Transcript coral reefs
Diversity and Distribution of coral reefs By Robyn and Taylor Corals are marine animals related to jellyfish and anemones. They catch plankton and other suspended food particles with arm-like tentacles, which feed a centrally located mouth. These algae provide them with an additional food source through photosynethis Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, rivaled only by tropical rain forests. They are made up not only of hard and soft corals, but also sponges, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and much more. Competition for resources such as food, space and sunlight are some of the primary factors in determining the abundances and diversity of organisms on a reef. Each component of a coral reef is dependent upon and interconnected with countless other plants, animals and organisms. This means that fluctuations in the abundance of one species can drastically alter both the diversity and abundances of others. While natural causes such as hurricanes and other large storm events can be the stimulus for such alterations, it is more commonly anthropological forces that effect these types of shifts in the ecosystem. Even though they cover only a tiny fraction (less than .2 percent) of the ocean's bottom, coral reefs contain more than 25 percent of all marine life. coral reefs are normally found in the tropical and semitropical areas of the world where water temperatures range between 16 and 30 degrees Celsius There are two main types of coral: hard coral, the major reef-building species; and soft coral, such as sea whips and sea fans. Not all coral produce reefs. Those that do are called hermatypic. Coral reefs are classified into three types: barrier reefs, fringing reefs, and atolls. Barrier reefs occur offshore separated by water from the mainland. Fringing reefs are continuous with the land mass, and atolls are islands made of coral surrounding a central lagoon. THE GREAT BARRIER REEF measuring 1,243 miles, is the largest living structure on Earth It can be seen from the Moon. This is also the world’s largest coral reef, which is made up of approximately 900 islands and 3000 coral reefs It was formed around 18 million years ago 30 species of whales, 215 species of beautiful birds, 6 species of sea turtles, 125 species of sharks and stingrays, 49 species of pipefish, 17 species of sea snakes and around 1,500 types of fish One of the largest pearl was found in such a clam and was reportedly sold in New York for $10 million Most coral are colonial; that is, coral are made up of many individual polyps connected by living tissue. Each polyp has a cuplike shape with a ring of tentacles around a central opening. The tentacles are tipped with stinging cells used for defense and to capture zooplankton for food. The tiny polyps are the actual living coral tissue. Coral reefs occupy less than one percent of the Earth’s marine environment, but are home to more than a quarter of all known marine fish species and tens of thousands of other species found nowhere else on earth. Reefs also serve as a buffer against incoming storm surges, protecting local populations. Coral reef distribution has been derived from a wide range of sources at various levels of scale and quality. In mast cases, the source maps plot emergent reef crest or shallow reef and reef flat areas. In order to show reef distribution on this world map, it has been necessary to scale up the area of reef that exists in most countries. Coral reefs are among the ocean's most complex and biologically diverse marine ecosystems. They are underwater communities that are very important to the food chain. In certain areas of the ocean, not too far under the surface where sunlight can still penetrate, are beautiful gardens of coral and other organisms in all the colors you can imagine. Threats to the world's coral reefs include: Pollution Disease Over-fishing Dynamite and cyanide fishing Sedimentation Bleaching caused by rising ocean temperatures