Mammals Dolphins Whales Manatees Reptiles Sea turtles Alligators Fish Sharks Many others Invertebrates Shellfish Shrimp Snails Corals Jellyfish Worms Others Marine algae Plants

North Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Sea Turtles Sharks Marine Mammals Brown Pelican Oysters Shrimp and Blue Crab Menhaden and marsh dwelling fish Beach Nesting and Migratory Shorebirds Migratory Songbirds

Coral’s Adaptation to Environment Survive in dark depths Home to 2000 year old corals Receptive to activities on ocean’s surface Nutrition is organic matter Ecosystem interruption needs years to centuries to restore (i.e., petroleum exploration and commercial fishing) Coral’s Future Adaptations Adjustment to global warming Increased oil pollution

Corals as predator Corals get nutrients passively from plankton Corals get food from microscopic algae that live in their tissue Corals as Prey Fish, such as parrotfish, tangs, butterfly fish Sea snails and slugs Marine worms, barnacles, crabs Sea stars

Powerful waves from hurricanes and cyclones can damage corals Long periods of low tides leave corals exposed Open to ultraviolet radiation Corals throw the algae out that inhabit their tissue (symbiotic zooxanthellae), which causes bleaching, which removes necessary nutrients and eventually death of the coral Currents can carry pollution to coral Plastic and garbage wrap around and smothers coral Chemicals and sediments can cause variation in water, causing rapid growth of algae, which smother coral

A Mediterranean-type Sea Bordered by United States of America to the North Mexico by the West Cuba to the Southeast A Circular Basin Structure about 1,500 km in diameter Water Enters The Gulf Through Yucatan Strait Circulates through what is called a loop current Exits the Gulf through the Florida Strait Drainage Into The Gulf Assisted by 20 major river systems Covers over 3.8 million sq. km of the Continental U.S.

Freeman, M. (2012). MacGillivray Freeman’s Coral Reef Adventure. Retrieved 17 June 2012 from Kennedy, J. (n.d.). Marine Life in the Gulf of Mexico: Gulf of Mexico Marine Animals and Plants. Retrieved 18 June 2012 from NOAA (2012). NOAA Ocean Service Education: Corals. Retrieved 17 June 2012 from Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (2011). The Gulf of Mexico's Marine Mammals. Retrieved 18 June 2012 from General Facts About the Gulf of Mexico. (1992). Retrieved from