular source of economic fuel due to tourism in these areas. This attraction comes from the upholding of healthy oceans, animals, and reefs, especially in Florida. Each fish documented on my website was found on or around the coral reefs off Looe Key in Florida. Twenty-five percent of fish in the ocean are dependent on the reef in many ways, similar to how we are dependent on the whole ocean. Fish use reefs as a habitat, living and laying eggs in the crevasses. Some eat coral and some eat other fish but, whatever the diet, most fish species will find it on the menu of the reef. Corals are also living things, small animals living in a symbiotic relationship with phytoplankton (algae) inside of a calcareous skeleton which they make themselves. All the species that live on the reefs are dependent on the reefs, just how we are dependent on the ocean, and in turn, dependent on coral reefs. A few threats present to our coral reefs include overfishing, ocean acidification, and direct physical damage caused by humans. As an individual, you can make a difference. By fishing within laws and regulations you can avoid overfishing damaged populations. Most sunscreens have reef damaging chemicals, instead you can look for reef safe alternatives which exclude these chemicals. Another way to help is to limit single use plastics, opt for reusable water bottles, straws, and containers, and recycle as much as you can. By being mindful of where you boat and anchor you can reduce direct impact on the reefs and other marine habitats such as seagrass. All these things are actions anyone can make to protect our oceans. To me, conservation means protecting this teeming habitat, if not for the sake of nature, then for the sake of humanity.

Thank you for reading,

Vivian


Some references:

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oceanwater.html

https://coral.org/coral-reefs-101/coral-reef-ecology/coral-reef-biodiversity/

https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/sustainable-seafood

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