CORAL REEFS The Tropical Rainforest of the Sea….

Where did Nemo live? What was the video about? What were some of the other creatures that lived with Nemo? Have you ever visited an environment like the one Nemo lived in?

Key for study Home Page- Clicking on this link takes you back to the home page ‘ The Activity Bug ’ - Clicking on this link takes you to the student activity to help you understand the material better. Pointer Icon- when you see this symbol over an object or word, click on it to take you to the next link. Video Link

Location Human Impact Location Formation of Reefs Conservation Value of Reefs Click on the links to see what you should know at the end of the lesson.

Where are Reefs located? Here, in the tropical zone between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn

Meso-American Barrier Reef and reefs of the Caribbean S.E. Asia Great Barrier Reef- found in the pacific ocean. Group Activity: On your world map shade these areas. Here are some examples of major reef systems

But…what are reefs? Let’s find out! Before we begin, print or copy the questions from the activity bug to help guide you along. Put this in your notebook as part of your portfolio.

What do you want to do? Test Myself Watch another video Move on and get more info!

In your notebook…. Write an explanation as to how the coral polyps regenerate themselves.

Coral Reef formation Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to submerged rocks or other hard surfaces along the edges of islands or continents. New corals are built upon older ones, creating uniquely shaped reefs. Lets’ look at the video to get a better understanding.

Test your understanding…name each type of reef found in the photographs below.

Lets see how well you did, click on the photo for the correct answer. Barrier Reef Fringing Reef Patch Reef Atoll

A review-How an Atoll forms Atolls are rings of reef, often encircling an island (sand and coral rubble). They typically have a shallow, sandy, sheltered lagoon in the middle. Access to the open sea beyond is through a number of channels. These provide fresh and colder water for the lagoons. Corals atolls are on the top of submarine mountains. These mountains are remnants of volcanoes. once there were fringing reefs around the volcano. As it slowly submerged the corals continued to grow up to the surface of the water. what remained after the volcano became invisible Is a ring of coral reefs surrounded by deep ocean. However some atolls were probably formed by rising sea levels rather by the sinking of islands. other theories suggest that corals colonized eroded limestone formations, so called “karstic saucers”.

Hard Coral Species found in the Caribbean

They do produce smaller amounts of calcium carbonate however that help them keep their shape. Soft corals can be distinguished from hard corals by the fact that soft coral polyps always have eight tentacles, while hard coral polyps have multiples of six tentacles. Soft corals are also animals but they look like colorful plants or graceful trees and are not reef-building since they do not produce the hard calcified skeleton of many reef-building corals. Sunset Cup Coral Red Fingers

Answer Questions in notebook : From: Caribbean Environmental Geography for lower secondary schools- VA Rahil, p. 115: 1.Describe two conditions that are required for the formation of coral reefs. 2.Draw labelled diagrams to show the different types of coral reefs.

So, what’s happening with reefs?

And….

So, What can you do? Brainstorm as a group, and create a plan!

At the end of this lesson you should be able to: 1. Be able to locate on a map at least 3 areas of coral reef formation in the world Be able to insert/ shade/ label the latitudes between which warm and cold coral reefs are found on a map. Name the oceans and seas Location

At the end of this lesson you should be able to: 1. Be able to list the conditions necessary for coral formation Give a brief outline of how coral reefs are formed Identify types of reef formed and illustrate with examples. Formation of Reefs

At the end of this lesson you should be able to: 1. Be able to give at least 3 reasons why reefs are important to man. Give actual examples of which people and or countries reefs have had benefit too. Write in your own words to show how reefs are important to you. Value of Reefs

At the end of this lesson you should be able to: 1. Be able to list the ways in which man uses the reef. Explain at least 3 ways as to how his actions cause the reef to get damaged. Human Impact

At the end of this lesson you should be able to: 1. Give at least 2 ways in which the reefs are being saved or regenerated. Give at least 1 example in the world reef conservation is taking place Name at least 1 organisation that is assisting with reef conservation. Conservation