Caring for Coral Reefs
Zachary Felton
Coral reefs are amazing underwater worlds. They cover about 186,000 square miles of ocean floor. They mostly exist in the warmest parts of the world. This is because coral reefs develop in shallow, warm water, usually near land and mostly in the tropics. Coral reefs prefer temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is why they are found off the coasts of Africa, India, Australia, and Brazil. Coral reefs closest to us are found off the coast of Florida.
Coral reefs are made up of groups of sea animals called coral polyps. These animals attach to each other and work together to keep the water safe for the plants and animals that live there. Their hard skeletons remain when they are no longer alive. The stony structures they form provide protection and shelter for many different kinds of plants and fish.
Fish, clams, sponges, sharks, and sea turtles are only a few of the thousands of creatures that call coral reefs their home. Many of the plants and fish that live in coral reefs depend on one another to live and grow. People also depend on coral reefs. The reefs contain many plants and animals used in medicines, chemicals, or other products we need to lead healthy lives.
Coral reefs grow best in clear, shallow water. Here, the reefs can still get light from the sun to help them grow. Coral reefs grow about half an inch a year. They can grow much larger under perfect conditions. The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia is the largest in the world. It is about 1,600 miles long and is made up of almost 3,000 individual reefs. It is so large that it can be seen from outer space. It is the world's biggest single structure made by living creatures.
You might think coral reefs are very strong. They’re actually quite delicate. They can be harmed in many different ways. One way is when careless boaters drive in shallow waters. Many divers hurt reefs by touching them. Also hotel building near the reefs is very harmful, so is the waste that some people dump into the ocean.
It’s very important for people to protect coral reefs. The reefs we have today started to grow thousands of years ago. It would take a long time for them to grow back if they were destroyed. Scientists who study the reefs try to learn more and more about how they work. The information they learn will help us keep the reefs safe for years to come.
Question
Celebrating Coral Reefs' Beauty
by Harrison Haddock
Coral reefs are one of nature's most amazing creations. Coral reefs take thousands of years to build and contain an amount of ecodiversity seen only in other extreme climates like the Amazon rainforest. All coral reefs deserve protection and study.
It is because coral reefs are so precious that the Goliath Hotel Corporation has proposed to build the Moon Palace Paradise Hotel near a set of coral reefs off the coast of Jackson Island. While some critics feel that hotels being built near to coral reefs is detrimental to their development, nothing could be further from the truth.
It is in our hotel's best interest to take care of the coral reefs because the reefs themselves are the primary reason the hotel exists. The hotel is designed to introduce tourists to the wonders of coral reefs. By taking tourists out to see the wonders of the coral reefs with guided scuba guides, we will create more awareness of the fragility of this wondrous habitats. Our hotels will even be providing funds for scientists to study the reefs and build a lab as part of our hotel! Tourists will also be invited to donate funds to help preserve coral reefs. Having a hotel is a big win for the future of coral reefs!
How do Haddock's and Felton's articles differ in their opinion of what is best for coral reefs?
Responses
A Haddock's article disagrees with Felton's belief that coral reefs are wondrous places worthy of protection and future study.Haddock's article disagrees with Felton's belief that coral reefs are wondrous places worthy of protection and future study.
B Haddock's article attempts to refute Felton's assertion that building a hotel near a coral reef is necessarily a bad decision.Haddock's article attempts to refute Felton's assertion that building a hotel near a coral reef is necessarily a bad decision.
C Felton and Haddock are in agreement about coral reefs' value; they disagree on the best methods for how human beings study coral reefs.Felton and Haddock are in agreement about coral reefs' value; they disagree on the best methods for how human beings study coral reefs.
D Felton uses most of his article to argue why coral reefs need protection, while Haddock explains why the importance and beauty of coral reefs is overstated.Felton uses most of his article to argue why coral reefs need protection, while Haddock explains why the importance and beauty of coral reefs is overstated.
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