Help the Elkhorn Coral

Help the Elkhorn Coral!

     Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Elkhorn Coral. The tissue of Elkhorn Coral is covered with zooxanthellae, a type of algae that has a symbiotic relationship with coral. The zooxanthellae produce food for the coral by photosynthesis, while the coral gives the algae shelter and space for sunlight.

     Elkhorn Coral is a great home for other sea life because a) they can outgrow competitors in their tropical reef habitats because of their light structures; b) Elkhorn Coral colonies are simultaneously hermaphroditic, being able to reproduce young with themselves because they are both sexual and asexual (their offspring will be exact clones as their mother/father); and c) Elkhorn Corals, whenever hungry, can prey for fish and plankton using their long tentacles.

     However, despite these advantages and adaptations to survive, the Elkhorn Coral is critically endangered. Because of disease, natural disasters, coral bleaching, human activity, and pollution, the Elkhorn Coral is disappearing. The main factor is global warming. The climate change causes the waters in the ocean to heat up, which the zooxanthellae do not like. This causes coral bleaching. With the disappearances of zooxanthellae, the corals are vulnerable to disease. The climate change also causes more hurricanes, harming the coral reef habitats. The bacteria from human pollution also cause more diseases for the Elkhorn Coral. Destructive fishing practices and human waste harms the reefs.

     There are many ways for you to help. You could:

1.       Start a petition and get people to sign it.

2.     Educate people and tell them about it.

3.     Use less electricity and fossil fuels. Try walking or biking instead of driving around in cars. Don’t use electricity when you don’t need to.

4.     Start throwing away your trash and stop increasing pollution.

5.     Don’t destruct coral reefs by fishing or any other human activity.

Help the Elkhorn Coral!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Leatherback Turtles!

Help the Leatherback Turtle!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Leatherback Turtle. The Leatherback is a heavy turtle. They weigh about 600-1500 pounds and are up to 6 feet long, the largest of their turtle family of the ocean. Unlike other marine turtles, their shells are leather-textured, hence their name. They migrate across the oceans, Atlantic and Pacific. They are vital for the ecosystem because of their consummation of jellyfish, balancing the jellyfish population. They attract tourists, which promotes ecotourism.

          However, their population is no longer stable. They are critically endangered, and are the world’s most endangered marine turtle species. Because plastic appears like jellyfish, these turtles might accidentally swallow plastic and choke to death. They get caught in fishnets and hooks when migrating across seas. They also are losing their habitat due to human activities and development. The nesting areas are being disturbed through vehicles and activity. Tens of thousands of eggs are being collected as a hobby. In fact, in Southeast Asia, it is legal to collect their eggs and sell them. Now, the Leatherbacks are locally extinct in Indonesia.

          There are many ways to help. You could:

1. Start a petition
2. Tell someone or write an article for the newspaper
3. Start cleaning up beaches, or better yet, anywhere.
4. Boycott products made from Leatherbacks, such as eggs.
5. Don’t disturb their homes, like nests or coral reefs.

Help the Leatherback Turtles!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Hawksbill Turtle!

Help the Hawksbill Turtle!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Hawksbill Turtle. The Hawksbill Turtle is known everywhere for the beautiful pattern on their shell. They get the name from their beak, which resembles a lot like a hawk’s. They weigh 100-150 pounds and measure to be three feet long or smaller. Living in deep coral reefs and tropical waters, they feast upon sea anemones and sponges. They are vital for the coral reef systems. They eat off the coral that surfaced in the water, letting fish to feed and swim with more space. Along with other marine turtle, the Hawksbill has been present on the Earth practically 100 million years. However, they won’t be here for long.

          They are critically endangered, almost gone in the wild. One reason for their danger is illegal trading and poaching. Even though many countries prohibit the trading of their shells, people still poach them to use the shell for jewelry and decoration. Bycatch also threatens the Hawksbill, along with many other endangered animals. Pollution risks their lives, especially when the baby turtles swallow harmful trash, such as plastic.

          There are many ways for you to help. You could:

1. Tell someone
2. Start a petition
3. Boycott the use of their shells
4. Lessen your diet on seafood
5. Help pick up trash along the beach or other ocean areas

Help the Hawksbill Turtle!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Green Turtle!

Help the Green Turtle!

        Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the Green Turtle! Chelonia Mydas is a marine reptile turtle that lives in the coral reefs around the world and the Galapagos Islands. From 150-400 pounds, they measure to about 3 feet long. One of the largest marine turtles, they are herbivorous and are named not for the color of their shell, but because of their green cartilage and fat. They are found in tropical or subtropical waters of the sea, and are one of the most admired turtles in the world.

          But soon, they will no longer be on this Earth. They are endangered and their population is decreasing. Bycatch is one major cause of their risk. Bycatch is when an unwanted animal is caught in fishnets and hooks solely for the capturing of seafood. Green Turtles migrate across the ocean to nest their eggs. They are frequently caught in fishnets and gillnets for these occasions. Because of human activity, the beaches needed for their nests are being taken or damaged. Sea grass beds, the Green Turtle’s main food source, are in danger of sedimentation and pollution. Green Turtles and their eggs are being harvested for various reasons. All these contributing factors are making the Green Turtles disappear.

          But there are many way for you to help. You could:

1. Start a petition and get people to sign it
2. Tell someone
3. Boycott Green Turtle eggs or other products
4. Clean up beaches and avoid damaging their nests
5. Abstain from seafood for a while (optional)

Help the Green Turtles!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Crisp Pillow Coral!

Help the Crisp Pillow Coral!

Hello, this is IGL and this post is about helping the crisp pillow coral. The crisp pillow coral has an unusual look to it. Because of their intricate ridges around their round shape, they look much like a human brain (not to confuse with brain coral). They live in colonies together and grow up to twenty centimeters tall. What makes the crisp pillow coral so unique is that it is the only species in its genus (Anomastraea). Their polyps have many small tentacles that grab for food around them in the water. Their range is around the East coast of Africa, a small coastal area around Southern Asia, around some small islands and Madagascar, and waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula.

Despite its brilliant uniqueness, the crisp pillow coral is endangered. Currently, the IUCN declared it vulnerable. Reasons for its increasing disappearance is all because of global warming, a man-made issue.  The rising heat causes coral bleaching, which means vital algae for the colonies is taken away. Now, the corals are vulnerable to harmful diseases. Destructive storms caused by climate change damages the coral reefs, leaving only few to survive. Pollution, fishing, human activity, and invasive species introduced by people also participate in the declining population. A species of starfish preys primarily on the crisp pillow coral because of loss of other coral reefs, due to climate change and global warming.

However, there are many ways for you to help. You could:

1. Spread the word. Tell people about the crisis.
2. Stop polluting the earth. Use less fossil fuel and save electricity.
3. If you snorkel/reef often, try not to damage the coral reefs.
4. Start a petition and get people to sign it.

Help the crisp pillow coral!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL