The Coral Reef Biome
A Look at a
Marine Biome
© Terri Street, 2002
What Is a Coral Reef?
A structure formed by coral polyps, tiny
animals that live in colonies.
Coral polyps form a hard, stony, branching
structure made of limestone.
New polyps attach to old coral and
gradually build the reef.
Types of Coral Reefs
Fringing reefs
Submerged platforms of living coral
extending from the shore into the sea
Barrier reefs
Follow the shore but are separated
from it by water
Great Barrier Reef is world’s largest
Types of Coral Reefs
Atolls
Ring-shaped islands of coral in open
sea
Form on submerged mud banks or
volcano craters
Surround a seawater lagoon
Channels connect lagoon to the sea
A World of Coral Reefs
= Coral Reef
Coral Reef Climate
Usually found near land in shallow,
warm salt water
Lots of light
Tropical temperatures, averaging
70°-85° F
Most coral cannot survive below 65° F
Coral Reef Plants
Phytoplankton
Microscopic
Basis for all ocean
food chains
Coral Reef Plants
Algae
Green
Red
Brown algae
takes many forms
Coral Reef Plants
Seaweed and Sea grasses
Brown seaweed
Sea grass
Shoal grass
Turtle grass
Fascinating Fact: The Great
Barrier Reef
World’s largest coral reef
Over 1257 miles
long
Off the northeast
coast of Australia
Only grows about
one inch per year
The Great Barrier Reef: Home
to…
1500 species of fish
400 different types of coral
4,000 mollusks
500 species of seaweed
215 species of birds
16 species of sea snake
6 species of sea turtle
Whales visit during winter
Coral Reef Creatures
Coral polyps
Tentacles
Digestive
sac
Connecting
filaments
Skeletal body
Coral Reef Creatures
Symbiotic relationships
Coral with
algae
Clown fish
with sea
anemones
Coral Reef Creatures
Tropical fish
Angel fish
John Dory
Butterfly fish
Sea horse
Octopus
Reef shark
Fascinating Fact:
The Sea Horse
Very weak swimmers
Female lays eggs, male carries them
in pouch till birth
Only animal in which the father gives
birth
Body covered with armored plates
Sample Food Chain
Starfish
Coral
Octopus
Zooplankton
Moray Eel
Phytoplankton
Endangered Coral Reefs
Major threats to coral reefs
include:
Ocean pollution
Dredging off the
coast
Endangered Coral Reefs
Other dangers:
Careless collection of coral specimens
Sedimentation
Inhibits growth of coral polyps
Inhibits algae growth
Upsets balance of the biome
Saving Coral Reefs
Oceanguard (Australia-based)
Focus is preserving the Great Barrier Reef
Fight invasions
of Crown of
Thorns starfish
Education
Saving Coral Reefs
Reef Relief (Florida-based)
Coral Nurseries
Education
Promote reef
conservation
legislation
References
“Coral Reefs.” World Book. Chicago: World
Book, 1998. Vol. 4, p. 257.
“Coral Reefs.” http://kidscience.
about.com/kids/kidscience/cs/
coralreefs/