Coral reef
by
Lyxchel Cummings
109 countries have Coral reefs. The
Great Barrier Reef is the largest Coral
formation in the planet, it is located in
Queensland, Australia.
 Most Coral reefs are found in shallow
tropical waters along the shores of
islands and continents. The majority
of Coral reefs are found in the Pacific
Ocean spanning from Australia to the
Philippine Islands. Others are
located in the Caribbean Islands and
on the Atlantic Ocean floors.

One of the many types of Coral.
The Rainforest of the Sea
 The
Coral reef has been described as
the rainforest of the sea because
biodiversity in both ecosystems are
so similar.
 Coral reefs are the home of some of
the most colorful and most
interesting types of fish, plants, and
animals.
Plant or animal?
What is Coral Reef?
• Coral reef’s are animals not plants. They
are made up of tiny organisms called coral
polyps.
Polyps



Coral heads are not a single
organism they are a group of many
individual; but identical polyps.
Usually a few millimeters in size.
Their diets consist of microscopic
plankton, small organisms, and tiny
fish.
Tiny fish dining out
 Small
fish are definitely part of the Coral’s
diet they mostly depend upon the nutrients
from the photosynthetic unicellular algae
(zooxanthellae).
 Coral has tentacles that sting the small
fish.
Reproduction
 Corals
can be both sexual and
asexual.
 Hermatypic corals release gametes
(eggs and sperm) into the water in
order to spread their offspring.
 Several thousand larvae are
produced each year by the colonies
in order to increase the odds of
survival.
 Only a few new colonies will be able
 All
spawning is done at the same time by
the many different types of coral.
 The gametes cloud the water during this
time and it is usually done at night..
 The Coral rely on cues from the
environment; lunar changes, sunset type
and chemical signals to synchronize this
event.
The coral’s rich colors are provided by
tiny algae.
Color

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Coral is actually clear.
The color comes from the
zooxanthellae .(a single cell algae)
which lives inside the coral tissue.
Corals become clear when they
expel their zooxanthellae which
allows you to see the white calcium
carbonate skeletons, a process
known as bleaching
Bleached Coral
• Humans as well as Natural causes have
led to the degradation of the Coral reef

Global warming has been blamed for the
bleaching of Coal reefs, however many factors
come into play.
Threats to the Coral
• Crown of Thorn Starfish-eat the particles
from runoff that cause algae growth. They
also eat on the polyps in excess which
causes damage to the Coral.
Salinity decrease due to excessive rain
 Increases and decreases in water
temperature over a period of time.
 ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)
activities during the 1980’s caused
substantial bleaching
 When acid is increased in ocean waters, it
is hard for the Coral to form shells, as well
as many other marine life species.

Contributors to ocean acidity
Testing of Coral reefs is crucial in
our attempts to preserve them
• Knowledge about species in the ocean
waters is steadily increasing.
Important to Humans
Chemical compounds derived from
Corals are used in medicines for
cancer, pain, AIDS, and bone grafting
in humans.
Local food source
Tourist income
Jewelry rarity (Red Coral/Fire Coral)
due to over harvesting
How the Coral reef affects the
ecosystem of the ocean
Coral Reefs are not extinct
It is possible for Corals to flourish again
once they have been damaged.
 In time coral reefs replenish themselves
but it will be a slow process!
