Mairead Cain
Mr. Ippolito
A.P. Biology
13 February 2018
University of California, Santa Cruz. "Innovative restoration of coral reefs helps protect Caribbean
islands." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 February 2018.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180212130830.htm>.
islands." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 February 2018.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180212130830.htm>.
For my current event report, I decided to read and analyze the article “Innovative restoration of coral
reefs helps protect Caribbean islands,” from the online news source Science Daily. The article discusses
the protective nature of coral reefs in the Caribbean along with the reef restoration plan currently in
motion. Scientists at the Nature Conservancy and UC Santa Cruz are leading the efforts in research.
Aside from their magnificent beauty, coral reefs prevent harsh waves from hitting shorelines at full
force. Their presence prevent severe shoreline corrosion and subsequent flooding. This shoreline
corrosion is causing problems for homes and other structures on the shorelines of various Caribbean
islands. “In an attempt to adapt, villagers have built makeshift barriers with tires and driftwood to slow
the erosion threatening their homes, but these efforts have been largely unsuccessful.” The researchers
are looking into projects that create artificial reef which will allow for the recreation of natural reefs and
prevent shoreline corrosion. “The reef restoration structure is made from inexpensive and
locally-sourced materials and labor, easy to assemble on-site, suitable for high wave energy or
hurricane exposure, and specially designed to encourage habitat restoration and enhancement.” The
study not only has a solution to the current issue of corrosion, but also plans for the future development
of natural coral reefs in the area. Michael Beck, a lead marine scientist, described the project. "Reef
degradation destroys the natural breakwaters for tropical coastlines in the United States and across
more than 60 other nations. Our study identifies how severe this problem can be, and we used that
information to design an innovative reef restoration solution to help people and nature."
reefs helps protect Caribbean islands,” from the online news source Science Daily. The article discusses
the protective nature of coral reefs in the Caribbean along with the reef restoration plan currently in
motion. Scientists at the Nature Conservancy and UC Santa Cruz are leading the efforts in research.
Aside from their magnificent beauty, coral reefs prevent harsh waves from hitting shorelines at full
force. Their presence prevent severe shoreline corrosion and subsequent flooding. This shoreline
corrosion is causing problems for homes and other structures on the shorelines of various Caribbean
islands. “In an attempt to adapt, villagers have built makeshift barriers with tires and driftwood to slow
the erosion threatening their homes, but these efforts have been largely unsuccessful.” The researchers
are looking into projects that create artificial reef which will allow for the recreation of natural reefs and
prevent shoreline corrosion. “The reef restoration structure is made from inexpensive and
locally-sourced materials and labor, easy to assemble on-site, suitable for high wave energy or
hurricane exposure, and specially designed to encourage habitat restoration and enhancement.” The
study not only has a solution to the current issue of corrosion, but also plans for the future development
of natural coral reefs in the area. Michael Beck, a lead marine scientist, described the project. "Reef
degradation destroys the natural breakwaters for tropical coastlines in the United States and across
more than 60 other nations. Our study identifies how severe this problem can be, and we used that
information to design an innovative reef restoration solution to help people and nature."
Considering the fact that this article describes a possible solution to the dwindling amounts of coral
reefs in the Caribbean, it is evident that the project will have a profound effect on the future of coral
stability. In the article itself, the researchers responsible for the important project would often discuss
the benefits that will spawn from their proposed idea. “Live coral fragments from the existing reef
were placed onto the structure to encourage natural reef growth.” Future developments concerning this
project could lead to further scientific advancements in the prevention of coral reef depletion. If
scientists are able to perfectly integrate natural coral reefs into their artificial counterparts, this
method could be used successfully all across the world.
Overall, I believe the article “Innovative restoration of coral reefs helps protect Caribbean islands,”
was very well written and equally informative. The authors easily simplify the advanced science to
allow all readers to be able to interpret the information given. Many of the terms used are also defined
and described. The authors go into amazing description when discusses how exactly this project will
help coral reefs. In an effort to improve the article, the authors should have discussed the exact plan
earlier on in the article. There were moments when I was confused on what, exactly, they were
discussing. It would have also been beneficial to ask the researchers responsible for the crucial
discovery about how they plan on educating the world on their new method.
reefs in the Caribbean, it is evident that the project will have a profound effect on the future of coral
stability. In the article itself, the researchers responsible for the important project would often discuss
the benefits that will spawn from their proposed idea. “Live coral fragments from the existing reef
were placed onto the structure to encourage natural reef growth.” Future developments concerning this
project could lead to further scientific advancements in the prevention of coral reef depletion. If
scientists are able to perfectly integrate natural coral reefs into their artificial counterparts, this
method could be used successfully all across the world.
Overall, I believe the article “Innovative restoration of coral reefs helps protect Caribbean islands,”
was very well written and equally informative. The authors easily simplify the advanced science to
allow all readers to be able to interpret the information given. Many of the terms used are also defined
and described. The authors go into amazing description when discusses how exactly this project will
help coral reefs. In an effort to improve the article, the authors should have discussed the exact plan
earlier on in the article. There were moments when I was confused on what, exactly, they were
discussing. It would have also been beneficial to ask the researchers responsible for the crucial
discovery about how they plan on educating the world on their new method.
Olivia Doyle
ReplyDeleteMr. Ippolito
AP Biology
28 February 2018
University of California, Santa Cruz. "Innovative restoration of coral reefs helps protect Caribbean
islands." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 February 2018.
.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180212130830.htm
This week, I read Mairead’s review of the article “Innovative restoration of coral
reefs helps protect Caribbean islands,” which discussed the potential creation of artificial reefs which will allow for the recreation of natural reefs, thereby protecting sea life as well as humans on land. Mairead did a good job of explaining the importance that coral reefs serve in communities, as well as outlining the research that the team has done in order to construct the artificial reef. Mairead also incorporated quotes from scientists, which gives her review credibility. For example, she included marine biologist Michael Beck’s description of the study. Lastly, Mairead did a good job of describing the impact that this discovery could have - including spurring natural reef growth.
Although Mairead’s review was very well-written, there were some areas which she could have improved on. For one, I think Mairead should have described the possible downsides and hazards of this project. It would have been interesting for her to include this so that the reader could take his or her own opinion on the project. Secondly, in her analysis of the article, I think Mairead should have expanded on what the author should have done better so that the reader could gain further insight into Mairead’s opinion of the article.
Overall, I found Mairead’s review and the article itself very interesting and informative. I never thought that an artificial reef could actually benefit growth of natural reefs. I am interested to see if the project is carried out in the future, and what its effects will be.
Isabella Dibbini
ReplyDeleteAP Biology
Current Event Comment
March 5, 2017
University of California, Santa Cruz. "Innovative restoration of coral reefs helps protect Caribbean
islands." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 February 2018.
.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180212130830.htm
Mairead wrote an insightful review of the article “Innovative restoration of coral
reefs helps protect Caribbean islands,” from the online news source Science Daily. She created an excellent summary of the article, including all the key points. In addition, she supported many of her arguments with evidence from the article. For example, she quotes “The reef restoration structure is made from inexpensive and locally-sourced materials and labor, easy to assemble on-site, suitable for high wave energy or hurricane exposure, and specially designed to encourage habitat restoration and enhancement.” Lastly, I was impressed by the connections Mairead made between the article and its effect on society. She made an interesting point when she stated “...it is evident that the project will have a profound effect on the future of coral stability.
Mairead wrote a great review on this article, however there were a few areas in which she could improve upon. I think Mairead could add more detail to her review to make her argument more compelling. Also, if she wanted to take it to the next level, she could include outside research, which would also make her review more interesting.
After reading her review of the article “Innovative restoration of coral reefs helps protect Caribbean islands,” from the online news source Science Daily, I learned how this topic was relevant to our society today. Overall, this review was very interesting and shows a great understanding of her article.