Threats to coastal ecosystems

Four main threats to coastal ecosystems

• Industrial

• Agricultural

• Tourism

• Deforestation

What does the industrial factor affect

• Coral reefs

• Mangroves

• Sand dunes

• Salt marshes

What does the agricultural factor affect

• Coral reefs

• Mangroves

What does the tourism factor affect

• Coral reefs

• Mangroves

What does the deforestation factor affect

• Coral reefs

• Mangroves

• sand dunes

Industrial threats to coral reefs

• Coral reefs are easily stressed by human action, if the stress persists, then the death of the reef soon follows

• Pollution, overfishing and quarrying of coral for building stone

• Industrialisation is responsible for rising sea temperatures and sea-level rise, putting coral reefs under threat

• Rising sea temperatures increase levels of coral bleaching

Industrial threats to mangroves

• Pollution, overfishing and deforestation for aquaculture

• Clearance for land development particularly in developing countries

Industrial threats to sand dunes

• Least threatened at a global level due to value being mainly tourism and leisure

• Local level the biggest threat is sand mining

Industrial threats to salt marshes

• Industrial pollution

• Ideal sites for nuclear power stations 

• Clearance for development - commercial and private

• Development can lead to increased noise and light pollution which may affect wildlife behaviour and nesting 

Agricultural threats to coral reefs

• Overfishing reduces the number of grazing fish that keep coral clear of algae

• Fishing using explosives damage coral reefs

• Commercial farming 

• Fertiliser runoff

• Pesticide overspray 

Agricultural threats to mangroves

• Aquaculture - intense fish and shrimp farms

• Pesticide use

• Antibiotics used in aquaculture practices

• Clearance for farm development particularly in developing countries

Tourism threats to coral reefs

• Tourism is the biggest threat globally and locally to coral reefs

• 58% of all coral reefs are at threat from human activity

• Any contact with the human body is likely to kill coral immediately around the point of contact

• Propellers and anchors directly damaging corals from boat tours

• Pollution through diesel spills

Tourism threats to mangroves

• Clearance of mangroves to build hotels and other tourist attractions

• Diversion of fresh water to hotels etc

• Disturbance of habitats

• Collection of souvenirs by tourist

• Tours in waterways and pollution through spills of boat fuel

Deforestation threats to coral reefs

• Clearance of coastal forests and mangroves disturbs natural flows of water and nutrients leading to stress and coral bleaching

• Removal of coral reef for stone building or tourist sales 

• Any destruction of coral reef leaves the coastline open to coastal flooding and storm surges

Deforestation threats to mangroves

• Removal of the trees leads to the collapse of the ecosystem

• Leaves the coast open to storms, flooding and coastal retreat

• Mangrove wood is used for timber and fuel

• Cleared to reduce malaria - unsupported evidence that this works

Deforestation threats to sand dunes

• Removal of trees destroys the mature dunes and allows for dune migration

• Leaves coast open to storms and flooding