Coral reefs and_their_marine_families

www.reefcheckaustralia.org

Coral Reefs and their Marine Families

Reef IQ


New VocabularyNew vocabulary will be highlighted in green. Please

write down each new word for review at the end of the class.

polyps algae

ecosystemhabitat

zooxanthellae tentacles


Introduction to Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are amazing, natural wonders that live in the warm waters of the tropics, providing habitat for thousands of marine creatures.


Corals- ANIMAL or PLANT?


Coral is an ANIMAL!

• Coral is actually an animal. • They live attached to the sea

floor.• They are the builders of the reef!• A single coral animal is called a

coral polyp. • The coral polyps live together in

colonies.

The coral polyps live inside here


Polyps Outside!

Polyps Inside

Tiny, little animals!


What do they eat?

• To get energy to build the coral reef the corals need to eat.

• The polyps use their tentacles to catch tiny animals that float in the water called zooplankton.

• But corals get MOST of their food from marine plants that actually live inside the coral!

A coral polyp


What do they eat?

• A microscopic type of algae called zooxanthellae actually live inside corals, just under their skin.

• Corals are solar-powered just like trees on land. The algae that live inside the coral soak up the sun all day - just like sunbathers on the beach.

A coral polyp


Zooxanthellae

Coral polyp

Coral colony

Corals

Coral Reef


• The Great Barrier Reef is the largest system in the world and can be seen from outer space.

• Corals produce a hard skeleton that forms the actual structure of the reef.

• Coral reefs have the second highest biodiversity after rainforests.

Interesting Coral Reef Facts


Why are coral reefs important?• Habitat: They are home

to 33% of all known fish species.

• Nursery: And a nursery ground for over 25% of all marine species.

Photo by J. RandallPhoto by Dee Wescott

Photo by MacGillivray Freeman Films

http://fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesSummary.cfm?ID=877&what=species


Why are coral reefs important?• Income: they provide millions

of dollars of income annually for people living by coral reefs.

• Medical Research: coral reefs have the potential to be used as medical cures to treat cancer, heart disease, HIV and arthritis among others.

• Protection: they protect 20% of the world’s coast from wave erosion.

• Food: they are a food source for millions of people.

• Tourism: coral reefs attract tourists from all over the world.


What is a healthy environment for coral reefs?• Sunlight

• A certain salinity• Low nutrient, clear water• Water temperature 18-29

ºC • Water circulation

Photo by MacGillivray Freeman Films


What are the man-made threats to coral reefs?

• Global warming leading to coral bleaching.

• Runoff of chemicals and nutrients from land

• Sedimentation.• Rubbish including

marine debris• Overfishing • Physical damage from

tourists and fishermen• Pollution from

untreated sewage and oil.

An example of coral bleaching.


What plants live on coral reefs?

Algae - lots of different types!


•

What animals live on the reef?

Turtles!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Chelonia_mydas_is_going_for_the_air.jpg


Crayfish

What animals live on coral reefs?


Hard coral




Giant clams


Parrotfish




Butterflyfish


Surgeonfish



Damselfish



Damselfish includingClownfish, like Nemo!



Cleaner shrimp



Sponges



Coral Trout



Sharks



THE END!

Perhaps you can join them one day!

Documents

Coral reefs and_their_marine_families