Coral Reefs n n Warm shallow tropical ocean

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Coral Reefs n n Warm, shallow, tropical ocean waters “Rainforest of the Sea” n

Coral Reefs n n Warm, shallow, tropical ocean waters “Rainforest of the Sea” n n n High production High organismal diversity High structural diversity Provides food & shelter to many organisms Provides natural products n Source of many drugs and chemicals

Key players n Phylum? n n Includes? n n n jellyfish, sea anemones, corals

Key players n Phylum? n n Includes? n n n jellyfish, sea anemones, corals Key shared characteristic? n n Cnidaria Cnidocytes or “stinging cells” Colony of polyps Calcium carbonate skeleton

Process n Coral growth is slow… n n ~ 1 cm / year Other

Process n Coral growth is slow… n n ~ 1 cm / year Other organisms help n Zooxanthellae n single-celled algae n n n See Fig. 14. 1, Castro & Huber symbiotic relationship Coralline algae n n n Multicellular Produces its own Ca. CO 3 skeleton Adds to reef and helps “glue” it together

Types of Coral Reefs n Fringing reefs n n n Shallow coastal waters Vulnerable

Types of Coral Reefs n Fringing reefs n n n Shallow coastal waters Vulnerable to sediment, freshwater runoff, & human disturbance Reef flat n n Wide & influenced by low tides Reef slope n Dense with corals

n Barrier reefs n n Parallel the coast Separated by lagoon n n Inner

n Barrier reefs n n Parallel the coast Separated by lagoon n n Inner reef (back reef slope) protected Outer reef slope n n Dense Spur & Groove n n Windward side Shock absorbers

Atolls n n Circular reef left by subsiding island Windward side n Lots of

Atolls n n Circular reef left by subsiding island Windward side n Lots of wind and waves n n Volcanic island Island subsides n n Sheltered Begins as fringing n n Spur & groove Coralline algae Leeward side n n Tradewinds (300 to 00) Creates barrier reef Subsiding continues n Ring left behind n Atoll

Limitations of Coral Reefs n n n Shallow water Hard substrate Limited temperature range

Limitations of Coral Reefs n n n Shallow water Hard substrate Limited temperature range n n n ~20 – 32 Celsius (68 – 90 Fahrenheit) Sensitive to lowered salinity Sensitive to human impacts n Pollutants n n Increased run-off from population growth n n eutrophication Coral bleaching? n Loss of zooxanthellae n n n Fuels, waste, sunscreen Increased turbidity (sediments) Decreased salinity Weather events n n Hurricanes Cyclones

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Coral Reefs Coral reefs are warm clear shallowCoral Reefs Coral reefs are warm clear shallow
Coral Reefs Coral Reefs are found in shallowCoral Reefs Coral Reefs are found in shallow
Coral Reefs What exactly are coral reefs CoralCoral Reefs What exactly are coral reefs Coral
Coral Reefs n n Warm shallow tropical oceanCoral Reefs n n Warm shallow tropical ocean
Coral Reefs INTRODUCTION Coral reefs are the mostCoral Reefs INTRODUCTION Coral reefs are the most