Corals and coral reefs powerpoint presentation

Ppt for corals and coral reefs

1. Notes: Notes:
Coral Coral
ReefReef

2. 
CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Coral reefs are massive biological communities and Coral reefs are massive biological communities and
geologic structures.geologic structures.

Made of Calcium carbonateMade of Calcium carbonate

Corals – small sessile Corals – small sessile cnidarianscnidarians that live as polyps that live as polyps
•eat zooplankton (night)eat zooplankton (night)
•common nervous and digestive systemcommon nervous and digestive system
•colony begins with one polyp that clones itself.colony begins with one polyp that clones itself.

3. Anatomy of CoralAnatomy of Coral

4. Zooxanthellae and Coralline Red AlgaeZooxanthellae and Coralline Red Algae
Corals contain symbiotic zooxanthellae Corals contain symbiotic zooxanthellae
photosynthetic algae that live within the photosynthetic algae that live within the
coral. coral.

help coral deposit CaCOhelp coral deposit CaCO
33 faster faster

provide food through photosynthesis (day).provide food through photosynthesis (day).
Coralline red algae – grow in rock hard Coralline red algae – grow in rock hard
sheets on the surface of the reefsheets on the surface of the reef

Protect it from wave actionProtect it from wave action

Trap sedimentsTrap sediments

5. Location of Coral ReefsLocation of Coral Reefs

mainly in shallow, warm water near the equatormainly in shallow, warm water near the equator

around continental shelvesaround continental shelves

around islandsaround islands

top of seamountstop of seamounts

6. Threats to CoralThreats to Coral

Global warming is killing coral – heat stress Global warming is killing coral – heat stress
causing coral to die/bleaching-turn white.causing coral to die/bleaching-turn white.

Divers walking on coralDivers walking on coral

Crown of Thorn StarfishCrown of Thorn Starfish
Partial bleaching

7. 3 types of Coral Reefs3 types of Coral Reefs

Fringing ReefFringing Reef –narrow platforms a short –narrow platforms a short
distance from shore and don't contain a distance from shore and don't contain a
substantial lagoon. Example: Red Sea substantial lagoon. Example: Red Sea
Reef – dry climate.Reef – dry climate.

8. 3 types of Coral Reefs3 types of Coral Reefs
Barrier ReefBarrier Reef – farther from shore than – farther from shore than
fringing reef. Example: Great Barrier fringing reef. Example: Great Barrier
Reef – Australia.Reef – Australia.

9. 3 types of Coral Reefs3 types of Coral Reefs

AtollAtoll – a reef that forms around a sunken – a reef that forms around a sunken
seamount, usually far from land. Circular seamount, usually far from land. Circular
shaped with a lagoon in the middle.shaped with a lagoon in the middle.

10. What type of reef are these?