CORAL REEF Chelsea Graffam Biome Project White Eight

What is a coral reef? Coral Reef, coastal and oceanic ecosystem renowned for its beautiful life forms and for providing one of the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth. A reef is a ridge or outcrop of rock in the sea that comes close to the surface. A coral reef is a reef that has been built largely or entirely by corals, tiny animals that live together in colonies. Over hundreds or thousands of years the limestone skeletons of coral build up, with new corals growing on the skeletons of the dead ones. This physical structure, with its living surface of corals and other organisms, is a coral reef. Coral reefs support greater numbers of fish and invertebrate species than any other ecosystem in the ocean.

Coral Reef coral_reef13_Img_3920.jpg atology_CloseUp/Images/coral_reef.jpg

Coral Reefs Information “Coral reefs are warm, clear, shallow ocean habitats that are rich in life. The reef's massive structure is formed from coral polyps, tiny animals that live in colonies; when coral polyps die, they leave behind a hard, stony, branching structure made of limestone. The coral provides shelter for many animals in this complex habitat, including sponges, fish (like Blacktip Reef Sharks, groupers, clown fish, eels, parrotfish, snapper, and scorpion fish), jellyfish, anemones, sea stars (including the destructive Crown of Thorns), crustaceans (like crabs, shrimp, and lobsters), turtles, sea snakes, snails, and mollusks (like octopuses, nautilus, and clams).”

The Beautiful Coral Reef _French_Frigate_Shoals_reef__many_fish.jpg

What is the climate like? The corals that build reefs are found only in warm tropical waters where sea temperatures rarely fall below 18°C (64°F). They thrive only in clear saltwater where bright sunlight can penetrate. This is because corals cannot exist without symbiotic algae, that lives in coral tissues and require sunlight for photosynthesis. Coral reefs are found in both temperate and tropical waters. The average temperature of a coral reef is around 26°C. There are coral reefs in the Persian Gulf that 13°C in the winter and 38°C in the summer.

Where are Coral Reef’s Located? Coral reefs can be found between 30 degrees north and south latitude, the greatest concentration is found between 4 degrees north and south latitude in the western portions of all major oceans. The are commonly located off the coast of continents. There are two broad categories of coral reefs: shelf reefs and oceanic reefs. Shelf reefs include fringing reefs, platform reefs, bank reefs, and barrier reefs and are located on the continental shelf, while oceanic reefs are found off the continental shelf growing around the margins of volcanic islands.

Dominant Animals In Coral Reef The dominant species in the coral reef is mainly coral. Everything in the coral reef revolves around coral. Other dominant species in the coral reef are fish, sea urchins, octopuses, and sea stars. Sea Star on Coral

Types of Vegetation Coralline Algae Seaweed Seagras s Mangroves med/targets/images/pho/t012/T012724A.jpg aylm/seaweed.jpeg /seagrass.jpg merwije/webs/EC.htm

Negative Effects Humans Have on the Coral Reef Biome Human activity may represent the greatest threat to coral reefs living in Earth's oceans. In particular, global warming, coral mining, pollution over-fishing, and the digging of canals and access ways into islands and bays are the most serious threats to these ecosystems. Also, physical destruction by building untop of the reefs itself (due to lack of space), destruction of mangrove and seagrass beds and other destruction caused by boat and shipping traffic is a problem.

Positive Effects Humans Have on the Coral Reef Biome Since many researchers have learned that many coral reefs are being destroyed, some people are trying to save the coral reefs. Foundations have set up certain protected areas, so that they cannot be destroyed. This is a positive thing that humans have done to try and help coral reefs survive.

Bibliography Spalding, Mark D. "Coral Reef." Microsoft® Student 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, Johnson, Sylvia A. (1984) Coral Reefs. Lerner Publications. DuTemple, Lesley A. (2000) Coral Reefs. San Diego, California: Lucent Books, Inc. "Coral Reef," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia © Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. "Coral Reef." Wikipedia. 28 Oct "Coral Reef." Enchanted Learning. 09 Nov "Coral Reef." Wikipedia. 28 Oct "Coral Reefs: Plants & Animals Facts." Reef. 28 Oct "The Marine Biome: Coral Reefs." UCMP Berkeley. 13 Nov. 2008