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Coral Reefs

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Coral Reefs Location of Reefs Found between 30 north and 30 south Reason: coral reefs do not thrive in areas where the surface temperature is below 70 F Two areas ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Coral Reefs


1
Coral Reefs
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Location of Reefs
  • Found between 30north and 30south
  • Reason coral reefs do not thrive in areas where
    the surface temperature is below 70F
  • Two areas of coral reefs
  • Continental
  • Oceanic
  • Indian
  • Pacific

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Types of Reef
  • Barrier
  • Offshore, and separated by a lagoon
  • Atol
  • Deep ocean, volcanic foundations
  • Fringing
  • Simplest built upwards and outwards in shallow
    seas, beside islands or continents

6
Formation of Reefs
  • Built of entirely marine plants and animals
  • Material is calcium carbonate limestone derived
    from the surrounding waters by reef organisms
  • Reef is a veneer on which new limestone can
    attach
  • The sea level limits the upward growth of the
    reef
  • Reefs have only existed for a relatively short
    amount of time in geological terms

7
Corals
  • Both living and dead, they form a framework
  • Solid and unyielding or soft but firmly attached
  • Form into mounds, plates, branches or crusts
  • Are coelenterata along with jellyfish and sea
    anemones
  • Special prey catching cells - nematocysts
  • Colonial single founder individual, dividing to
    replicate itself over and over again
  • Zooxanthellae tiny single celled
    photosynthesising plants amongst within coral
    tissues

8
Plankton
  • Too small to be seen, and are transparent
  • ZOOPLANKTON
  • Gelatinous
  • Some predators, others produce fine mesh for
    collecting food, some produce mucus house
  • PHYTOPLANKTON
  • Microscopic in size
  • Photosynthetic

9
Algae and Seagrasses
  • Important biological component of coral reefs
  • 500 species of seaweed and 12 species of sea
    grasses in the Great Barrier Reef
  • All marine flowering plants are known as sea
    grasses
  • They have male and female parts
  • Able to pollinate while submerged in sea
  • Known as hydrophilous pollination
  • Non-flowering marine plants are known as
    algae/seaweed

10
Sponges
  • Important role in complex structural processes
  • Chemically digest the limestone skeletons which
    go on to form the base of the coral reef
  • Efficient vacuum cleaners
  • Filter out bacteria, detritis and coral mucus

11
Marine Worms
  • Brightly coloured, voracious jaws, well developed
    eyes
  • Exist within dead coral skeleton
  • Bore by chemically dissolving coral
  • Range from microscopic to several cms in length

12
Molluscs
  • 4 major groups
  • Gastropods seasnails, slugs
  • Bivalves oysters, scallops, clams
  • Cephalopods octopus, squid
  • Chitons molluscan equivalent of
    terrestrial armadillo
  • Soft bodied with a hard outer shell
  • Found in coastal zones

13
Crustaceans
  • Reefs abound with brilliantly coloured
    crustaceans
  • Most live in hiding only come out at night to
    feed
  • Exoskeleton gives protection
  • Female lays eggs which remain attached until
    developed
  • Live in permanent symbiotic relationship with
    coral
  • Provides shelter, protection and food

14
Bryozoans
  • Hidden areas of reef encrusted with moss-like
    bryozoans
  • Often most dominant life form
  • Grow on rigid surfaces, moving objects or are
    free living in the water

15
Echinoderms
  • Most conspicuous creatures on the reef
  • E.g. sea urchins, starfish, cucumber
  • 6000 species
  • Almost all bottom dwelling
  • Have a sessile lifestyle, and are suspension
    feeders, but some are carnivorous

16
Ascidians
  • Filtering water bags
  • E.g. seasquirts
  • Two important roles
  • Feed in the water around the reef and keep it
    clean
  • Concentrate the plankton in the water making it
    available for other animals
  • Sessile lifestyle fixed firmly to substrate
  • Cilia set up water current to allow filter feeding

17
Fishes
  • Diverse range
  • Many have evolved with the coral
  • As size of fish increases the number of species
    increases and the number of individuals decreases
  • Many territorial
  • Adapted in shape and behaviour depending on food
    source

18
  • 4 types
  • Grazers
  • Plankton feeders
  • Mollusk, crab, shrimp feeders
  • Predators

19
Dangerous Animals on the Reef
  • Many use chemical defences
  • Bacterial attack can be countered by development
    of bacteriocides
  • Mechanical and chemical offensive weapons also
    abundant

20
Example Portuguese Man o War
  • Have toxin loaded cells
  • And needle sharp barbs at end of coiled spring

21
Example Sea Urchins
  • Have sharp spines
  • Can have a coating of venomous mucus

22
Example Sea Snakes
  • Have small fangs
  • But with deadly venom
  • Are more dangerous than land snakes

23
Example Puffer Fish
  • Puff up and produce strong poison
  • Is called tetrodoxin

24
Example Moray Eels
  • Have large, hooked, razor sharp teeth

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