TheWorldUnderneath

Introduction

2008-09-07T17:18:00.000+08:00

There are countless number of people in Singapore who want to conserve natural areas in Singapore. An expert, Ria conducts trips to places where normal Singaporeans have never seen before like Pulau Hantu.

The first step to conservation is understanding the importance of such natural places in Singapore, like what we are doing. They are a rarity in Singapore nowadays. The second step would be to visit these places and then raise awareness about such places. These places deserve to be conserved! God has given us such beauty on our small island and yet development seems to be taking away these very places that some do not even know about! This is not fair!

So do your part and understand these places. Nature is at our "doorstep". Without your support, they will be eradicated forever.

The following entries are some of the research which we have carried out. They are from interesting websites taken from all over the Internet for your convenience. We have also written down some of our opinions in the blog entries. Enjoy!

1) Content On Our Marine Blog

2008-09-06T22:06:00.000+08:00

The World's oceans are home to countless species, from tiny plankton to the great whales. Exactly how large the proportion is still unknown. Many species are economically important to humans.

Marine life is a vast resource, providing food, medicine, and raw materials. The marine life also help to support recreation and tourism all over the world. Marine organisms contribute significantly to the oxygen cycle, and are involved in the regulation of the earth's climate.

Yet marine life, and the sea on which we depend, is under threat from pollution, over-fishing and other damaging activities. Therefore, this website is a reference to all individuals to know everything about marine life.

The content for this site are.

1)Introduction to Marine life

2)Examples of endangered marine species

3) What are the causes for the marine life to be endangered

4) What is Marine Conservation

5) Main Focus: Coral Reefs [Introduction]

6) Facts on Coral Reefs

7) Everything you have to know about Coral Reefs.

8)Factors affecting the growth of corals.

9) How important are Coral Reefs to us?

10) How are Coral Reefs threatened?

11) Marine Conservation Efforts in Other countries

12) Marine Conservation Efforts in Singapore

13)How can we, as an individual do our part to help to conserve the marine life.

14) IYOR 2008

15)Videos

16)Conclusion

17) Quiz

2) Examples of endangered marine species

2008-09-05T21:32:00.000+08:00

Examples of endangered marine species

I'm sure everyone has visited an aquarium where you saw a lot of different animals. Whether it was at a school trip or just for fun, that doesn't matter. What matters is that these animals are endangered, and you might have been glimpsing them for the last time.

First Endangered Marine Species : Pink Dolphin

Pacific humpback dolphins are struggling to survive due to pollution, overfishing, excessive boat traffic and habitat loss. These dolphins are thought to be an unique sub-species of the chinese white dolphin. They are known for their bright pink colour.

These dolphins are also found in small populations off the coast of China, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Dolphins are Cetaceans(mammals) meaning they have hair (though you might have a hard time finding it), bear live young and suckle them, are warm-blooded, and breathe air with lungs. They are highly endangered.

Second Endangered Marine Species: Sea Turtles

Marine turtles are long-lived, slow growing reptiles with low population. They are found throughout the tropical waters of the world, and many populations are in decline following intensive direct harvests of adults and eggs, incidental captures in varied coastal and pelagic fisheries, habitat loss or alteration, and oceanic pollution.

In Southeast Asia their numbers have declined due to increased pressures from human population expansion, and unregulated and overexploited harvests of eggs and adults.

Third Endangered Marine Species: Dugongs

Dugongs are large grey mammals which spend their entire lives in the sea. They are three metres long and they weigh 400 kilograms. They have nostrils near the top of their snouts. Dugongs swim by moving their broad spade-like tail in an up and down motion, and by use of their two flippers.

Dugongs' only hairs are the bristles near the mouth. Dugong are subject to a range of human threats, including entanglement in shark, mesh and gill nets, loss and degradation of important habitat such as seagrass meadows, and collisions with boats (also known as boat strikes).

Forth Endangered Marine Species: Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are massive structures made of limestone deposited by living things. Although thousands of species inhabit coral reefs, only a fraction produce the limestone that builds the reef.
The most important reef-building organisms are the corals. Although corals are often mistaken for a rock or a plant, it is actually composed of tiny, fragile animals called coral polyps.

The coral reefs existing today began growing as early as 50 million years ago. The coral reefs are threatened by several things which are water pollution, sedimentation, coastal development, Destructive Fishing Practice, coral mining, careless tourism, Ocean Warming and Coral Bleaching and ozone Depletion.

Fifth Endangered Marine Species: The Blue Whale

The Blue Whale is believed to be the largest animal ever to have existed. The Blue Whale's body can be various shades of bluish - grey dorsally and somewhat lighter underneath. Blue Whales were abundant in nearly all oceans until the beginning of the twentieth century. For over 40 years they were hunted almost to extinction by whalers until protected by the international community in 1966.

3)What are the causes for the marine life to be endangered

2008-09-04T21:26:00.000+08:00

What are causing the marine species to be endangered?

Firstly, Global Warming/Climate Change.

Global warming is the increase of the average temperature in the atmosphere and oceans over time due primarily to human influences. The greenhouse effect is largely caused by human-generated carbon dioxide (CO₂) and, to some extent, by increasing solar activity. Evidence of global warming includes decreased snowfall, rising sea levels and changes to weather trends.

Scientists have recently discovered that the basic chemistry of the ocean is being altered by excess carbon dioxide absorption, which threatens marine organisms by increasing acidification[reaction betweenCO₂ and H₂O, which forms carbonic acid (H₂CO₃)] . Carbonic acid increases the acidity of ocean waters by lowering the pH which inhibits the reaction organisms.

Increasing acidity will affect numerous reproductive or physiological processes in other marine species with unknown consequences.Therefore, this will be disastrous for nearly all ocean ecosystems. All these changes are connected to us. Anything that happens to the ocean will affect our lives as a quater of the world's population will be driven inward. Examples of tragedies that may happen in 20 years or less will be food and water will become in very short supply and people will become homeless and will live in poverty.

Secondly, Overfishing.

Fish currently supply the greatest percentage of the world's protein consumed by humans. This fact may soon change. More than 70% of the world's fisheries are over exploited, which threatens the health, economy, and livelihoods of communities all over the world.

Overfishing not only causes depletion in individual fish stocks, but also disruption to entire ecosystems in the ocean. Deep-sea trawling is particularly harmful to ecosystems because it strips the entire environment of all living things including deep ocean corals.

Thirdly,Ocean Dumping Grounds.

Although the ocean covers two-thirds of the surface of the Earth, it is surprisingly vulnerable to human influences such as dumping of waste from human activity. The most toxic waste material dumped into the ocean includes dredged material, industrial waste, sewage sludge, and radioactive waste. When these materials find their way into the ocean, marine organisms suffer toxic effects and sea food is often contaminated.

A biological process where dissolved nutrients cause oxygen-depleting bacteria and plants to proliferate creating a hypoxic, or oxygen poor, environment that kills marine life. Ocean dumping can destroy entire habitats and ecosystems when excess sediment builds up and toxins are released.

4) What is Marine Conservation

2008-09-03T20:37:00.000+08:00

What is marine conservation?

It is also known as marine resources conservation. It is the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas and also conserving physical and biological marine resources. Marine conservation can be seen as a subdiscipline of conservation biology. Not only that,it also focuses on preserving vulnerable marine species.

A vast diversity of life – an estimated 80 percent of all life on Earth - depends on healthy oceans and coasts.

Oceans and coasts are also vitally important to human communities around the globe. We depend on oceans and coasts for food, medicines and protection from storms, among other resources. In addition to providing the fish and seafood that millions of people depend on for food, oceans are the source of anti-viral medicines like those derived from marine sponges, and products used to fight cancer or in bone grafts.

Barrier beaches, coral reefs, mangroves and wetlands offer
protection from storms and other natural disasters to over half of the world’s population. Sea grasses filter pollutants from water and mangroves, reefs and kelp forests serve as nurseries for fish.

Once considered a limitless and inexhaustible resource, oceans are now in jeopardy. The demands of a growing population are damaging marine ecosystems and depleting ocean and coastal resources.

5) Main Focus: Coral Reefs [Introduction]

2008-09-02T22:17:00.000+08:00

Introduction On Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are massive structures made of limestone deposited by living things or are argonite structures produced by living organisms, found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water.

Coral reefs support approximately 25 percent of all known marine species. Coral reefs are home to more than 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of other plants and animals.

Although coral is often mistaken for a rock or a plant, it is actually composed of tiny, fragile animals. Although there are hundreds of different species of corals, they are generally classified as either hard coral or soft coral. Hard corals grow in colonies and are the architects of coral reefs. Soft corals, such as sea fingers and sea whips, are soft and bendable and often resemble plants or trees.

6) Facts on Coral Reefs

2008-09-01T22:31:00.000+08:00

Facts on Coral Reefs

Fact # 1 : Coral reefs are among the oldest ecosystems on Earth.
Fact # 2 :Coral reefs are the largest living structures on Earth. They are over 100 million years old.
Fact # 3 : Although coral reefs cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface, they are home to 25% of all marine fish species.
Fact # 4 : 500 million people rely on coral reefs for their food and livelihoods.
Fact # 5 : An estimated 25% of coral reefs have already disappeared and an estimated two-thirds of all coral reefs are at risk today.
Fact # 6 : For many coastal areas, coral reefs also provide an important barrier against the worst ravages of storms, hurricanes, and typhoons.
Fact # 7 : Coral reefs have been used in the treatment of cancer, HIV, cardiovascular diseases and ulcers.
Fact # 8 : 58% of the world's coral reefs are potentially threatened by human activity.
Fact # 9 : If the present rate of destruction continues, 70% of the world's coral reefs will be destroyed by the year 2050.
Fact # 10: Southeast Asia's coral reef fisheries alone are estimated to yield US$ 2.4 billion annually.

7) Everything you have to know about Coral Reefs.

2008-08-31T22:49:00.000+08:00

Everything you have to know about Coral Reefs.

Coral reefs are found in more than 100 countries around the world.

Coral reefs grow best in warm water. It is possible for soft corals to grow in places with warmer or colder water, but are very slow. Corals prefer clear and shallow water where lots of sunlight filters through to their symbiotic algae.

The coral reefs existing today began growing as early as 50 million years ago. Corals grow at different rates depending on water temperature, salinity, turbulence, and the availability of food. Some corals form hard and pointed shapes, while others form soft and rounded shapes.

Corals eat is by catching tiny floating animals known as zooplankton. Most coral polyps have clear bodies and their skeletons are white, like human bones. Generally, their brilliant color comes from the zooxanthellae living inside their tissues.

8)Factors affecting the growth of corals.

2008-08-30T23:11:00.000+08:00

Factors affecting the growth of corals.

1) Sunlight: Corals need to grow in shallow water where sunlight can reach them. Corals depend on the zooxanthellae (algae) that grow inside of them for oxygen and other things, and since this algae needs sunlight to survive, corals also need sunlight to survive.

2) Clear Water: Corals need clear water that lets sunlight through to survive. They don't grow well when the water is opaque as sunlight cannot reach them. Sediment and plankton can cloud water, which decreases the amount of sunlight that reaches the zooxanthellae.

3) Warm Water Temperature: Reef-building corals require warm water conditions to survive. Different corals living in different regions can withstand various temperature fluctuations.

4) Clean Water: Corals are sensitive to pollution and sediments. Sediments can settle on coral, blocking out sunlight. Pollution from sewage and fertilizers increase nutrient levels in the water, harming corals. When there are too many nutrients in the water, the ecological balance of the coral community is affected.

5) Saltwater: Corals need saltwater to survive and require a certain balance in the ratio of salt to water. This is why corals don't live in areas where rivers drain fresh water into the ocean.

9) How important are Coral Reefs to us?

2008-08-29T23:32:00.000+08:00

How important are Coral Reefs to us and other species?

Coral reefs provide habitat for 250, 000 known species with thousands yet to be discovered.

1st importance: Science & Medicine[ expand scientific knowledge ]
* It provides new medical compounds and technology for bone grafting.

2nd importance: Environmental
*It protects coastlines and beaches from storm damage by acting as natural barriers.

3rd importance: Food and Species
* It sustains the fish/shellfish that is the primary protein for 1 billion poeple.

4th importance: Tourism & Recreation
*It attracts millions of tourists every year.

10) How are Coral Reefs threatened?

2008-08-28T23:46:00.000+08:00

How are Coral Reefs threatened?

1st cause: Water pollution.

Reefs are harmed when human, animal waste or fertilizers are being dumped into the ocean. These pollutants increases the level of nitrogen around coral reefs which causes the algae to be overgrown. Floating trash which are thrown by humans are considered a pollutant too. Therefore, the water will be polluted and will be harmful to the reefs as it blocks off the sunlight.

2nd cause: Coastal Development

Coastal populations have risen. It has cause an increase of the pressures on coastal resources. This has led to many problems for coral reefs. In many areas, developers have constructed structures directly on top of coral reefs. Long ago, these reefs were destroyed by human pressures. Now, reefs growing near other coastal communities are experiencing the same coral degradation.

3rd cause: Careless Tourism

Tourist throw their sewage directly into the water which surrounds the coral reefs. Hence, it contributes to a coral reef degradation. Careless boating, diving, snorkeling and fishing may also damage the coral reefs. Whenever people grab, kick, walk on, or stir up sediment in the reefs, they contribute to coral reef destruction. Corals are also harmed or killed when people drop anchors on them.

4th cause: Carbon Dioxide

In the past few decades, the amount of carbon dioxide in the air has increased by one-third. This is harmful to corals because increased amounts of carbon dioxide are dissolving into the water, which appears to be dissolving the skeletons of corals. Therefore, corals in waters with large amounts of carbon dioxide form weaker skeletons, making them more vulnerable to damage from waves, careless tourists, and destructive fishers.

11)Marine Conservation Efforts in Other countries

2008-08-27T00:12:00.000+08:00

Marine Conservation In other Countries.

As the population increases, the damaging of marine ecosystems increases. Therefore, people around the world come together to make an effort to help conserve the marine life.

One of this efforts would be the Marine Conservation Society(MCS) which is the UK charity. Through community involvement, MCS raises awareness to protect the marine environment. MCS involves thousands of volunteers in surveys and other projects and they also have a network of local supporters' groups to achieve common goals.

They have a Coral Reef Campaign which aims to promote sensitive tourism and sustainable trade for coral reef resources as well as protection for these precious habitats. It is even more important that the MCS Coral Reef Programme promotes awareness and individual responsibility amongst all.

Another one would be the Save The Whales Again Campaign. It is an international campaign for saving the endangered whales, dolphins and orcas.

Hayden Pannettiere, star of hit TV-drama HEROES is the campaign spokesperson. The campaign is to raise awareness that many whaling companies around the world are actually endangering the humpback whales. Whales and dolphins are beautiful creatures of the oceans that don't deserve to be killed for commercial values. Instead they deserve to live free in the oceans.This is what the campaign is all about.

These coral reefs, whales and also other marine creatures deserve the protection for their natural values. Around the world, many efforts have been given to promote a better lifestyle for the marine life. Why don't you do your part as an individual and help conserve the marine life too. :D

12) Marine Conservation In Singapore

2008-08-26T22:37:00.000+08:00

Marine Conservation In Singapore

Singapore is a unique city in many ways. One of our strengths is that we are able to balance development with conservation. Although we are a densely populated city , we have managed to co-exist with an unusually rich biodiversity. 9% of our land area is devoted to green space and nature reserves, which in turn is home to more than 2,300 species of plants, 300 species of birds and a large variety of animals.

However, Singapore is at risk of losing a significant and unique constituent of the natural marine heritage. Land reclamation is one of the major contributors to marine degradation. Due to urbanization, Singapore reclaims land to accommodate its growing population and urban development, causing these marine creatures to lose their precious homes.

Another major cause of marine degradation is pollution from both commercial and consumer sources. Each year, Singaporeans use an estimated 2.5 billion plastic bags, which results in about 19 million kilograms of waste.

Pulau Semakau is a good example of what we can do to conserve marine life in Singapore. Through careful management, Singapore have allowed a rich marine ecological system to thrive side-by-side with a landfill. Now, we can also boast of having a coral nursery close to the landfill. This is indeed an achievement that we can be proud of.

The coral nursery is located underwater at a site off Pulau Semakau. This is a two-year project that aims to grow as many hard coral fragments as possible. Coral reefs will be grown to sufficient size and transplanted to coral reefs off the southern coast of Singapore to enhance the ecological health of these coral reef habitats.

This first coral nursery makes use of 'corals of opportunity' that are coral fragments damaged by some impact. Unlike commercial nurseries that make use of fragments deliberately broken off from healthy colonies, no healthy colonies will be used here. Breaking fragments off from healthy colonies poses a risk to the donor colonies.

13)How can we, as an individual do our part to help to conserve the marine life

2008-08-25T00:53:00.000+08:00

How can we do our part to help conserve the marine life?

The problems faced by our oceans are complex. It is still important that we do even the littlest thing to help conserve the marine life. Here are some ways YOU can do to help conserve the marine life;

1.Conserve Water: The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater will pollute our oceans.

2.Help Reduce Pollution: You've learnt in earlier posts that pollution is a threat to the marine life,so you can walk, bike or ride the bus. Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs.

3.Dispose of your Trash Properly: Don't leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish.

4.Practice safe and responsible diving and snorkeling: When diving or snorkeling. Do not touch the reef or anchor your boat on the reef. Contact with the coral will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on the reef can kill it, so look for sandy bottom.

5.Keep your beach visit clean: When visiting the beach, stay off fragile sand dunes, take your trash with you and leave plants, birds and wildlife for everyone to enjoy.

And of course,

6.Spread the word: Remember your own excitement at learning how important the planet's coral reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem. Share this excitement and encourage others to get involved. With more people involved,it would make marine conservation fun and easy.

Do your part in helping to conserve.We may never know if the first people to discover scuba-diving would be the last.

14) International Year of the Reef (IYOR)

2008-08-24T23:17:00.000+08:00

WHY DO WE NEED International Year of the Reef(IYOR) 2008?

Coral reefs and their associated seagrass beds and mangrove habitats support the highest marine biodiversity in the world. More than 500 million people worldwide depend on them for food, storm protection, jobs, and recreation. Their resources and services are worth an estimated 375 billion dollars each year, yet they cover less than 1% of the Earth’s surface.

The International Year of the Reef 2008 is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability, and to motivate people to take action to protect them. All individuals, corporations, schools, governments, and organizations are welcome and actively encouraged to participate in IYOR 2008.

15) Videos

2008-08-23T22:56:00.000+08:00

A few videos taken by YOUTUBE that may be linked to marine conservation. Enjoy. :D

16)Conclusion

2008-08-22T00:24:00.000+08:00

Conclusion

Healthy Coral Reefs = A Healthy World

To summarise everything, coral reefs are one of the most spectacular and fragile of underwater environments, covering less than one percent of the ocean floor but supporting an estimated 25 percent of all marine life. Even though they are located in the tropics, coral reefs benefit people and the natural world far beyond their boundaries.

Coral reefs are in trouble around the globe: 11 percent of the world’s coral reefs have been lost and another 16 percent were severely damaged. Scientists predict that another 32 percent may be lost in the next thirty years if human threats are not reduced.

Coral Reefs brings much advantage to both humans and animals. Why are we destroying them? Its time for us to think twice and play a part as an individual to help conserve the marine ecosystem.

17) Quiz

2008-08-21T17:38:00.003+08:00

Up for a test after reading so much?

Do proceed to "Quiz" section to test yourself.
Its a mixture of questions on MCQ's or structured questions.

After you are done, please do proceed to http://answersforthequiz.blogspot.com for the answers.

All the best! (: