Human activity impacts on coral reefs: major drainage basin schemes, onshore development, desalination, pollution, tourism, fishing
Human activities damage coral reefs in several distinct ways. Pollution, coastal building, tourism, and fishing all degrade the reef ecosystem.
Real World
Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef have been linked to agricultural fertiliser runoff from Queensland sugar cane farms, which boosts algae and larval survival — illustrating how land-use 200 km inland can devastate offshore reefs.
Exam Focus
For each human activity named, state the precise impact mechanism and name a real reef location to demonstrate case-study knowledge under exam conditions.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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