Science of the Great Barrier Reef

While the Great Barrier Reef is extraordinarily beautiful and one of Australia’s most magnificent natural landmarks, it is also extremely delicate. Over the decades, particularly with regard to global warming, the Great Barrier Reef has been under constant pressure.

Environmental groups and climate scientists are worked tirelessly to try and save the reef, with millions of dollars being spent on programmes to protect it. However, it seems as if it is a losing battle, as rising sea temperatures will ultimately make the reef unrecognizable in the coming decades.

Science is an integral part of learning about the Great Barrier Reef and finding new ways to protect it. Scientists deserve a lot of praise of the work they have already done to protect the reef and the biodiversity therein.

Scientific research into marine biology, particularly on how reefs form, is essential for understanding how to best protect the Great Barrier Reef. A complex understanding of human anatomy allows us to better fight disease, and this principle also applies to the Great Barrier Reef.

All of Australia is a vested stakeholder in the future of the Great Barrier Reef, and the entire country would suffer if it was to disappear. The Australian Government has funded marine science, specifically with regard to reef management, since 1972.

One of the most recent challenges to the Great Barrier Reef has come from the invasive crown-of-thorns starfish. This species has devastated the reef as it literally eats coral and grows in population exponentially.

A lot of the accumulated scientific knowledge about the Great Barrier Reef comes from the millions of dollars spent by the Australian Government on scientific research. While there are disagreements on what things are most responsible for the degradation of the reef, all Australians agree that protecting it should be a primary goal.