Coral Reef Ecology
By: Tori Roman
Personal Experience
 Summer of 2013 – Vacation in Dominican Republic
 Spontaneous idea to take a scuba dive tour
 Inform on the origins, species, and conditions of coral
reefs all over the world
Origins
 Coral reefs exist from Caribbean Sea to the Indian
Ocean, Great Barrier Reef, Red Sea, Pacific Ocean,
etc.
 Serve as a home to over 9 million different species
 Calcium Carbonate + Corals = Stony Corals
 Biggest reef: Great Barrier that extends for 1,500 miles
Species
 Again around 9 million species, and scientists estimate
there to be another 5 million species to be discovered
 Species are grouped by vertebrates (with a backbone)
and invertebrates (without a backbone)
Vertebrates
Sea Snakes
Fish(es)
Dugongs and Manatees
Sea
Turtles
Invertebrates
Mollusks
Corals
Crustaceans
Sponges
Echinoderms
Conditions
 NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
o Only 46% of the world’s reefs are considered healthy
o Lost 20% of the world’s original coral reef areas
 Damaged by waste from urban life such as sewage, oil
spillage, and agrochemicals
 Overfishing also threatens the food chain and
endangerment of species in coral reefs
Conditions
 Natural causes for destruction of coral reefs are global
warming and climate change
 Global Warming: leads to an increase in coral
bleaching
 Climate: corals cannot survive in temperatures that
drastically vary (cold or hot)
 Scientists hope to put more laws and rules to further
protect coral reef ecology
Conclusion
 Coral reef ecology is full of wonders, beauty, and
mystery.
 Originating from small carbon fibers and corals, to grow
into vast and long environments filled with millions of
species and half of the world’s reefs still remain in full
health.
 And maybe one day, if you haven’t already, will be able
to experience the true marvels of the coral reefs as I
only did.
Works Cited
"Coral Reef Animals." Coral Reef Facts. William Alevizon, 2010. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.coral-reef-info.com/coral-reef-animals.html>.
"Coral Reef: Ecology." WWF Global. WWF Web Team, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.
<http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_reefs/coral_reef_ecology/>.
"Coral Reefs." WWF Global. WWF Web Team, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
<http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_reefs/>.
"Habitats: Coral Reefs - Location/Reef Life." Office of Naval Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct.
2014. <http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/habitats/coral2.htm>.
Kids Do Ecology. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.
<http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/coralreef.html>.
"Species on Coral Reefs." Microdocs. Microdocs Project, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014.
<http://web.stanford.edu/group/microdocs/species.html>.
"Status of Corals." NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. National Ocean Service, n.d. Web. 19
Oct. 2014. <http://coralreef.noaa.gov/conservation/status/>.