The Coral Reef -The Rainforest of the Sea-

Location Found in shallow seas between the latitudes 30° N and 30° S—the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. In the same zones as the tropical rainforests, just in the water

Abiotic Features Cannot survive in water with a surface temperature lower than 20° C Cannot survive where the salinity of the water is outside the ordinary range of sea water Restricted to fairly clear water Restricted to depths, depending of clarity, of m deep

The Food Web Examples of: Producers –Phytoplankton, algae, detritus, zooxanthellae Primary consumers –Zooplankton, coral shrimp, damsel fish, clams, crustaceans, sea turtles Secondary consumers –Corals, barracuda, sea urchins, octopus, reef sharks

Interspecies Relationships Polyps and Zooxanthellae Anemones and Clownfish Cleaning Wrasses and larger fish

Coral and Fish

Sea Turtles, Sharks and Rays

Environmental Threats Bleaching Over fishing Aquarium industry Divers—Tourists Water Pollution

Ecological Advantages Protects coastline from natural disasters Protects marshes, lagoons, mangrove forests and other shore habitats Reduces coastal erosion Fights against global warming Plant and animal poisons used in medicine

Bibliography Allaby, Michael. Oceans. 1999: Grolier Educational, Danbury Lampton, Christopher. Coral Reefs in Danger. 1992: Millbrook Press, Brookfield. Sayre, April Pulley. Coral Reef. 1996: Twenty-First Century Books, New York. Stafford-Deitsch, Jeremy. Reef. 1991: Sierra Club Books, San Francisco.