Latest revision as of 15:39, 26 July 2023

Welcome to the Coral Digest

Coral reefs are the proverbial "canary in a coal mine" of the oceans. In the face of climate change, there is no doubt that coral reefs are declining worldwide. Increased concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere have led to warming oceans, ocean acidification, coral disease, and global bleaching events that occur too frequently for coral to recover. Localized threats from overfishing, pollution (including marine plastics), invasive species, and even the sunscreen that we all wear all but ensure that coral reefs, and the amazing assortment of fish and creatures that depend on them, will continue to decline, despite our best efforts to preserve and manage the reefs.

This site is a collection of student research.

Recent Updates

New content: Biosphere 2
Updates to the Artificial Reefs page
Updates to the Coral Transplantation page
Updates and new content on the Reefs and Pharmaceuticals page
Updates to the Effects of the Moon on Reef Organisms page

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 = Welcome to the Coral Digest =
-This is a project of the [http://ie.unc.edu/enec259 ENEC 259 Coral Reef Ecology and Management at UNC - Chapel Hill (ENEC259)] class. It is meant to be a semi-comprehensive resource for learning about corals, coral reefs, the threats corals face, the role and importance reefs play in the world, and management of reefs and reef-related environments. In time, this Wiki will become the class "textbook", and we hope that other classes interested in learning about coral reefs might also find it useful and informative.
+Coral [[Reefs|reefs]] are the proverbial "canary in a coal mine" of the oceans. In the face of climate change, there is no doubt that coral reefs are declining worldwide. Increased concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere have led to [[SSTs|warming oceans]], [[Acidification|ocean acidification]], [[Disease|coral disease]], and global [[Bleaching|bleaching]] events that occur too frequently for [[Coral|coral]] to recover. Localized threats from [[Overfishing|overfishing]], [[Pollution|pollution]] (including [[Plastics|marine plastics]]), [[InvasiveSpecies|invasive species]], and even the [[Sunscreen|sunscreen]] that we all wear all but ensure that coral reefs, and the amazing assortment of [[Fish|fish]] and [[Creatures|creatures]] that depend on them, will continue to decline, despite our best [[Management|efforts to preserve and manage]] the reefs.
-Each year's ENEC259 class will build upon the material from previous years. Students will select topics of interest from a list of topics provided by previous years' students that require more research, or students can introduce new topics. After a semester of research, current students will synthesize their research and add that content to this wiki.
-=== Main Topics ===
-<!--<span class="floatright" style="height:216px; width:288;">https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1EeGtUlAIYQ/UMEM4RoXwwI/AAAAAAAAFJk/eK-qUA_SyJA/s288/117.jpg</span>-->
-*[[reefs|Reef Structure and Formation]]
-*[[reefInhabitants|Reef and Near-reef Inhabitants]]
-* [[reefecology| Reef Ecology]]
-*[[threats|Threats to Corals and Coral Reefs]]
-*[[management|Protecting and Managing Coral Reefs]]
-=== Tips for Using This Site ===
-*If you are looking for something specific, like information on coral bleaching, use the Search box at the top and type in "bleaching"
-*If you want to learn more about a given topic, then start with the Main Topics, and work your way down towards more specific topics
-=== About Our Images ===
-Unless otherwise indicated, photos shown on this site are pulled from our class photo album located at https://picasaweb.google.com/ENST259, and image credits are attributed in the photo album. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are from the US Virgin Islands (the vast majority from St. John) or the British Virgin Islands (the Caves of Normal Island or the Indians).
-=== Contact ===
-If you have any questions about this wiki or topics you'd like to see added, please email Brian Naess at naess@unc.edu.
-=== Topics for 2015 Students ===
+This site is a collection of student research.
-These are the existing pages on the Wiki that have no content or need additional content. You may choose one of these topics, or you may choose a topic of your own. If your topic is already covered by the Wiki, please make sure that you can contribute significantly to the existing article.
+== Recent Updates ==
-* Topics for Students interested in Biology/Ecology/Marine Science:
+* New content: [[Biosphere2|Biosphere 2]]
-** Descriptions/Discussion/Biology of any reef creature that might interest you from our [[Creatures]] page
+* Updates to the [[ArtificialReefs|Artificial Reefs]] page
-** Descriptions/Discussion/Biology of [[OtherBuilders|Other Reef Builders]] like [[Hydrozoans]] and [[CorallineAlgae|Coralline Algae]] - Hydrozoans needs to be filled in more
+* Updates to the [[CoralTransplantation|Coral Transplantation]] page
-* Perhaps the greatest threat to coral reefs is [[Overfishing]]. Although the entry has some content, a lot more can be said about the topic. The [[FisheriesManagement]] page also needs work. (Rob G., Rebecca C.)
+* Updates and new content on the [[Pharmaceuticals|Reefs and Pharmaceuticals]] page
-* Do warmer [[SSTs]] play a role in [[SSTFlooding|increased flooding]]?
+* Updates to the [[Moon|Effects of the Moon on Reef Organisms]] page
+[[File:Magnificent-feather-duster.JPG|thumb|left|600px|alt=Magnificent Feather Duster|Magnificent Feather Duster]]

Main Page: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:39, 26 July 2023

Welcome to the Coral Digest

Recent Updates