Reef Coral reefs house between 600,000 and 9 million species
25% of marine species rely on coral reefs at some point in their life cycle
32 of the 34 phyla of metazoans live on the reef
65% of marine fishes live in reefs
The most important groups of reef organisms include:
Other cnidarians (gorgonians, soft corals and hydrocorals)
Coralline algae
Calcareous green algae (Halimeda)
Sponges
Molluscs (Tridacna) * Echinoderms (sea urchins, sea cucumbers, starfishers and crinoids) * Crustaceans * Marine worms * Fishes * Bacteria * * Coralline algae are red algae which deposit calcium carbonate within cell walls. They are encrusting and help cement the reef together. They are particularly important on reef crests. * * Sponges help clean and filter surrounding water. They need constant water flow through their bodies and the skeleton can be made of calcium carbonate. They can have endosymbionts. * * Molluscs-Bivalves-Giant clams have a two-part shell and most are filter feeders. Epifauna and infauna. The mantle of a giant clam contains zooxanthellae. * * Molluscs-Gastropods-Nudibranch are shell-less marine gastropods with extremities on back used to breath. Most are carnivorous. * * Echinoderms-Starfish have five-fold radial symmetry and no external skeleton. The endoskeleton is a water vascular system. Starfish have hydraulic vascular system which aids in locomotion (two stomachs, predators). * *
…...….3 Biodiversity in Coral………………………………………………………………………………4 Figure 2: Food Pyramid of Coral Reefs………………….…………………….……4 Coral Bleaching…………………………………………………………………………………...5 Figure 3: Temperature vs. Time in Relation to Bleaching Thresholds…….….............5 Effects of Coral Bleaching on Biodiversity……………………………………………………….6 Disintegration of Coral Reefs……………………………………………………………………..6 Figure 4: Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Concentration in Sea Surface…
Coral reefs as their primary source of housing and protection. However, it has been reported that large numbers of the coral reef population has been completely destroyed in the past years through a process called coral bleaching. It has also been said that humans may have contributed to the destruction of the Earth's coral reefs both indirectly and directly. Without coral reefs, these fish will be left homeless and the chances of survival for them will decrease dramatically. Coral reefs consists…
5 billion years ago in the oceans. Today, the number of organisms living there is unknown, merely which is very large and that only a few is known to humans. Around 18 million km² of land are protected globally, but oceans protect only 10% of this area, though oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface. The marine ecosystem can be sub categorized as rocky shores, oceans, estuaries, lagoons, mangroves, salt marshes, intertidal zones coral reefs, the deep sea, sea floor and submarine canyons. It includes…
Acidification on Coral Reef Systems” Summary “Ocean acidification due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide,” a report compiled by a team of European researchers and published by The Royal Society of London, illustrates the causes as well as the implications of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels upon oceanic ecosystems. In summary, it discusses the sources of worldwide spikes in CO2 levels, sheds light on the effects of rapid pH changes upon fragile coral reef systems, provides calculations…
archaeocyathans at the Harkless reef and Stewart’s Mill reef, and an explanation of the variations in central cavity diameter and the abundance of specimens. Introduction Archaeocyaths were reef-building organisms with a calcareous skeleton composed of two porous walls separated by an interavallum. They appeared after the first calcareous cyanobacteria and they eventually evolved to be part of the cyanobacteria mounds that were already being built by these early “reef” builders (Rowland & Gangloff…
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometers (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers (133,000 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in north-east Australia. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by…
Coral reefs are found in mostly tropical areas, but they also inhabit a few non-tropical places in the ocean, like the Red Sea. They are found all over the world. They have some threats, but are very important to the environment. Coral reefs have a huge economic value. They are also very important to the ecosystem. Coral is simple organisms that produce skeletons. Those skeletons are made of the compound calcium carbonate. Coral is very closely related to sea anemones and jelly fish. It can be either…
around, with plant like organisms waving their branches lazily in the water? Yes, well they are called Coral Reefs. The plant like organism that you remember are organisms called corals. Coral Reefs or popularly known as corals is a very diverse underwater ecosystem held together by calcium carbonate. This calcium carbonate is secreted by colonies of tiny animals that are found in water with few nutrients. Reefs will grow best in shallow, sunny agitated waters. Although coral reefs are also found in deep…
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest coral reef and has 2900 smaller reefs join onto it. It covers over 850 islands and stretches over 2600 kilometres. The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland and NSW. The Great Barrier Reef is so big that it can be seen from outer space and is the world’s biggest structure made by living organisms. The Great Barrier Reef is made of billions of minute organisms known as coral polyps. It supports a wide…
faster rate of acidification. Society can continue to depend on the ocean, but the cost is a rising threat to all marine life. With ocean acidification continuing at a horrifying rate, marine animals will find it harder to build skeletons, construct reefs, or simply grow and breathe. Scientist’s research indicates that the recent and rapid drop in surface level pH could have destructive global consequences, contributing to the collapse and downfall of this ancient balance. Humans are acidifying the…
