What is an Ecosystem?
Everything in the natural world is connected. An ecosystem is a community of living and
non-living things that work together. Ecosystems have no particular size. An ecosystem can
be as large as a desert or a lake or as small as a tree or a puddle. The water, water
temperature, plants, animals, air, light and soil all work together. If there isn't enough
light or water or if the soil doesn't have the right nutrients, the plants will die. If the
plants die, animals that depend on them will die. If the animals that depend on the plants
die, any animal’s that depend on those animals will die. Ecosystems in nature work the same
way. All the parts work together to make a balanced system!
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwepecosystems.htm
What is a Coral Reef?
Coral reefs are bustling underwater communities inhabited by thousands of species of
animals and plants. Often mistaken for rocks or plants, coral is actually the limestone
skeleton of a tiny spineless animal called a coral polyp. Coral reefs are mostly found in
shallow tropical water, and are among the world's most endangered ecosystems.
http://www.surfnetkids.com/coralreef.htm
What two types of animals live on Coral Reefs?
Two major groups of animals inhabit coral reefs: animals with backbones (called
vertebrates) and those without these structures (called invertebrates).
Vertebrates:
Reef Fishes
Reef fish © Fotolia.com
Of the several types of vertebrate animals commonly found on coral reefs, fishes are the
only group normally present in great abundance and diversity. Hundreds or even thousands
of different species may be found in some of the larger reef ecosystems.
Sea Snakes
Sea snake © Fotolia.com
Sea snakes have evolved from terrestrial snakes, and like all reptiles are air breathers.
Adaptations for aquatic life include paddle-like tails and laterally compressed bodies, both
of which enhance swimming ability.
Sea Turtles
Sea turtle © Fotolia
On both Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs, the species most often seen resting on the reef
proper is the Hawksbill turtle, a species that also feeds in the lagoon or back reef zone of
coral reef ecosystems. Hawksbill turtles have been heavily overexploited for their meat
and shells, and are listed by the IUCN as "critically endangered".
Sea turtle research and conservation efforts are underway around the world to try to
stem the declines of the once large populations of these beautiful animals.
Manatees
Manatee © Fotolia
Manatees (Caribbean) were once plentiful in coral reef lagoons. These peaceful giants related to elephants - consume prodigious quantities of seagrasses.
Where is the closet Coral Reef to us?
Coral reefs are found in all three of the Earth's oceans that have portions in the tropics.
These include the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean (including the Red Sea).
Within these three oceanic basins, three main regions of coral reef development are
generally distinguished by coral reef biologists:

Indo-Pacific Region

Wider Caribbean

Red Sea
However, coral reefs are by no means randomly scattered throughout these oceans.
Rather, as with all biomes, coral reef distribution is mainly determined by a particular set
of environmental conditions under which the dominant species that build that kind of
ecosystem thrive.
The closest to us is the Wider Caribbean. This region spans the entire Caribbean Sea
proper (including the Antilles), as well as The Bahamas and south Florida to the north.
http://www.coral-reef-info.com/where-are-coral-reefs-located.html
What is Aquarius and where is it?
Aquarius is an underwater laboratory and home to scientists for missions up to 10 days
long.
Presently, Aquarius is located in a sand patch adjacent to deep coral reefs in the Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary, at depth of 63 feet.
The laboratory is attached to a baseplate that positions the underwater habitat
(underwater laboratories are also called habitats) about 13 feet off the bottom. This
means that the working depth of those inside the laboratory is about 50 feet deep.
Located inside the 81–ton, 43 x 20 x 16.5–foot underwater laboratory are all the comforts
of home: six bunks, a shower and toilet, instant hot water, a microwave, trash compactor,
and a refrigerator even air conditioning and computers linked back to the shore base,
located in Key Largo, by wireless telemetry!