1. Notes: Coral Reef

2.  Characteristics  Coral reefs are massive biological communities and geologic structures.  Made of Calcium carbonate  Corals – small sessile cnidarians that live as polyps eat zooplankton (night)eat zooplankton (night) common nervous and digestive systemcommon nervous and digestive system colony begins with one polyp that clones itself.colony begins with one polyp that clones itself.

3. Anatomy of Coral

4. Zooxanthellae and Coralline Red Algae  Corals contain symbiotic zooxanthellae photosynthetic algae that live within the coral. photosynthetic algae that live within the coral. help coral deposit CaCO 3 faster help coral deposit CaCO 3 faster provide food through photosynthesis (day). provide food through photosynthesis (day).  Coralline red algae – grow in rock hard sheets on the surface of the reef Protect it from wave action Protect it from wave action Trap sediments Trap sediments

5. Location of Coral Reefs  mainly in shallow, warm water near the equator  around continental shelves  around islands  top of seamounts

6. Threats to Coral  Global warming is killing coral – heat stress causing coral to die/bleaching-turn white.  Divers walking on coral  Crown of Thorn Starfish Partial bleaching

7. 3 types of Coral Reefs  Fringing Reef –narrow platforms a short distance from shore and don't contain a substantial lagoon. Example: Red Sea Reef – dry climate.

8. 3 types of Coral Reefs  Barrier Reef – farther from shore than fringing reef. Example: Great Barrier Reef – Australia.

9. 3 types of Coral Reefs  Atoll – a reef that forms around a sunken seamount, usually far from land. Circular shaped with a lagoon in the middle.

10. What type of reef are these?