Destruction and Recovery of Reef Systems, Reef and Man

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems, as also the ecosystems of tropical rain forests, are among the most mature ecosystems on our planet. Such mature ecosystems are very sensitive to external impacts, be they natural or manmade, which violate their homeostasis. During the last three decades, catastrophic events affected coral reef systems, resulting in their destruction in vast areas; hurricanes, the warming of water by the El Niño, cuuurent extra low tides, Acanthaster plagues, and various kinds of anthropogenic stress were among the causes. The regeneration of thus degraded reef ecosystems takes decades. The close interconnection and cumulative effect of the natural and anthropogenic stress factors in processes of destruction of the reef systems caused by them appears to be clearer and clearer. For example, in polluted reef areas corals are much more exposed to the attacks of boring sponges and so they can be destroyed easier by waves. A definite causal connection between human activity and the Acanthaster outbreaks is also assumed.