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Coral Reef Project

Coral Reef communities are their own ecosystems, with their own animals, plants, and other forms of life, such as coral and zooplankton. Coral reefs are made up of many exoskeletons of coral animals. These skeletons are the outer shells of small, hard animals called coral polyps. These animals have limestone skeletons which contain calcium. The polyps grow and sub-divide into millions of organisms. Their skeletons fuse together and build up over time, causing a buildup of calcium. This buildup forms the reef, and as the polyps grow, more polyps die, and the reef continues to grow. These reefs re found in warm shallow seas, because the coral animals need an environment with warm temperatures. The types of corals that form coral reef cannot survive in waters colder than 65 degrees F. Corals are usually less then 1 inch in diameter, and have a cylindrical body. Some corals can grow to be as large as 1 foot, however this is rare. The coral polyp's body has a mouth at one end and the other end is what links it to the other corals. Some types of corals are very valuable, and are sought by coral collectors. These types of corals are not the types which forms a reef, but it shows how corals can be taken from their ecosystem for gem and souvenir purposes. However, when a tourist breaks off a piece of coral, it upsets the ecosystem of that reef. The polyps feed on zooplankton, and other animals feed on the polyps. Corals cannot grow in the murky waters close to shore because it does not allow enough sunlight through to feed the corals. When polyps are killed, the water becomes murky with the abundance of zooplankton. This kills more polyps, and as a result, forces the animals which feed on those polyps into a decline. This pattern continues throughout the food chain, and can cause total reef destruction or collapse. The same thing also happens when fishermen over fish a coral reef. The same thing happens: The missing link in the food chain causes an abundance of animals which kill other animals and the whole chain collapses.

Coral reefs may not seem to have tremendous value, but they do. In one year, Florida's coral reefs alone are worth $1.6 billion a year in tourist revenues. The healthier the reefs are, the prettier they are, and the more tourists they attract. In addition, coral reefs provide a large source of food and fishing revenue. Many popular types of seafood come from coral reefs. Some examples of these are giant clams and lobsters.

MAIN IDEAS: - Elevated ridge on the sea floor.
- Exoskeletons of sea animals form it.
- Ecosystems in tropical climates.

A coral reef is an elevated ridge in a shallow area of the seafloor. They are formed when calcium-containing, (calcareous), exoskeletons build up into a rock like formation. Exoskeletons are sea animals which have their skeletons on the outside, as opposed to inside their bodies. These animals consist of coral animals, red algae, and mollusks. When generation after generation of these animals have have living coral growing off of them, it forms a coral reef. Reefs don't grow terribly fast, but they are living. They grow approximately one to twenty inches per year.

Coral reefs, which are ecosystems, grow in seas of tropical climates, about 30º to each side of the equtor(north and south). They can only form in waters warmer then 20ºC, or 68ºF, so coral reefs are common in seas such as the Carribbean.

MAIN IDEAS: - 20 degrees north and south, tropical regions
- 3 primary regions: Indo-Pacific, Western Atlantic, Red Sea

Coral Reefs are located in three primary regions between 20 degrees north and south. The three regions are the Indo-Pacific, Western Atlantic, and Red Sea. The Indo-Pacific region is the largest of the three and has the richest and most diverse assemblage of reefs. The Red Sea is the smallest region and was only considered a primary region because of its large diversity of coral life. 60% of the world1s reefs are located in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea while 25% are in the Pacific Ocean and 15% of the coral reefs are in the Caribbean. Many of the reefs in the Pacific are isolated atolls in the middle of the ocean. These reefs are called Lagoon Islands and were referred to as "curious rings of coral" by early explorers.

MAIN IDEAS: - 3 types: Fringing-along coasts, Barrier-lagoon between coast, Atoll-circular island
- Zones: Bank reefs-deep bottom irregularities, Reef flats-non-exposed, Reef Crest-top protecting against waves, Coral Terrace-step-like

There are three main types of reefs. Fringing reefs are attached to or are very close to the coast. They grow in clear, shallow waters. Barrier reefs are like fringing reefs except for a wide lagoon, about 30 meters deep, separating barrier reefs from land. Lagoons form from sediment washing off the land and into the shallow waters offshore. Since corals only grow in clear water, the reef is created farther offshore. Barrier reefs may also form from sea level changes over long periods of time. Sea level drops and rises occur during ice ages. During ice ages, coral reefs grow along shorelines. As the ice melts and the sea level rises, the shorelines move inland but the reefs continue growing in the same place. Deep corals, that are now drowned, formed when the sea level was lower. Often in lagoons, behind coral reefs, patch and pinnacle reefs form. These reefs form from pieces of coral broken off a barrier reef. Patch reefs may also form on their own in clear waters. Most reefs are split into zo nes. Bank reefs, reef flats, reef crests, and coral terraces. Bank reefs form on deep sea irregularities. Reef flats are non-exposed sections of the reef along with the step-like coral terrace. The reef crest is the top of the reef and often serves as a barrier against large waves, protecting the shore. Atolls are reefs which are in circular or semicircular shapes. They form on the edge of volcanoes because of the plentiful supply of calcium carbonate released from the volcano. The volcano sinks after time while the atoll builds upwards.

MAIN IDEAS: - Many different species of animals.
- 1/4 of all marine animasl live in coral reefs
- Animals use coral reefs for food and shelter

There are many different kinds of animals that live on coral reefs. They need it for food and shelter. Although they cover only 17% of the ocean, one fourth of all marine animals live on coral reefs. An estimated 40,000 species of fish live on them. There are many kinds of fungi, sponges, sea worms, crustaceans, and mollusks that make holes in coral skeletons. Sponges live in cavities in the reef. They take calcium carbonate out of the reef. They also use it for protection from predators. Angel fish are some of the few animals that eat sponges. Animals like shrimps and crabs need it for shelter. The parrot fish is also protected by the coral. Large fish are some of the seaweed. If there is too much seaweed, it can engulf the reef and cause many corals to die. Sea urchins also eat seaweed. Some other animals that live on coral reefs are moon jellies, sea wasps, upside down jellyfish, man-of-wars, winged pearl oysters, moray eels, and groupers. Moon jellies have a bluish and transparent body. They are up to 25 centimeters (1 foot) across. It swims with its mouth down, like most jellyfish, but turns over when it settles. Portuguese man-of-wars live in many coral reefs, but most live in the Florida Keys. Windged pearl oysters are long and brownish purple. Moray eels have large, sharp teeth. They live in crevices in the reef. Most of the 80 kinds of Moray eels are 4 or 5 feet long when they are full grown, and there are some that are 10 feet long. Groupers can be 50 pounds. Some live in the Bahamas. These are only some of the many animals that live on coral reefs.

MAIN IDEAS: - Reefs dying all over the world.
- Human development causes more pollutants that destroy coral reefs.
- Tourist are bad for coral.
- Large storms can break up coral.
- Some animals eat coral.

There are many threats to coral reefs all over the world. 66% of the world reefs are endangered, and 10% are considered beyoned recover. Increasing human development is probably the biggest problem for coral reefs. As more industrail plants are created there are increasing amounts of oils and pollutants that leak onto coral reefs. There are also great amounts of herbacides, pesticides, and sewage. Another big problem for coral reefs is overfishing. Nowadays fisherpeople use explosives and poisons to kill fish. Obviously, this destroys coral. Anchors of large boats drag along and destroy coral. Increasing tourism is also a problem. Many shops harvest the best samples of coral to sell as souveniers to tourists. And also many scubadivers destroy and trample coral unknowningly.

There are also several natural threats to coral reefs. Hurricanes and typhoons bring large waves and heavy rains which breaks down coral reefs. When the coral breaks apart, algae overgrows the coral because algae grows faster. There are also several animals which eat coral. Most notably the Acanthaster Planci which is a type of starfish that eats huge amounts of coral. Other animals which eat corals are fish and many types of gastropods.

MAIN IDEAS:
-Satellite Imagery can help analyze the damage done to a coral reef as a whole
-Satellite images reflect overall changes in reef structure that may not be visible up close
-Satellite images can help to view multiple reefs, exposing global trends

Coral reef studies can be much aided through the use of satellite imagery or photography. The widened perspective of a satellite can help to expose trends not visible when examinging a reef up close. Satellite images can also be used to view multiple reefs, to check if the changes in a particular reef are also represented in most reefs around the world. This would expose changes in the reef due to changes on a global scale (Such as global warming), and this would also eliminate certain types of dameage that were also observed on a global scale when trying to determine if reef damage is the result of a localized event (Such as pollution, collision with a vessel, overfishing, etc). Satellite photos also help to view wider destruction caused by events such as a boat running aground on a reef-With the satellite image, damage occurring from and event such as a shockwave through the reef from the vessel striking the reef would be more apparent than if only the area of the strike was examined. The picture of the Cayman island shown above is a good example of how satellite photos can help when analyzing a wide area-reef trends around this island can be viewed in this one photograph, allowing researchers to determine what areas would benefit from a more detailed, but time-consuming, dive research expedition.