Disc. the Great Barrier Reef

1 Credit · Level: Undergraduate

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is amongst one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. It is roughly equivalent in size to Italy. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the GBR hosts a vast and diverse array of marine life. Visitors to the GBR generate an estimated $5.7 billion annually to Australia’s economy, and offer the equivalent 58,000 full-time jobs. In recent years, however, reports of coral reef bleaching suggest the reef is under tremendous stress. Climate change is driving ever warming waters through the GBR. Other stresses to the reef include farm run-off, shipping, and plastics. This course offers students with an introduction to the Great Barrier Reef, its biology, its place in the Australian economy, and efforts to more effectively protect it.