Coral Reef - 2578 Words

CORAL REEFS Almost every one of us have heard and most of you have seen the Coral reefs but did you know what actually these are: As a mariner its important to know about the marine life, that was one reason I have chosen this topic for my todays short presentation. GM, my scheme of presentation will be as flashed: DEFINATION OF CORAL REEF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CORAL AND CORAL POLYP WHERE WE CAN FIND CORAL CONSTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH OF CORAL REEFS TYPES OF CORAL REEFS THREAT TO CROAL REEFS WHAT SHOULD A MARINER DO IN CORAL RICH AREAS FUTURE OF CORAL REEFS CONCLUSION What is a coral reef? Coral reefs are huge structures made of limestone that is deposited by living things. There are†¦show more content†¦Corals dont grow very well near river openings or costal areas with too much, because corals need salt water to survive. What do corals need to survive? #61623; Sunlight: Corals need to grow in shallow water where sunlight can reach them. Since corals depend on the zooxanthellae (algae) that grow inside of them and this algae needs sunlight to survive, corals too need sunlight to survive. Therefore, corals rarely develop deeper than 50 meters (165 feet). #61623; Clear Water: Corals need clear water to survive and dont thrive well when the water is opaque. Sediment and plankton can cloud the water which decreases the amount of sunlight that reaches the zooxanthellae. #61623; Temperature: Reef building corals require warm water conditions to survive. Different corals living in different regions can withstand different temperature fluctuations. However, corals generally live in water temperatures ranging from 20 to 32 degrees Celsius (68 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit). #61623; Clean Water: Corals are sensitive to pollution and sediments. Sediments can settle on coral, blocking out sunlight and smothering coral polyps. Pollution from sewage and fertilizers increases nutrient levels in the water, harming corals. When there are too many nutrients in the water, the ecological balance of the coral community is altered. #61623; Saltwater: Corals need saltwater to survive and require a certain balance in the ratio of salt to water. This isShow MoreRelatedCoral Reefs And Coral Reef1180 Words   |  5 Pages Coral reefs in Belize have declined in abundance over the past decade. The reefs have experienced massive losses due to many local and global stressors such as bleaching, disease, sewage, overfishing, climate change, and tourism damage. After Hurricane Iris in 2001, the coral reef in Belize was left for the dead due to no growth. Direct impacts such as hurricanes are associated with the loss of architectural complexity of coral habitats. The loss of this coral reef complication drives the declineRead MoreThe Reefs And Its Effects On The Coral Reefs1608 Words   |  7 Pagesthere are many coral reefs. This island I chose to look at, is called Desecheo Island or Isla de Desecheo. It s just of the coast of Puerto Rico. The coral reefs in the island are continental reefs according to geomorphologists( people who study physical features of the Earth’s surface). It is a fringing reef around the coast of the island and a shelf reef beyond that. In the fringing reef, the depth of th e reef is mixed between shallow and deep. When it gets near the shelf reef areas, the depthRead MoreCoral Reefs : The Ecosystem860 Words   |  4 PagesCoral reefs are an essential component to the ecosystems in Hawaii. Coral reefs are comprised of numerous Cnidarian species that grow sympatrically to form structured colonies. Coral reef colonies support a wide range of marine wildlife. The marine animals utilize coral reefs as their habitat, as a source of food, and as a catalyst for community interactions. Coral reef communities that are well established are known to be highly biodiverse. Coral reefs are known as the tropical rainforests of theRead MoreImminent Threats to Coral Reefs996 Words   |  4 PagesCoral reefs are fragile ecosystems, and even a slight change in their marine habitat could drastically impact the corals, and other marine life too. One of the main threats to the reefs is climate change. As global warming occurs through out the world, the ocean waters will also start to get warmer, which is what is known as ocean warming. Even 2 degrees Celsius change in the water can have a massive impact on the corals. This is because the corals can feel this slight change and will start to feelRead MoreCoral Reefs Essay722 Words   |  3 PagesCoral reefs are very diverse ecosystems. They are â€Å"the rainforest of the sea†. Coral reefs can be very big or very small. The Great Barrier Reef (Australia) is 1,600 miles long and 40 miles wide. They are very important for o ur ocean, they provide food and home for many of the fish in the ocean. For some fish, coral reefs are the only viable food source or shelter they have. Coral reefs are very important. Coral reefs are made by individual coral that join together to form a coral colony. EachRead MoreCoral Reef Degradation : Impact On People920 Words   |  4 PagesCoral Reef Degradation: Impact on People Coral reefs are sometimes referred to as the â€Å"rainforest of the sea.† They are the home to a large group of different marine animals. Other than upholding biodiversity, coral reefs act as a natural barrier that protects coastal areas from hurricanes and erosion; allurement for tourism that provides new jobs and income to economies; are new probable medication for treatments such as many illnesses and diseases. Coral reefs act as a natural barrier that protectsRead MoreThe Human Impacts Of Coral Reefs Essay1383 Words   |  6 Pagesless than 1% of the world oceans, the coral reefs are ancient animals comprising of thin calcium carbonate deposits within the photic layer. Aside from its biologically diverse ecosystems, coral reefs are major source of food for millions and provides habitats and nursery areas for many marine organisms. Coral reefs also act as a physical buffer to protect the coastlines from tropical storms and erosion. In addition, many local communities rely on coral reefs to generate an income through activitiesRead MoreCoral Reefs Need Help2489 Words   |  10 Pagestaking care of endangered coral reefs now! World government leaders should establish laws to protect them. People may ask, â€Å"If coral reefs are in such danger, why don’t we fix the problem since they provide benefits for the whole world?† Frankly, it’s not that simple. Protecting enda ngered coral reefs will provide the whole world with long lasting benefits. To figure out how to solve the problem, we must start with the benefits they provide for humans and nonhumans. Coral reefs support 128 corallivorousRead MoreThe Endangerment Of Coral Reefs1685 Words   |  7 Pagesof Coral Reefs When people, tourists especially, ask themselves what is one of the most memorable moments they have experienced in the Florida Keys, the first thing that comes to mind is the ocean. Not only the ocean in general, but what is beyond, or in other words, â€Å" what is beneath?†. Far in the aquamarine water there is another world that people do not even know about, where many different species of life come together and form a place of peace and beauty. This world is called a coral reefRead MoreEssay on â€Å"The Sad Fate of Coral Reefs†1077 Words   |  5 Pageslies with the â€Å"Rainforests of the Sea†, the coral reefs. Coral reefs are the most diverse and biologically richest of all marine ecosystems. As with almost every ecosystem and its members, coral reefs provide several ecosystem services. For instance, coral reefs serve as natural barriers against hurricanes and catastrophic storm surges, their chemicals may treat diseases, and they are a nitrogen fixation. On of the most important functions of coral reefs are that they are a major source of food for