By Jenny Retig and Natalie Lazaroff

Climatogram

Location of Coral Reefs

5 Common animal species• Angel shark

• Blowfish • Clown Fish

• Horseshoe Crab • Lemon Shark

5 Common Plant species• Red algae Red algae

• Chinese sedumChinese sedum

• Zooxanthellae Zooxanthellae

• Fire CoralFire Coral

• Staghorn Coral Staghorn Coral

Food Web

2 Symbiotic Relationships1. An anemone provides protection for the

clownfish and the clownfish scares away some of the anemone’s predators. This displays a mutual relationship.

2. Algae gives off oxygen and other nutrients that the coral polyp needs to live, and in return, the polyp gives the algae carbon dioxide and other substances that it needs. This is also a mutual relationship.

Biotic and Abiotic Features• BIOTIC FEATURES

– PLANTS• EXAMPLES

– PHYTPPLANKTON– ALGAE– ETC.

– ANIMALS• EXAMPLES:

– SQUID – STARFISH– SNAILS– SHRIMP– SEA ANEMONES

• ABIOTIC FEATURES– CALCIUM CARBONATES – SALINITY OF THE OCEAN – SUNLIGHT THAT EFFECTS THE PRODUCERS ON THE CORAL REEF– LIMESTONE

Human use of coral reefs• Give us information about the species in our world• Visually pleasing---scuba diving• They remove and recycle carbon dioxide• protect land from harsh weather by lessening the

impact from strong waves and storms • big source of biodiversity: without the reef, many of

the plants and animals would die • Some people think coral reefs could provide

medicines for people. For example, some coral skeletons can be used by humans as a bone substitute in reconstructive bone surgery

Environmental damage to the biome

• “It is estimated that we have already lost 10% of the worlds reefs, and scientists say that in the next 50 years many of the coral reefs on Earth will be gone.”

• Destruction results from:– Pollution– Sewage– Erosion– irresponsible fishing– poor tourism practices– global warming

Possible Solutions• Use biodegradable products• Putting chemicals down your drain my

eventually get to the coral reefs even if you don’t live near a coral reef

• Conserve water• Go and visit the coral reefs, but don’t

touch or step on the corals• Pick up trash so it doesn’t get into the

ocean

Fun Facts• “Coral reefs develop in shallow, warm water, usually

near land, and mostly in the tropics; coral prefer temperatures between 70 and 85 ° F (21 - 30 °C). “The Great Barrier Reef (off the coast of NE Australia) is the largest coral reef in the world. It is over 1,257 miles (2000 km) long.”

• Types of reefs:Fringing reefs are reefs that form along a

coastlineBarrier reefs grow parallel to shorelines, but

farther out, usually separated from the land by a deep lagoon.

Coral Atolls are rings of coral that grow on top of old, sunken volcanoes in the ocean.

Sources:• Enchantedlearning.com/biomes/coralreef/

coralreef.shtml• Nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/biomes/

coral.htm• Oceanworld.tamu.edu• http://

www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_aquatic.htm

• www.surf-forecast.com