The document provides information on threats facing coral islands. It discusses how climate change is causing coral bleaching and death as ocean temperatures rise. Overfishing disrupts ecosystems by removing too many fish. Pollution from sewage, chemicals and sedimentation harms corals by reducing water quality and smothering reefs. Uncontrolled tourism damages reefs through activities like walking on coral, collecting specimens, boat anchors damaging reefs, and untreated sewage from hotels polluting the ocean. These threats endanger the fragile coral ecosystems that many species depend on.

1. IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
PROGRAMME DU DIPLÔME DU BI
PROGRAMA DEL DIPLOMA DEL BI
ECOSYSTEMS AND SOCIETIES
STANDARD LEVEL
PAPER 2
Specimen
2 hours
RESOURCE BOOKLET
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
• Do not open this booklet until instructed to do so.
• This booklet contains all of the resources required to answer question 1

2. –2–
Figure 1 — An introduction to Paradise Island, New Zealand.
Paradise Island is an imaginary coral island, however the data used is based on real data from a range of
coral islands.
Paradise Island, known to locals as Limestone Island, is a 37ha (100 acre) island off New
Zealand. It is one-hour boat ride from a mainland city with a population of 40,000.
Community involvement in Paradise Island has steadily increased over the years. Efforts
have been coordinated by the Friends Paradise / Limestone Island Society Incorporated
(1993), PLIS for short.
Predator Control
New Zealand has many unique species which have evolved for millions of years without
the predators of today. Predation and habitat loss on the mainland makes islands like
Paradise Island especially valuable. Some predators do make it to the island, so ongoing
vigilance is needed.
The entire island has a grid of nearly 800 bait stations at 25m by 25m intervals,
containing rat poison to control rats and mice. Each station contains a small amount of
brodaficoum-based bait to kill rodents.
There are about 40 wooden box traps set around the island. Stoats appear to be the
mustelid most able to swim to the island, with three having been caught in traps since
July 2002. Some of the traps are adjacent to walking tracks. They contain fenn-traps, set
for stoats and rats.
Monitoring tunnels are also present on the island. Inside each tunnel is a plastic tray with
a dye-impregnated material in the middle and tracking papers either side. When
something walks through the tunnel, it leaves footprints on the papers. Some 40 tracking
tunnels are set every couple of months by the Ranger to see what is on the island.

3. –3–
A brief history of the Island
1876 Island sold to private developers
1881 Cement production begins
1906-1918 Lime works a major industry employing 270 people at
its peak
1989 Island given to the community
1989 to Conservation and ecological restoration (floral and
present faunal restoration) carried out. First planting in 1989
1993 PLIS formed
1996 Rangers cottage installed and resident ranger employed
to look after and maintain island
1998 PLIS form strategic partnership with cement company
who act as principal sponsors of the restoration project
1999 Hotel and holiday complex plans announced for
Paradise Island
2000 Massive millennium planting 23,000 plants planted.
2001 First Kiwi bird releases (2 adults –Glen and Helga)
onto the island. 11 Flax snails released also. New
signage installed
2002 Forest gecko released
2003 Hotel development begins
Source: Adapted from Nick Middleton, Geographical Review, Nov. 2005

4. – 4–
Figure 2 —Map of Paradise Island
Paradise Island
5
1
Jetty
4
Hotel
Roa
d
Sunshine
Airport Bay
Coral reef
2
3
1. Tropical forest 2. Fringing coral reef 3. Shallow marine environment
4. Town 5. Cement works
Source: Adapted from Nick Middleton, Geographical Review, Nov. 2005
Turn over

5. –5–
Figure 3 — Bird and bat species lost from Paradise Island
Bird species Endemic to Paradise Last confirmed record in
wild
Nightingale Reed Warbler 1969
Brown Booby 1979
White Tailed Tropicbird 1982
Paradise flycatcher Yes 1984
Rufus Fantail Yes 1984
Bridled White-eye 1984
Mariana Fruit Dove 1985
Micronesian Honeyeater 1986
Paradise Rail Yes 1987
Chestnut Munia 1994
Bat species
Little Marianas Fruit Bat 1968
Pacific Sheath Tailed Bat 1972
Source: Adapted from Nick Middleton, Geographical Review, Nov. 2005
Figure 4 — Paradise Island and the Brown Tree Snake
No one quite knows when the Brown Tree Snake arrived on Paradise Island, but it
probably arrived by accident on a cargo ship as late as 1948. The Brown Tree Snake is a
slender tree-climbing snake that grows to two metres in length. It is a nocturnal predator
and hunts at all levels within a forest from the forest floor to high up in the tree canopy.
The snake is native to Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and northeast Australia. Paradise
Island does not have an indigenous predatory snake.
Source: Adapted from Nick Middleton, Geographical Review, Nov. 2005

6. –5–
Figure 5 — Vulnerability to extinction
Listed below are the criteria that may lead to a species being at risk from extinction.
• Species with a narrow geographical range
• Species with a single population (or a few populations)
• Species with a small population size
• Species with a low population density
• Species with a large body size
• Species with low rates of population growth
• Migratory species
• Species with little genetic variation
• Species requiring specialized niche environments
• Large home range
Adapted from Richard B. Primack (1993) Essentials of Conservation Biology, pub. Sinaur
Figure 6 — Ningaloo; a coral island in danger
Media Release, Saturday, 27 November 2004 - People power and science deliver right formula for
Ningaloo
The Save Ningaloo Campaign today welcomed the Government’s decision to increase
protection at Ningaloo Reef. The outcome goes a long way to fulfilling the aspirations
of many tens of thousands of people who have called for better protection of Ningaloo.
Paul Gamblin, Save Ningaloo Campaign spokesperson, said, “By placing 34% of
Ningaloo Reef in sanctuary zones, the Western Australian Government has heeded the
call of the community and the advice of the world’s leading coral reef scientists.”
The new plan allows for recreational fishing in two thirds of the marine park while
setting aside one-third for the preservation of natural ecosystems.
“The vast majority of recreational fishers understand that Ningaloo needs reasonable
levels of protection, and will support this move.”
“This plan has provided the Reef with an insurance policy against the serious threats
facing coral reefs worldwide.”
“The increased sanctuary zones and funding for management are critical to protecting
Ningaloo for future generations, and we commend the Government for these
responsible steps”.
[Source: Paul Gamblin (2004), Save Ningaloo Campaign, http://www.save-ningaloo.org]
Turn over

7. –6–
Figure 7 — Threats to coral islands
Over fishing 45 45
Marine based
87 10 low threat
pollution
medium threat
Sedimentation 65 12 high threat
Coastal
73 15
development
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Figure 7a. Caribbean Islands; threats to coral
100%
6
90% 16 10
80%
70%
54
60% high threat
50% medium threat
92
40% 80 82 low threat
30%
20% 36
10%
0%
Over fishing
development
Marine based
Sedimentation
Coastal
pollution
Figure 7b. Indonesian Islands: Threats to Coral
[Source: Lauretta Burke and Jon Maidens and contributing authors (2004) Reefs at Risk in the
Carribean.: http://reefsatrisk.wri.org/casestudy_text.cfm?ContentID=3039]

8. –7–
Figure 8 — Threats to coral Islands
Climate Change
The burning of vast amounts of coal, oil, and natural gas is increasing the amount of
certain gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and contributing to
climate change. These gases are trapping heat inside the planet and temperatures
gradually rising.
While corals are well adapted to their life in the tropics, they are not prepared for
warmer temperatures, and they are falling victim to global warming. When it gets too
hot the corals “bleach”, i.e. they turn a bright white color, which is a sign of sickness. If
temperatures remain high for an extended period of time, corals will die.
Recently, as a result of record high temperatures, many corals throughout the world
have died. Scientists are worried that if the world’s temperatures continue to rise, we
will see many other corals sicken and die and this might be worse in those places where
the corals are already stressed.
Over Fishing
The ocean is the natural environment for millions of species but an array of human
activity is threatening these riches and today more than three quarters of our oceans are
over-exploited.
There are simply too many people trying to fish in the ocean, and over-fishing upsets
the balance of the entire ecosystem.
Some of the most popular fish to eat are groupers, snappers and jacks, but there are
many reefs in the world where you’d be lucky to see one! In a few places, especially in
the Caribbean and Florida, so many fish have been taken that the entire ecosystem is
unbalanced.
Furthermore, some fishermen use explosives to catch fish. By creating a massive blast
they kill all the fish over a wide area. The blast also destroys the coral. It takes years for
the reef to recover and fishermen will unwittingly destroy the conditions necessary to
sustain fish for future generations.
There is therefore an urgent need to protect our oceans from over-exploitation, and to
create safe havens for marine habitats and life forms to recover.

9. –8–
Pollution and sedimentation
Some of the biggest problems facing the coral reefs come from the land. Corals are
threatened by pollution in many forms, including oil slicks, sediments, fertilizers,
pesticides and other chemicals, heavy metals, and garbage. A nasty cocktail of
chemicals is carried in the rivers and even in pipes, and winds up near the coral reefs.
Human sewage, one of the most common problems for the reefs, encourages the growth
of certain types of large algae or seaweed. These grow much better than the corals and
can smother or kill them by shading them out of existence.
In many parts of the world people are chopping down forests and plowing up the land.
A great deal of soil is being washed off the land, into the rivers and from the rivers to
the sea. When there is a lot of mud in the water it cuts out the light. This mud or
“sediment” sinks down and creates muddy ooze on the bottom of the ocean. Corals need
bright clear waters to get the sunlight they need, and also hard surfaces to grow on. This
sediment stops new corals from growing, and can smother and suffocate the existing
corals.
Tourism
Coral reefs attract millions of visitors, but uncontrolled tourism and coastal
development have caused pollution and resulted in heavy damage to the reefs. Too
many irresponsible visitors damage or destroy corals by touching, walking or standing
on them. Many tourists collect and/or buy corals, sponges, seashells or other reef
animals as well as jewelry and sculptures made out of them. Excessive collecting
decimates the reef species and throws reef ecosystems out of balance. Hotels and resorts
contribute to water pollution by not properly treating their sewage and wastewater, and
many tourist boats crush coral while throwing their anchors onto reefs, or spill oil and
gas into the sea.
[source:http://www.oceanwonderland.com/threats.htm (no author stated)]