What is a Coral Reef?
An ecosystem formed by millions of coral organisms
called polyps
A.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
A system of interconnected elements, formed by the
interaction of a community of organisms within their
environment
Genetically identical invertebrate clones that share digestive
and nervous systems
Capture prey with stinging tentacles called nematocyst within
specialized cells called cnidocytes
Sessile
Live in tropical waters close to the surface where sun can
reach algae
Cover less than 1% of ocean floor, but support 25% of all
marine creatures
Two organisms responsible for building coral reef
B.
i.
ii.
Corals
Protista
Coral Symbiosis
A.
B.
C.
Zooxanthellae are single-celled algae
that live within coral and give coral its
color
Photosynthesis allows algae to give off
oxygen and nutrients that are
consumed by the coral
Polyp provides carbon dioxide for algae
Coral Polyp
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Translucent animals with microscopic algae
called zooxantellae living in them
Place for zooxantellae to live
Limestone skeleton called calicle
Reef forms when a polyp attaches itself to a
rock on the sea floor then buds thousands of
clones that are connected creating a colony
that acts like a single organism
Colonies grow over hundreds and thousands
of years, joining with other colonies to
become reefs
Types of Coral Reefs
A.
Fringing
i.
ii.
iii.
Closest to coastline
Youngest geologically
Grows outward from shore with a lagoon in
between
Barrier
B.
i.
ii.
Parallel to coastline separated by a deep
lagoon
1-25 miles long, 60+ feet deep
Atoll
C.
i.
Open sea reef in ring, oval, or horseshoe
shape
Types of Coral
Fire Coral
Branching Coral
Lettuce Coral
Gorgonian
Brain Coral
Coral Reefs in Belize
A. Belize’s Barrier Reef
155 miles long
ii. Second longest reef in the world
iii. Begins at border of Belize and Mexico and
continues to Guatemala
iv. Variety of habitats
i.
1)
2)
3)
Coral reef
Offshore cayes
Mangrove lagoons
Invertebrates in the Coral Reef
Spotted Eagle Ray
Upside-down Jelly
Cushion Sea Star
Spiny Lobster
Donkey Dung Sea Cucumber
Reef Squid
Vertebrates in the Coral Reef
French Grunt
Gray Angelfish
Blue Tang
Smooth
Trunkfish
Queen Angelfish
Mangroves
A.
B.
C.
Nursery and protection for fish,
crustaceans, sponges, and corals
Filters runoff to prevent destruction of
coral
Food source
Threats to Coral
A.
B.
Trash
Invasive species
i.
Lionfish
Diseases
C.
i.
Bleaching due to temperature change or pollution
Overfishing
Tourism
D.
E.
i.
Cruise ships bring in 100+ snorkelers at a time
with poorly trained guides
1)
2)
Touch and damage coral
Drag gear along sandy bottom creating a dusting
over coral which locals have to clean off
Works Cited

Humann, P., & DeLoach, N. (2002). Reef Fish Identification:
Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas (3rd ed., p. 10, 14-15, 94-95,
138). Jacksonville, Fla.: New World Publications.

Idaz, J., Greenberg, M., & Young, M. (2007). Fishwatcher’s
Field Guide. Seahawk Press.

Kaplan, E. (1982). Peterson’s Field Guides: Coral Reefs
Caribbean and Florida. (p. 10). New York: Houghton Mifflin
Company.

Corals, Coral Pictures, Coral Facts-National Geographic. (n.d.).
Retrieved January 23, 2015, from
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/cor
al/

A. Sabal, Personal Interview, January 19, 2015.