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Amazon Reef

Coordinates: 1°N 49°W / 1°N 49°W / 1; -49
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1°N 49°W / 1°N 49°W / 1; -49

Map of the Amazon Reef, relative to Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname, with main reef structures highlighted in orange

The Amazon Reef (also referred to as the Amazonian Reef) is an extensive coral and sponge reef system, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of French Guiana and northern Brazil. It is one of the largest known reef systems in the world, with scientists estimating its length at over 1,000 kilometres (600 miles), and its area as over 9,300 km2 (3,600 sq mi). Publication of its discovery was released in April 2016, following an oceanographic study of the region in 2012. Evidence of a large structure near the delta of the Amazon River dated from as early as the 1950s.

History

In the 1970s there was a biologist named Rodrigo Moura who had done a study on fishing on the continental shelf and he wanted to know where these reefs where located at[1] When Moura found the fish he caught around the Amazon Reef and in mouth of the Amazon River, he indicated that there must be biodiversity underneath[2] The fish Moura found was indicated to be a coral reef fish[3] Then a few decades later a group of students from the University of Georgia located his article and noticed that no GPS coordinates where on it, so they used the sound waves and sea floor samples to locate the reef[1] When the scientists found the reef, they had to dredge the bottom to detect if reef was located there or not.[2] The Amazon Reef finding had been about a three-year process before it was officially announced it was discovered[4] Now the Amazon River is home to about 20 percent of the worlds fresh water supply [1] The Amazon Reef is at the mouth of the largest river in the world and every single day about one fifth of the worlds water flows in to the ocean from the amazon river where the Amazon Reef is located.[4] Also, the Amazon Reef happens to be less biologically diverse compared to other reefs of its kind.[3]

Geography and ecology

Satellite image of the mouth of the Amazon River, whose discharge into the Atlantic represents a fifth of the outflow into the Earth's oceans.

Referred to as either the Amazon Reef[5] or the Amazonian Reef,[6] the reef system has been identified as a coral and sponge reef.[4] Scientists estimated the reef's size to be 9,300 km2 (3,600 sq mi) in area, and over 970 km (600 mi) in length,[5][4][6] making it one of the largest reef systems in the world, comparable to the size of the island of Cyprus. Another estimate also puts the general ecoregion encompassing the reef to be as large as 14,000 km2 (5,592 sq mi).[7] The reef's area extends as far as 120 km (75 mi) offshore,[8] and is estimated to lie in waters ranging from 30 to 120 metres (100 to 400 feet) deep.[9] The reef's existence is unusual, as reef systems do not often exist in the mouths of larger rivers like the Amazon, due to the low salinity and high acidity, in addition to the continuous rain of sediments.[10] Before the reef's discovery, it was originally believed that the Amazon, with its sediment-rich plume, represented a significant gap in reef distribution across the Western Atlantic,[11] correlating with the accepted view that corals thrived in clear waters along tropical shelves.[12] The reef primarily owes its existence to its depth, as it is below the freshwater layer of discharge from the Amazon into the Atlantic Ocean, a discharge that represents one fifth of the outflow into the Earth's oceans.[13][14]

The majority of the reef is made up of beds of rhodolith, various species of red algae, which superficially resemble coral.[7] While it has been described as "impoverished",[5] and "not having the biodiversity of some of the more prominent coral reefs of the world",[14] 61 species of sponge and 73 species of fish, in addition to various coral and star species, have so far been identified as inhabiting the reef,[15][16] including staghorn corals, and spiny lobsters.[15][17] Pockets of coral species, discovered as early as 1999, were found to be similar to those found in the Caribbean Sea, hinting at the possibility that Caribbean corals dispersed to the Amazon Reef.[8] Marine biologists have also entertained the idea that the reef serves as a stepping stone to facilitate dispersal of species from reefs in southern Brazil northwards to the Caribbean.[12] The biology of the reef is mostly dictated by the discharge of the Amazon into the Atlantic. Northern sections of the reef are often shrouded in the shadow of the sediment layer above for half a year on average, producing an environment similar to a "shadow zone".[7] These northern areas are populated with sponges and carnivorous species such as hydroids.[4][7] Southern sections of the reef, which are covered by the Amazon's plume only three months a year on average, are more populated with diverse coral-centric life, where photosynthesis can occur.[4] It is believed that single-celled organisms are central to the reef's ecosystem, providing the main source of nutrients to sponges, corals and other inhabitants.[7] Fabiano Thompson, along with other researchers on the reef, describe the system as a new class of biome.[7]

Discovery

The RV Atlantis, upon which the discovery team conducted research

Initial evidence for a coral and sponge reef system in the Amazon Delta region first surfaced in the late 1950s, when a U.S. survey ship collected sponges from the floor of the Amazon Delta.[18] Further evidence also appeared in 1977, when reef fish were first sighted in the area,[11][19] and in 1999, when Caribbean-native coral species were found in isolated regions near the Amazon Delta.[8] However, no major study into the existence of a reef system occurred until 2012, when an international research team of over 30 oceanographers,[13] led by Rodrigo Moura of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and including patrons from the University of Georgia,[11] conducted a survey of the area aboard the RV Atlantis. The survey was mostly based on findings from the 1970s, including a crude map of the area marked with potential locations of reefs along the Amazonian coast.[8] The team used technologies such as acoustic sampling to locate potential reef sites, and confirmed the discovery by dredging the floor of the reef, bringing up samples of corals, sponges and other reef species onto the ship deck.[9] Their discoveries and findings were detailed and presented in a research article, published in the scientific journal Science Advances, in April 2016.[20]

In the waters of the Amazon Reef holds the area for some of the murkiest and muddiest water around the world[4] The Amazonian plume was mostly kept away from the sun making the water the way it is. They stated that the Amazon Reefs biology depends on certain locations. In the southernmost area of the reef, it only contains the plume three months out of the whole year, while northern area is covered by sponges and carnivorous sea life that makes it covered from the sunlight so, it is shielded by the plume six or more months out of the year. They also state how this kind of reef is a split between the Brazilian reef and the Caribbean reef, this is from the sea life they discovered. The water also has conditions of being physicochemical. Many new species of sea life are being found[21] At the southernmost part of the reef where the most sun is located that is the area that the creatures use the light to make their food[1]

Environmental threats

Since its discovery, multiple environmental threats to the reef's ecosystem have been identified, including pollution and overfishing,[20] and rising ocean acidification and temperature as a result of recent acceleration in climate change, which also affects various reefs around the world.[15][16][22][23] A more immediate threat, however, are the numerous oil exploration projects operating nearby or on the reef itself.[24] In the past decade, the Brazilian government had sold 80 license blocks to oil energy companies in the region, with an environmental baseline based on "sparse museum specimens".[12] Twenty of these blocks are already producing oil.[5][9] Now that it has been located oil drilling and oil exploration is quickly becoming a large threat to the Amazon Reef.[25] There is approximately 9,500 square miles that is home to sponges and other sea life that would be at danger from the oil dill or even a major oil spill. Since most of the light that is trying to get to the reef is blocked due to the thick mud and sand [21] There are many endangered species of sea turtles living around the drilling area.[21] Also, reefs are not able to live through a major oil spill[3] The Amazon Reef is in the mouth of the Brazilian waters where oil companies like Total and BP look to drill. Previously, between 2006 and 2016, over 80 blocks have been sold to have oil drilled out of them in the Amazon River mouth[4] Even more so now that both of these companies are aware of this prime area they want to begin there drilling in and around the area[25] The Total Oil Company owns about a block of the reef which estimates out to just about eight kilometers of the reef itself and they are fighting to get more. Now, the BP and Total oil drilling companies currently have five Deepwater licenses so they can explore for potential drilling in the mouth of the Amazon River where the reef is located. The area in the mouth of the Amazon where the reef is located could hold up to about 14 billion barrels of oil [21] Both BP and Total are waiting to be granted their permits to start the drilling as of 2016[21] The drilling these companies do creates a large threat to the ecosystem of both the reef and the Amazon River.

Climate change effects

Coral Bleaching is another climate change effect that is on the horizon for the Amazon Reef. The areas with warm waters can cause the coral bleaching[26] Coral bleaching occurs when the water gets too warm in areas and causes the coral to get rid of the algae on the reef. Thus causing the coral to go white and die off. Also, coral bleaching to come in to affect when the waters get to cold for the reef to handle. The Great Barrier Reef in 2016 and 2017 experienced its second year of coal bleaching.[27] Approximately 90% of the Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Australia, has issues with coral bleaching states[27] The coral bleaching that is endangering the Amazon Reef has a large impact of the climate change[27]

Coral growth

File:Calcium Carbonate Stalactite (026).jpg
This image is of Calcium Carbonate taken by Tjflex2 on flicker, January 7, 2008.

Since the discovery in 2016 of the reef in the mouth of the Amazon River, there is an unusual sight about the reef that is growing beneath the murky waters, but it is healthier than most reefs[3] Most reefs around the world can only grow in the salt water but this reef happens to be surviving in murky, muddy water[3] The Amazon River located in the mouth of the river happens to be the largest fresh water supply area in the world. It is so unlikely that a colorful, living reef would be surviving deep under the water [3] Since the Amazon River lets out an abundance amount of fresh water it tends to keep the surface water fresh. Also in the deeper depths of the waters it is just salty enough for the coral organisms to live. In certain times of the year the corals grow more than other areas, in August until January the corals bloom with color, unlike in the other months its full the muddy waters and it makes the growth of the reef slow down[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ghose, Tia (April 24, 2016). "Massive Coral Reef Discovered in the Amazon River". Live Science. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Danigelis, Alyssa (April 26, 2016). "Enormous Coral Reef Discovered at Mouth of Amazon River". seeker. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Luntz, Stephen (April 24, 2016). "Astonishing Coral Reef Found At Amazon River's Mouth". IFLScience. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Meyer, Robinson (April 21, 2016). "Scientists Have Discovered a 600-Mile Coral Reef". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Vidal, John (April 23, 2016). "Huge coral reef discovered at Amazon river mouth". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Stone, Maddie (April 22, 2016). "There's a Gigantic Reef Surrounding the Amazon River and Nobody Noticed". Gizmodo. Gawker Media. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Viegas, Jennifer (April 23, 2016). "Unique coral reef ecosystem discovered in the Amazon river". Mashable (for Discovery News). Discovery Communications. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d Welch, Craig (April 22, 2016). "Surprising, Vibrant Reef Discovered in the Muddy Amazon". National Geographic. National Geographic Society. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c Prigg, Mark (April 23, 2016). "Massive 600 mile long reef found at the mouth of the Amazon". Daily Mail. Daily Mail and General Trust. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  10. ^ Imam, Jareen (April 23, 2016). "Massive coral reef discovered in the Amazon River". CNN. Time Warner. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Flurry, Alan (April 22, 2016). "Scientists discover new reef system at mouth of Amazon River". Phys.org. Omicron Technology Limited. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Khan, Amina (April 22, 2016). "Scientists discover coral reef near the mouth of the Amazon River". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  13. ^ a b MacDonald, Fiona (April 22, 2016). "Scientists just discovered a 1,000-km-long coral reef at the mouth of the Amazon". ScienceAlert. ScienceAlert Pty Ltd. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  14. ^ a b Mendelsohn, Tom (April 23, 2016). "Scientists astonished by huge coral reef found in the Amazon". International Business Times. IBT Media. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c Yeung, Peter (April 24, 2016). "Scientists just discovered a hidden coral reef in the Amazon river and it's huge". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  16. ^ a b Ciccarelli, Raffaella (April 24, 2016). "Huge coral reef growing at the mouth of the Amazon surprises scientists". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  17. ^ Kennedy, Merrit (April 23, 2016). "Reef Larger Than Delaware Found At The Mouth Of The Amazon River". National Public Radio (NPR). National Public Radio, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  18. ^ Nuwer, Rachel (April 22, 2016). "Shining Light on Brazil's Secret Coral Reef". Smithsonian. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  19. ^ Bruce, Collette; Klaus, Ruetzler (1977). "Reef Fishes Over Sponge Bottoms Off the Mouth of the Amazon River". Food and Agriculture Organization. United Nations. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  20. ^ a b Moura, Rodrigo L.; Amado-Filho, Gilberto M.; Moraes, Fernando C.; Brasileiro, Poliana S.; Salomon, Paulo S.; Mahiques, Michel M.; Bastos, Alex C.; Almeida, Marcelo G.; Silva, Jomar M.; Araujo, Beatriz F.; Brito, Frederico P.; Rangel, Thiago P.; Oliveira, Braulio C. V.; Bahia, Ricardo G.; Paranhos, Rodolfo P.; Dias, Rodolfo J. S.; Siegle, Eduardo; Figueiredo, Alberto G.; Pereira, Renato C.; Leal, Camille V.; Hajdu, Eduardo; Asp, Nils E.; Gregoracci, Gustavo B.; Neumann-Leitão, Sigrid; Yager, Patricia L.; Francini-Filho, Ronaldo B.; Fróes, Adriana; Campeão, Mariana; Silva, Bruno S.; Moreira, Ana P. B.; Oliveira, Louisi; Soares, Ana C.; Araujo, Lais; Oliveira, Nara L.; Teixeira, João B.; Valle, Rogerio A. B.; Thompson, Cristiane C.; Rezende, Carlos E.; Thompson, Fabiano L. (April 1, 2016). "An extensive reef system at the Amazon River mouth". Science Advances. 2 (4). American Association for the Advancement of Science: e1501252. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1501252. ISSN 2375-2548. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  21. ^ a b c d e https://search.proquest.com/docview/1871613334
  22. ^ Handwerk, Brian; Hafvenstein, Lauri (March 25, 2003). "Belize Reef Die-Off Due to Climate Change?". National Grographic News. National Geographic Society. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  23. ^ Hannam, Peter (March 6, 2014). "Great Barrier Reef faced with irreversible damage". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  24. ^ Salmon, Natasha (April 23, 2016). "Scientists have made an incredible discovery on the Amazon River". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  25. ^ a b Herrero, Thaís (January 26, 2017). "The Amazon Reef: Brazil's newly discovered and already threatened treasure". Greenpeace International. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  26. ^ "NOAA study uses latest technology to compute updated Washington Monument height: warm ocean temperatures may mean major coral bleaching". www.noaanews.noaa.gov. February 17, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  27. ^ a b c Kennedy, Merrit (April 10, 2017). "Great Barrier Reef Hit By Bleaching For The Second Year In A Row". NPR.org. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
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