This video was filmed in the Sea World, San Diego, California (USA) during December, 2014.
Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the video channel)
The video shows a biological sample of the Great Barrier Reef which is the home of a very large number of fish, molluscs, turtles and a much more species. Although estimated number of species inhabiting the Great Coral Reef may slightly vary, there are more than 1,500 fish species live within the reef representing around 10 percent of the world’s total fish species. This is in addition to more than 3000 species of molluscs, more than 100 species of sharks and rays as well as about 30 species of marine mammals (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and six species of sea turtles that come to the reef to breed. Moreover, there is around 215 species of birds including seabirds and shorebirds which visit the reef or nest or roost on the islands. The reef is also the home of worms, reptiles and other animals. In regard to corals, the Great Coral Reef is made up of about 3000 individual reefs that are composed of about 400 different types of coral.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches approximately 2300 km along the coast of Queensland in north-eastern Australia and is considered the largest living structure on Earth and is visible from outer space. The reef has over 900 islands as well as picturesque golden beaches. The Great Barrier Reef has an average depth of about 35 meters in its inshore waters increasing to more than 2000 meters on outer reefs.
Because of its natural beauty, the Great Barrier Reef is a popular tourist destination which attracts around two million visitors from all over the world each year, generating significant revenue in the Australian economy.
The Great Barrier Reef being and extremely ancient (is to be thought of 20 million years old) and with its impressive collection of reefs is a UNESCO World Heritage area and listed as one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of the World”.
The major threat facing the Great Barrier Reef is the climate change as represented in the warmer ocean temperatures that put stress on coral and lead to coral bleaching. In fact, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced two mass coral bleaching events in 1998 and 2002 whereas aerial surveys in 2002 showed that over 50% of reefs experienced some coral bleaching. Moreover, Sediment, nutrient and agriculture pesticide pollution from river catchment run-off is also affecting the health of the Great Barrier Reef. In recent years, the coral of the Great Barrier Reef has gradually been destroyed by the Crown of Thorns Seastar, a marine organism that eats coral polyps.
