coral reefs - mt. sac 20/lecture...photo diane r nelson the -hitl inc requir«i tor display. photo...
TRANSCRIPT
Coral Reefs
Corals
Phylum?
What stage is dominant?
Two ways that corals obtain food?
Hard Corals - polyps produce calcium carbonate skeletons, which build reefs
Fig. 14.2
Hard Corals - polyps produce calcium carbonate skeletons, which build reefs
Soft Corals – (majority of corals), do not build reefs, lack hard skeleton
ex. black coral, gorgonians, sea fans
Other Reef Builders
Phylum? Name?
Can deposit more calcium carb. than corals
Other Reef Builders
Bryozoans, sponges & shells
Physical Characteristics That Influence Coral Reefs
1. What region are coral reefs limited to?
Fig. 14.11
Coral
Kelp
Highly productive even in low nutrient water!
Physical Characteristics That Influence Coral Reefs
2. Depth at which coral reefs are limited to?
Physical Characteristics That Influence Coral Reefs
3. Other conditions that corals are sensitive too?
Coral Bleaching
What organisms within the corals are dying?
Coral Killers
Crown of Thorns seastar
Overgrowth of algae
Algae & Seastar Consumers
Giant Triton
Coral Killers Sedimentation
Warming
Coral Killers
Coral Killers
Red Sea
June 1998 Sept 1998 Nov 1998