Coral Reef

GROUP MEMBERS
TISHA BLANCO
DENEVIA HERNANDEZ
JUSTICE REQUENA
KALEAH ROWLAND
What is the coral reef ecosystem?

 The coral reef ecosystem is a diverse collection

of species that interact with each other and the
physical environment. The sun is the initial source
of energy for this ecosystem. Through
photosynthesis, phytoplankton, algae, and other
plants convert light energy into chemical
energy. As animals eat plants or other animals, a
portion of this energy is passed on.
Origin of reefs

 Darwin’s Subsidence Theory:

 Thistheory was put forth by Charles Darwin
in 1837 and modified in 1842, during his
voyage on the Beagle when it became
clear to him that coral polyps could grow
only in shallow waters.
Origin of reefs

 Darwin assumes that along a suitable platform,

coral polyps flocked together and grew upward
towards a low water level. The resulting reef, in
this stable condition, would be a fringing reef.
But, at the same time, Darwin assumes, the sea
floor and the projecting land in coral seas
started submerging, and the living corals
found themselves in deeper waters. Hence, an
urge to grow upward and outward would be
balanced by the subsidence of the land.
Type of coral

 Elkhorn Coral - Acropora palmata

 The branches of the elkhorn coral are flat and
broad, resembling the antlers of elk or moose.
The surface is covered with small, protruding
round cups. It is brown or yellow-brown with
white corallites along the edges, appearing as a
white outline. Colonies cover acres of shallow
reef bottom, just below the low tide line.
 Staghorn Coral - Acropora cervicornis
 Staghorn coral forms antler-like branches growing in tangled dense
thickets. The surface is covered with small, protruding round cups. It is
brown to yellow-brown with a pale tip on the end of each branch. The
tips are quite delicate and easily broken. Found 10-160 feet (3-49 m)
below the surface in protected clear water, colonies cover large areas
of the reef. The staghorn coral is listed as a candidate species for the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 due to its recent decrease in range.
 Lettuce Coral - Agaricia agaricites
 Lettuce coral colonies take on four different forms - hemispherical or
encrusting, thick flat leaf-like plates with valleys and ridges, thick
leaf-like flat plates without valleys and ridges, and lobes. Cups are
located on both the upper and under sides of each colony. All
forms are tan to yellow-brown, gray-brown, or brown with purplish
tinges. This coral is found in most reef habitats, from mangrove areas
and back reefs all the way out to the outer reef and wall.
 Grooved Brain Coral - Diploria labrynthiformis
 Forming round boulders, colonies have deep interconnected valleys
that contain polyps along with broad ridges that have wide, trough-
like grooves running down the middle. The grooved brain coral
appears tan, yellow-brown, or brownish gray. Commonly inhabiting
the seaward slope of the reef, it ranges from 15-50 feet (4.6-15.2 m)
in depth.
 Boulder Star Coral - Monstastrea annularis
 Boulder star corals grow in clusters of thick columns or large boulders
up to 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter. Living polyps are restricted to the
upper portions of the column. The lower portions are usually bio-
eroded and colonized by algae. This coral commonly
occurs at depths between 20-75 feet (6.1-22.9 m), although they
can survive to depths of 160 feet (48.8 m).
 Ivory Bush Coral - Oculina diffusa

 Dense branches growing in clumps are characteristic of the diffuse

ivory bush coral. The short branches are crooked with raised
corallites. It appears yellow-brown, commonly encrusted with
other organisms resulting in a varied color appearance. The
diffuse ivory bush coral thrives in areas of high sedimentation
including hardbottoms, lagoons, and back reef areas to depths of
40 feet (12.2 m).
Darwin's Theory

 As a result of this, Darwin postulated that the fringing

reef, barrier reefs and atolls are only three stages in the
evolutionary growth of a reef
 Fringing Reef This type of reef grows from the deep sea
bottom with the seaward side sloping
steeply into the deep sea.
Coral polyps do not extend outwards
because of sudden and large increase in
depth. The surface of a fringing reef is
rough, as it is covered with coral remains
forming a boulder zone or reef flat.
Pictures of a barrier reef and atoll
reef
Barrier Reef

Atoll Reef
Barrier Reef

 A barrier reef are characterised by distant location of the reef from

the coast with a broader and deeper lagoon, which is sometimes
joined with the sea water through one or more channels cutting
across the barrier reef.
 A barrier reef is very thick, going even below 180 metres from the
surface with the seaward side sloping steeply into the deep sea. The
surface of a barrier reef is covered with coral debris, boulders
and sand
Atoll Reef

 Atolls are located at great distances from deep sea platforms,

where the submarine features may help in formation of atolls, such
as a submerged island or a volcanic cone which may reach a
level suitable for coral growth.
 An atoll may have any one of the following three forms:
 1. True atoll—a circular reef enclosing a lagoon with no island;
 2. An atoll surrounding a lagoon with an island;
 3. A coral island or an atoll island which is, in fact, an atoll
reef, built by the process of erosion and deposition of waves
with island crowns formed on them.
5 Ideal Conditions for Coral Growth:

1. Corals thrive in tropical waters—between 30°N and 30°S latitudes.

 2. The ideal depths for coral growth are 45 m to 55 m below sea
surface, where there is abundant sunlight available.
 3. The temperature of water should be around 20°C.
 4. Clear salt water is suitable for coral growth, while both fresh water
and highly saline water are harmful for polyp growth.
 5. Adequate supply of oxygen and microscopic marine food, called
plankton, is essential for growth and existence. As the food supply is
more abundant on the seaward side, corals grow more rapidly on
the seaward side.
Coral reefs are habitats for ?

 Sponges have been a part of the coral reef ecosystem from early
on. Several species of these porous animals inhabit reefs. Sponges
provide shelter for fishes, shrimps, crabs, and other small animals.
They appear in a variety of shapes and colors.
 Sea anemones are close relatives of corals. Indo- Pacific
reef anemones are known for their symbiotic
relationships with clownfish and anemonefishes. An
anemone's tentacles provide refuge for these fishes and
their eggs. In return, anemonefishes may protect the
anemone from predators such as butterflyfishes.
Anemonefishes may even remove parasites from their
host anemones.

Butterflyfish
Animals

 Angelfish Cardinal Fish

Animals

clam Clownfish
Animals

Dartfish Cutterfish
Animals

eel urchin