How Do Tiny Animals Get Their Food In The Coral Reefs

CORAL REEF

Location | Habitat | Plants | Animals | People | Games | Links

LOCATION: Coral reefs are by and large found in clear, tropical oceans. Coral reefs form in waters from the surface to nearly 150 anxiety (45 meters) deep because they need sunlight to survive. The three types of reefs include fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs occur along shorelines of continents and islands and are unremarkably found in Hawaii and the Caribbean. Barrier reefs are plant farther offshore than fringing reefs, occurring most often in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean. Atolls are a series of low coral islands surrounding a central lagoon, oftentimes found in the Indo-Pacific. The largest reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is longer than 1200 miles (1900 km). That'due south longer than the altitude between Seattle, WA and Los Angeles, CA!

HABITAT: Coral reefs need water that is between 68 - 82°F (20 - 28°C), which is often located along the eastern shores of land. Reefs usually develop in areas that have a lot of wave action because the waves bring in food, nutrients and oxygen to the reef. Waves also preclude sediment from falling on the reef. Reefs need calcium from the water to grow, which is more often available in shallow warm waters.

PLANTS: The sun is the source of energy for the coral reef ecosystem. Found plankton, called phytoplankton, algae and other plants convert light free energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Every bit animals swallow the plants and other animals, energy is passed through the food chain. Reef building corals work together with microscopic algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their tissue. The zooxanthellae provide oxygen and food to the coral through photosynthesis. The coral polyp gives the algae a dwelling house, and the carbon dioxide it needs through respiration. Besides zooxanthellae, algae and seagrasses are the main types of plants in the coral reef ecosystem. These plants give food and oxygen to the animals that live on the reef. Seagrasses are especially important because they provide shelter for juvenile reef animals like conch and lobster.

ANIMALS: Did you know that there tin exist as many dissimilar types of fish in two acres of coral reef in Southeast Asia as at that place are species of birds on the entire continent of N America? Shocking, isn't it? Coral reefs only make up about ane% of the bounding main floor, but they business firm nearly 25% of life in the sea. Animals use coral reefs either as a stopping signal, similar an oasis, every bit they travel the deep blueish ocean, or they live as residents at the reef. The corals themselves are the most arable animal on the reef. They are tiny organisms called polyps, that attach themselves to the hard reef and live there forever. The reef is like a behemothic apartment building in New York Metropolis and the coral polyps live together in each apartment. Corals are closely related to sea anemones and ocean jellies, and apply their tentacles for defense and to capture their prey. Corals can be a variety of colors, white, ruby-red, pink, green, blue, orange and purple, due to natural pigments and the zooxanthellae in their tissues.

Other animals that live on the coral reef include bounding main urchins, sponges, sea stars, worms, fish, sharks, rays, lobster, shrimp, octopus, snails and many more. Many of these animals work together as a team similar the coral polyps and zooxanthellae. This teamwork is called symbiosis. I example of symbiosis on the reef is the anemonefish and sea anemone. The sea anemone'south tentacles provide protection and safe for the fish and their eggs, while the fish protects the anemone from predators, such as butterflyfish. Sometimes anemonefish even remove parasites from their home anemone.

PEOPLE AND CORAL REEFS: Coral reef ecosystems are of import for many reasons. They remove and recycle carbon dioxide, which is a gas that contributes to global warming. Reefs protect land from harsh atmospheric condition by arresting the impact from strong waves and storms. Reefs provide food, for example, lobster and conch. Coral reefs are also a huge tourist allure. Coral reefs are a large source of biodiversity. Without the reef, many of these plants and animals would die. Some people recollect coral reefs may provide important medicines for people. For example, some coral skeletons can be used by humans every bit a bone substitute in reconstructive os surgery. Coral reefs are also a useful educational tool. People can learn about biomes and ecosystems, and the interrelationship between organisms and their environment by studying coral reefs.

Coral reefs are being destroyed at an alarming rate. It is estimated that we have already lost 10% of the worlds reefs, and scientists say that in the side by side 50 years many of the coral reefs on Earth will be gone. This devastation is often connected with human activity: pollution, sewage, erosion, irresponsible angling, poor tourism practices, and global warming.

There are some uncomplicated things that you tin can do to assistance coral reefs. Don't put chemicals down your drain or on your backyard. Instead use biodegradable products. Even though you may exist far from a coral reef ecosystem, these products end up in the watershed and may eventually pollute waters that back up coral. Conserve h2o. The less h2o you lot apply, the less runoff and wastewater eventually notice their way into our oceans. Visit a coral reef! Many holiday spots take beautiful coral reefs. When you get, hire local guides. This manner you'll larn nigh the reef from the people who know it best. When you visit a coral reef, treat it with intendance, do non touch or step on the corals. Leave the animals where you found them and do non pick them upward and move them. If y'all take an aquarium, buy fish raised in captivity, not caught in the wild. Also, don't use live rock in your aquarium. Although this invertebrate-encrusted stone is still legally harvested in some places, its can hurt the reef habitat. Join a group that is working to protect coral reefs. Selection upwards trash when you run across it, this way it won't find it'south way to the ocean. Learn more nearly coral reefs! Surf the Internet for information about coral reefs and marine conservation organizations. After all, knowledge is power.

GAMES:

• Coral Reef Crossword Puzzle
• Answers to the Coral Reef Crossword Puzzle
• Coral Reef Activeness Volume

LINKS:

Sea World - Coral Reefs

Coral Realm

SeaWorld - Corals and Coral Reefs

NOAA National Body of water Service - Corals Discovery Kit

Reef Instruction Network

NOAA's Coral Reef Information System

Back to Biomes Index

Source: http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/coralreef.html

Posted by: dixonknour2001.blogspot.com

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