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•As you can see from this map, coral reefs
dominate the coastal tropical
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environments of
the Caribbean and Central America
between latitudes of approximately
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25 ° N and 25 °
S, where water
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temperatures
range between 18° and 30° Centigrade.
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• You can also see that coral reefs in the
region are under threat. The reefs
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of the region
are threatened by a range human
activities such as:
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• heavy fishing pressure
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•Increased sediment entering coastal waters as a
result of
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-
de-forestation, coastal development and dredging
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•Excessive nutrient loading.
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•Habitat destruction
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•These pressures reduce
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•Growth-rate
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•Calcification
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•Diminish the ability to regenerate tissue
following damage
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Greater
frequency of injury
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•Reduced reproductive success
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and
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•Increased susceptibility to Bleaching and
disease.
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