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Coral Reef Biome: a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or . tundra 5/22/2017 What’s to Know? From 70 to 85 °F Tropical: Indo-Pacific, Australia, American and African west coasts Western bodies contain 85% more diversity than Caribbean waters Hard or Soft Coral Types: Fringing (1), Barrier (2), Coral Atoll (3) 5/22/2017 Plant Adaptations Zooxanthellae – largest algae, provides unique color and determines if the reef is healthy in presence of bleaching Large cells to absorb more sun in shallow waters and provide vast vegetation Sea grasses- transfer nutrients Mangroves – protect sediment on coral 5/22/2017 Common Plants and Animals E.g. Plants: Animals: Jellyfish Crustaceans Sea Turtles Sea Snakes Sea Stars Snails Mollusks Sponges 5/22/2017 Various Fish Mangroves: build new shorelines, small islands within coral lagoons Seagrass: feeding or nursery plants, meadow-like, regulated by protected waters Coral Reef Threats Destructive fishing practices Coral Mining Cyanide fishing Careless tourism Pollution Sedimentation Global Warming 5/22/2017 Indications: What’s a Healthy Reef Like? Many herbivorous fish – healthy vegetation and oxygen flow Sea Urchins – eat over-populated algae in competition with slow-growing coral, but too much means a loss in nutrient-rich algae Large fish and apex predators like sharks – healthy balance of fish Giant Clams, Conches, and Mollusks – sensitive to change in water acidity (clams), filter feed debris and wastes ABSENSE of coral bleaching and disease – reefs are highly sensitive to temperature change and acidity COLOR = LIFE 5/22/2017 Temperature Ranges Two seasons: Winter – warm temperatures and low rain fall an average of 33mm/month (May-Oct.) Summer – balmy temperatures with a higher rainfall of about 400mm/month (Nov. April) Average Temperature is between 77-84 degrees F 5/22/2017 Food Web Biomes have many trophic levels. Plants and algae, herbivores, and carnivores make it up. E.g. - Barracudas, Sharks, and other Fish 5/22/2017 Animal Adaptions Flatter fish to maneuver coral ●Colors camouflage ●Sessile animals (coral) form immunities to toxins ● 5/22/2017 Unique Creatures Scorpionfishes: spines contain toxins; camouflage well Pufferfishes: Inflatable; contains a spot that is on its back fin to resemble an eye and ward off predators Frogfishes: frog-like; modified dorsal fin; lie motionless and use spine like a rod; large powerful jaws 5/22/2017 Scorpionfish and Frogfish Invasive Species threaten the reef by feeding on common fish. E.g. - lionfish Overgrown algae, starfish 5/22/2017 Keystone Species - Sharks, due to their topdown regulation in coral reeves If they are absent, carnivorous fish increase and damage the ecosystem 5/22/2017 Ecological Services: Food Jobs in fishing Medicine Recreational Deep sea – Biodiversity E.g. - Shrimp, various fish, deep sea coral 5/22/2017 Resource Partitioning: Division of food among species Drives more efficient species to survival → leads to extinction of species and their niche E.g. - Sea stars prey on mussels and shellfish Symbiotic Relationships -Organisms in a mutual giving relationship E. g. - Coral polyp give CO2 to photosythesizing zooanthellae Clownfish and anemones Sponges as shelter for fish 5/22/2017 Endemic Species - Found in a specified region E.g. - polychaetes, sea stars, urchins, crinoids, sea cucumbers Polychaetes Crinoids 5/22/2017 Global Locations Three global regions of coral reef are recognized. - All 3 of the Earth's oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian 5/22/2017