Coral Reef
Biome
Coral Reef Biome
one of the most important and distinctive
types of biological communities found on
Planet Earth
 home to nearly 25% of all known marine
species
 mostly located in shallow tropical regions of
the Western Pacific, Indian and Atlantic
Oceans.

Types of Coral Reefs
Fringing reefs
Barrier reefs
Atolls
Fringing reefs are those
found along the coastline.
They are along the shallow
waters of the continental
shelf.
Barrier reefs are further out
into the lagoon. They
actually create a barrier
between the sea and the
lagoon area.
Atolls are rings of coral.
They are actually the
remains of volcanoes under
the water.
STRUCTURE OF THE CORAL REEF BIOME
BACK REEF
The back reef of a coral reef
ecosystem is, for linear reefs
(barrier and fringing reefs).
REEF CREST
FORE REEF
The reef crest is the shallowest
part of the reef, and the narrowest
of the 3 major zones that make up
coral reef ecosystems.
The fore reef zone (also often
called the “reef face” or “reef
front“) is the outermost (seaward)
of the three main zones.
Climatic Condition
Precipitation 78.75 inches (yearly)
Temperature Between 68 - 82°F (20 - 28°C)
Humidity
Around 75%
Locations
Indo-Pacific region
This region holds the most
extensive
coral
reefs
globally,
encompassing
countries like Indonesia,
Philippines,
Australia,
Papua New Guinea, Fiji,
and the Maldives.
Caribbean Sea and
Florida Keys
Great Barrier Reef,
Australia
This area boasts vibrant
coral reefs, attracting tourists
and divers worldwide.
This massive coral reef
system,
the
world's
largest, stretches for over
2,300 kilometers along
the northeastern coast of
Australia.
Red Sea
Indian Ocean
Coral reefs thrive in the
clear, warm waters of the
Red Sea, known for their
exceptional biodiversity.
Coral reefs fringe various
islands and coastlines in the
Indian
Ocean,
including
Madagascar, Seychelles, and
Sri Lanka.
Flora
Algae
Seagrass
Algae are major
sources of food for
tiny fish species.
Seagrass thrives in shallow waters of
protected neighboring lagoons,
sometimes known as back reefs.
Fauna
Fish
Coral reefs are home to over 4,000 species of fish,
including vibrantly colored reef fish like clownfish,
angelfish, and butterflyfish, as well as larger
predators like sharks and barracuda.
Invertebrates
A diverse array of invertebrates call coral reefs home,
including crustaceans like lobsters, crabs, and shrimp;
mollusks like clams, oysters, and octopuses; and
echinoderms like starfish, sea urchins, and sea
cucumbers.
Fauna
Marine mammals
Sea turtles
Dolphins, whales, and even dugongs can be found
in and around coral reefs.
Several species of sea turtles, such as the green
sea turtle and the hawksbill sea turtle, use coral
reefs for feeding and nesting.