CoralsCoralsRainforests of the Rainforests of the

oceanocean

What does this map show?What does this map show?

Coral Reef Distribution Coral Reef Distribution WorldwideWorldwide

What should you know What should you know about corals?about corals?

They are animals that live They are animals that live in in coloniescolonies or groups of or groups of many individual animals many individual animals living togetherliving together

Structure and FunctionStructure and Function Two kindsTwo kinds

Soft coralsSoft corals Hard corals (These build Hard corals (These build reefs!)reefs!)

They are made of tiny polyps They are made of tiny polyps (about the diameter of a (about the diameter of a pencil) which look like pencil) which look like upside-down jellyfishupside-down jellyfish

Coral reefs are home to more Coral reefs are home to more species of fish and invertebrate species of fish and invertebrate animals than any other ecosystem animals than any other ecosystem on our planet!on our planet!

Hard CoralsHard CoralsThe Reef BuildersThe Reef Builders

Polyps build hard Polyps build hard limestone (CaCOlimestone (CaCO33) ) cups around their basescups around their bases

The cups cement The cups cement together to make a together to make a coral colonycoral colony

Reefs are made of Reefs are made of hundreds of hard coral hundreds of hard coral colonies next to and on colonies next to and on top of each other top of each other formed over many formed over many generations (0.5-10cm generations (0.5-10cm yearly) yearly)

What’s a Polyp?What’s a Polyp? Tentacles release Tentacles release stinging cells when stinging cells when something brushes something brushes by themby them

Polyps make their Polyps make their own limestone cup own limestone cup to hide in during to hide in during the daythe day

At night, polyps At night, polyps come out to catch come out to catch plankton floating plankton floating by.by.

Zoo-what!?! Zoo-what!?! Algae, Coral Polyps’ Algae, Coral Polyps’

TenantsTenants

Plants live inside the corals!Plants live inside the corals! Inside polyps live zooxanthellae, Inside polyps live zooxanthellae, which are algae.which are algae.

Zooxanthellae give corals their Zooxanthellae give corals their color.color.

Since algae are plants, they use Since algae are plants, they use sunlight and COsunlight and CO22 to make food to make food (the process known as (the process known as photosynthesis).photosynthesis).

Symbiosis : :So Happy TogetherSo Happy Together

Two organisms living together and Two organisms living together and helping each other is called helping each other is called symbiosissymbiosis.. Zooxanthellae make oxygen, remove Zooxanthellae make oxygen, remove the polyp’s wastes, and make food the polyp’s wastes, and make food for the polyp from photosynthesis.for the polyp from photosynthesis.

Coral polyps protect the Coral polyps protect the zooxanthellae, release COzooxanthellae, release CO22, and , and provide it with necessary nutrients provide it with necessary nutrients from their own waste.from their own waste.

Biological Biological InteractionsInteractions

The relationships that exist in The relationships that exist in nature can be applied to nature can be applied to virtually any situationvirtually any situation

Examples include:Examples include:

a)a)Mutualism (+ / +)Mutualism (+ / +)

b)b)Commensalism (+ / 0)Commensalism (+ / 0)

c)c)Parasitism or Amensalism (+ / Parasitism or Amensalism (+ / -)-)

Mutually Beneficial Mutually Beneficial SymbiosisSymbiosis

A Win-Win SituationA Win-Win Situation

Humans and domesticated Humans and domesticated animals animals

Bumblebee and flowersBumblebee and flowers Lichens (fungi and algae)Lichens (fungi and algae) Your intestine and bacteriaYour intestine and bacteria Moray eels and cleaner shrimpMoray eels and cleaner shrimp

How are these mutually How are these mutually symbiotic?symbiotic?

Drivers and passengers in a Drivers and passengers in a carpoolcarpool

Tenants and landlordsTenants and landlords

                             

   

Parasitic Symbiosis Parasitic Symbiosis A Win-Lose SituationA Win-Lose Situation

Tapeworms and intestinesTapeworms and intestines Ticks and dogsTicks and dogs Mistletoe and treesMistletoe and trees Lice and human hair!Lice and human hair!

Reef Types:Reef Types:

Fringing Reefs Fringing Reefs are directly attached to a are directly attached to a shore, or borders it with an intervening shore, or borders it with an intervening shallow channel or lagoonshallow channel or lagoon

Barrier reefs Barrier reefs are a reef separated from a are a reef separated from a mainland or island shore by a deep mainland or island shore by a deep channel or lagoon but lie several channel or lagoon but lie several kilometers offshorekilometers offshore

AtollsAtolls this more or less circular or this more or less circular or continuous barrier reef extending all the continuous barrier reef extending all the way around a lagoon without a central way around a lagoon without a central island.island.

Artifical Reef EcosystemsArtifical Reef Ecosystems

Threats (natural and Threats (natural and human):human):

Coral bleachingCoral bleaching Storms and hurricanesStorms and hurricanes Bacterial infections Bacterial infections Temperature change (thermal Temperature change (thermal pollution)pollution)

BoatingBoating Snorkeling/DivingSnorkeling/Diving OverfishingOverfishing

Coral BleachingCoral Bleaching

Bleaching occurs when the conditions Bleaching occurs when the conditions necessary to sustain the coral's necessary to sustain the coral's zooxanthellae cannot be maintained. zooxanthellae cannot be maintained.

Any environmental trigger that affects Any environmental trigger that affects the coral's ability to supply the the coral's ability to supply the zooxanthellae with nutrients for zooxanthellae with nutrients for photosynthesis will lead their photosynthesis will lead their expulsionexpulsion

This results in a loss of color for the This results in a loss of color for the corals exposing their white skeletonscorals exposing their white skeletons

Why protect the reefs:Why protect the reefs:

BiodiversityBiodiversity Preventing ErosionPreventing Erosion Food SupplyFood Supply Recreational/Economic Recreational/Economic ActivitiesActivities

Antibiotic & Anti-Antibiotic & Anti-inflammatory Drugsinflammatory Drugs

Ways we can protect the Ways we can protect the reefs:reefs:

Clean up after yourself (waste Clean up after yourself (waste collection)collection)

Avoid physical contact Avoid physical contact Do not remove anything from the reefDo not remove anything from the reef Don’t disturb the surrounding environmentDon’t disturb the surrounding environment Be careful when dropping an anchor near Be careful when dropping an anchor near the reefthe reef

Choose eco-friendly tourism when visiting Choose eco-friendly tourism when visiting these or any other fragile ecosystemthese or any other fragile ecosystem