1. A Look at a Marine Biome © Terri Street, 2002
The Coral Reef Biome
A Look at a Marine Biome
© Terri Street, 2002

2. What Is a Coral Reef?
A structure formed by coral polyps, tiny animals that live in colonies.
Coral polyps form a hard, stony, branching structure made of limestone.
New polyps attach to old coral and gradually build the reef.

3. Types of Coral Reefs Fringing reefs Barrier reefs
Submerged platforms of living coral extending from the shore into the sea
Barrier reefs
Follow the shore but are separated from it by water
Great Barrier Reef is world’s largest

4. Types of Coral Reefs Atolls Ring-shaped islands of coral in open sea
Form on submerged mud banks or volcano craters
Surround a seawater lagoon
Channels connect lagoon to the sea

5. A World of Coral Reefs
= Coral Reef

6. Coral Reef Climate Usually found near land in shallow, warm salt water
Lots of light
Tropical temperatures, averaging 70°-85° F
Most coral cannot survive below 65° F

7. Coral Reef Plants Phytoplankton Microscopic
Basis for all ocean food chains

8. Coral Reef Plants Algae Green Red Brown algae takes many forms
Green and red algae contain limestone and when they die, they disintegrate into sand.
Brown algae has many different forms and looks more like seaweed.

9. Coral Reef Plants Seaweed and Sea grasses Brown seaweed Sea grass
Shoal grass
Turtle grass
                          

10. Fascinating Fact: The Great Barrier Reef
World’s largest coral reef
Over 1257 miles long
Off the northeast coast of Australia
Only grows about one inch per year

11. The Great Barrier Reef: Home to…
1500 species of fish
400 different types of coral
4,000 mollusks
500 species of seaweed
215 species of birds
16 species of sea snake
6 species of sea turtle
Whales visit during winter

12. Coral Reef Creatures Coral polyps Tentacles Digestive sac
Connecting filaments
Skeletal body

13. Coral Reef Creatures Symbiotic relationships Coral with algae
Clown fish with sea anemones

14. Coral Reef Creatures Tropical fish Angel fish John Dory Butterfly fish
Sea horse
Octopus
Reef shark

15. Fascinating Fact: The Sea Horse
Very weak swimmers
Female lays eggs, male carries them in pouch till birth
Only animal in which the father gives birth
Body covered with armored plates

16. Sample Food Chain Starfish Coral Octopus Zooplankton Moray Eel
Phytoplankton

17. Endangered Coral Reefs
Major threats to coral reefs include:
Ocean pollution
Dredging off the coast

18. Endangered Coral Reefs
Other dangers:
Careless collection of coral specimens
Sedimentation
Inhibits growth of coral polyps
Inhibits algae growth
Upsets balance of the biome

19. Saving Coral Reefs Oceanguard (Australia-based)
Focus is preserving the Great Barrier Reef
Fight invasions of Crown of Thorns starfish
Education

20. Saving Coral Reefs Reef Relief (Florida-based) Coral Nurseries
Education
Promote reef conservation legislation

21. References
“Coral Reefs.” World Book. Chicago: World Book, Vol. 4, p. 257.
“Coral Reefs.” about.com/kids/kidscience/cs/ coralreefs/