User:Sebrazer/sandbox

This is a test entry for my personal sandbox. Am creating it as a practice space for our GEOG 110 students for demonstration purposes.

This is where I could copy/paste in some of the current information from the Wikipedia article that I have chosen to supplement, and then in a clear way, I could indicate to Dr. Harris what my additions where. See below for a *possible* example in which the original Wikipedia entry is in normal text, and my additions are in bold.

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Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search The Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located off Saint John, Virgin Islands.

The clear waters surrounding Saint John support a diverse and complex system of coral reefs. The health of these reefs is closely tied to its component plants and animals as well as adjacent non-coral marine environments such as sandy bottoms, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests. With recent studies showing how incredibly important levels of sediment and nutrients are from adjacent lands, it has been conclusively demonstrated that both development and land-use changes pay a direct role in negatively impacting coral reef health in terms of increased runoff levels.1

Seeking to provide greater protection to the sensitive coral reef resources, President Clinton established the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument on January 17, 2001. The monument includes 12,708 acres (51 km2) of federal submerged lands within the 3 mile (5 km) belt off Saint John, including Hurricane Hole and areas north and south of Saint John.

Ecosystem

The coral reefs of the U.S. Virgin Islands suffered severely from coral bleaching in 2005, which led to a 60% decline in coral activity. The USGS began extensive research in the area and scientists discovered previously unknown coral ecosystems at the submerged stems of mangrove trees in the Hurricane Holearea of the National Monument. They found about 30 of the 45 coral species in the Virgin Islands, which is an astonishing diversity for the small area, and were surprised by the number of sponge species as well. This is the first known occurrence of corals in a mangrove ecosystem.

References Used By Susan


 * 1) Ennis, R. S., Brandt, M. E., Wilson Grimes, K. R., & Smith, T. B. (2016). Coral reef health response to chronic and acute changes in water quality in st. thomas, united states virgin islands doi: https://doi-org.proxy-su.researchport.umd.edu/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.07.033