The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest barrier reef and is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Barrier reefs are beautiful underwater arrays of colorful coral polyps found in shallow waters off the coast of several continents.Ā
Coral reefs are enchanting ecosystems full of marine species that work together.Ā Ā A species that makes a coral reef it’s home that you may recognize from the popular movie, Finding Nemo, is the Clownfish.Ā Often seen with anemones, Clownfish, haveĀ a special coating on their scales that enable them to withstand the sea anemones sting. IfĀ other fish species encountered would paralyze.Ā
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that 25% of the worlds fish make their home. Reefs are ecosystems that are found in warm shallow waters off the coast.Ā
Coral reefs cover .5% percent of the Earth but are home to 25% of the fish in the world.Ā
Ā The reef is home to fish found nowhere else on earth.Ā
In the 3rd grade, our class spent several weeks studying the continents.Ā each of my classmates picked one item to pack in a suitcase for an imaginary trip to Australia.Ā Our class spent several weeks studying Australia.Ā We learned the meaning of Australian phrases such as barbie (barbecue), beauty! (great!), brekky (breakfast), bush (in the bush away from it all) and footy (football). We also got mighty good at saying fun phrases like ‘G’day mate’! We studied the unique Australian animals including the kangaroo, koala and saltwater crocodile. Our studies of the Great Barrier Reef inspired that 3rd grade student to travel around the globe to visit it as an adult.Ā The best high school graduation present one could give oneself, the gift of travel.Ā
The reef is an enchanting topic to teach about! Keeping the reef beautiful is an amazing opportunity for our generation. Coral is fragile and teach children to observe it from a distance.Ā
As a student in college, I also took a marine biology course that involved traveling to Belize and visiting the reef. The second largest barrier reef, the Belize Barrier Reef is an a hidden gem.Ā
In the deep depths of the ocean, coral often has a beautiful glowing florcenent color that attracts animals to the reef.
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Coral bleaching is a term used to describe coral that is no longer living. Warmer ocean water temperatures causes the coral to turn white, a phenomenon known as coral bleaching. The algea that lives in the coral, creating it’s color, leaves the coral causing it to turn white.Ā
