Kaltham Al-Kuwari

By far one of the most colorful fishes in the whole sea, are located by the coral reef’s. There are three very different types of plants widely associated with coral reef ecosystems: marine algae, sea grasses, and mangroves. 3 fishes are : The clown triggerfish, Queen angelfish, Maroon clownfish. PLANTS ARE TAKEN FROM - Fishes are taken from - PICTURES FROM GOOGLE IMAGES -

The clown is an aggressive feeder, feeding mainly on crustaceans and mollusks. They use their strong jaws to crack open the shells of mollusks and crabs. The clown triggerfish is without a doubt the most beautiful member of the trigger family.

The queen angelfish is found throughout the western Atlantic. It is a grazer, feeding on algae, sponges, and coral. As they grow, they acquire their spectacular blue and yellow markings, with rainbow colors on the edges of their fins.

The maroon clownfish is one of the largest clownfish species. It can grow up to 6 inches in length. Maroons are found in the Pacific Ocean where they are usually seen hiding in the stinging embrace of a large sea. The color of this species ranges from bright orange to rusty brown, to almost black.

There are over 60,000 square miles of Mangrove forests along the world’s tropical and subtropical coasts. Mangrove forests play a vital role in the lives of many coral reef fish. Mangroves are shoreline plants.

Sea grass meadows can form critical nursery grounds for reef fishes, conch, spiny lobster and other commercially valuable species.

Within those parts of coral reef ecosystems where most hard coral growth is found (the reef face and reef crest), plant life exists only in the form of marine algae.

The development of corals is influenced by such a biotic factors as light, substrate, wave forces, sediment, and temperature. Optimal coral growth occurs when water temperatures are between 25-29°C.

However, coral reefs are fragile ecosystems, partly because they are very sensitive to water temperature. They are under threat from climate change for aquarium fish, overuse of reef resources, and harmful land-use practices. -

It is estimated that about 60% of the world's reefs are at risk due to destructive, human-related activities. But, human activity continues to represent the single greatest threat to coral reefs living in Earth's oceans. Areas that used to be full of coral become deserts, full of coral rubble, and dead fish. The biggest threat comes from pollution and over- fishing.

The annual global economic value of coral reefs has been estimated at $US375 billion per year. According to the environmental group “World Wide Fund for Nature”, the economic cost over a 25 year period of destroying one km of coral reef is somewhere between $137,000 and $1,200,

Thanks for looking at my biome on “Coral Reefs”, I hope you learned new facts about our world& nature we live in. - Kaltham Al-Kuwari 6C