Authors

Laura Louon

Document Type

Internship Report

Publication Date

Fall 2013

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems are under severe threat from anthropogenic stressors. Beyond overfishing and global warming, coral reefs are impacted by non-extractive activities, including tourism and recreational related activities, such as trampling, snorkeling, SCUBA diving and boating, and coastal development-related effects such as sedimentation and nutrient enrichment. As coastal populations boom and communities increasingly rely on these activities for their income, it is important to understand their threats and how to properly manage them for sustainable coral reef conservation. This study consists of an extensive literature review on the sources and effects of local (versus global) non-extractive stressors on coral reef ecosystems, specifically focusing on tourism-related impacts. With the aid of Geographic Information Systems, temporal and geographic trends are then illustrated and topics and regions that are under-represented in this area of research are identified. Finally, recommendations are made as to how research effort could be more effectively directed for the better understanding, management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems around the world.

Comments

Department: MAF

MPS Track: Marine Conservation

Location: Marine and Coastal Research , Corp.

Download

For UM Patrons Only

Share

COinS