Skip to main content

Coral Reef Ecology & Biodiversity

Coral Reef Ecology & Biodiversity

Although they cover less than 0.1% of the earth’s surface, coral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystem in the world.

Coral reefs are home to:

  • 4,000 species of reef fish
  • 840 species of corals
  • Over 1 million species of other animals

Where are corals located ?

Coral reefs can be found in tropical destinations around the world, mostly in areas around the equator where the water is warmer. More than 100 countries have a coral reef within their borders, and over half of the world’s coral reefs are found within six countries: Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Maldives.

Coral reefs are at the center of many coastal and island cultures worldwide. For example, in the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant, the coral polyp was the first organism created, and from that, all other life forms sprung forth.

Though coral reefs face numerous threats, we can save them by keeping them healthy.


Why are coral reefs so important?


  • 275 million people live within 19 miles (30km) of coral reefs.
  • Over 100 countries benefit from the recreational value of coral reefs.
  • 350 million people travel to coral reefs each year.


How Reefs are Formed

Scientists generally agree on four different coral reef classifications: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls, and patch reefs.

Barrier reefs also parallel the coastline but are separated by deeper, wider lagoons. At their shallowest points, they can reach the water’s surface forming a “barrier” to navigation.

Atolls are rings of coral that create protected lagoons and are usually located in the middle of the sea. Atolls usually form when islands surrounded by fringing reefs sink into the sea or the sea level rises around them.

Patch reefs are small, isolated reefs that grow up from the open bottom of the island platform or continental shelf. They usually occur between fringing reefs and barrier reefs. They vary greatly in size, and they rarely reach the surface of the water.























































































Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Coral ?

  CORAL BIOLOGY CORAL DISEASES OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION RESEARCH PROTOCOLS Coral Polyp Anatomy Home  »  Coral Biology  » Coral Polyp Anatomy Corals, often mistaken for plants due to their flower-like appearance, are animals that generally exist in the form of  colonies . These colonies attach to oceanic substrate and when numerous colonies form a consortium, a coral reef arises. Corals are members of the Animal Kingdom with classification in the Phylum Cnidaria; further classification places them in the class  Anthozoa  that is closely related to the class Scyphyzoa (e.g. jelly fishes) and the class Hydrozoa (e.g. Hydra). The  polyp  is the basic living unit of Anthozoa (further subdivided into subclass Hexacorallia, which includes stony corals, and subclass Octocorallia, which includes soft corals). Polyps can occur either singularly, as in the case of anemones and some stony corals, or can form colonies, as they do ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cetaceans of Bay of Bengal

 Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises Bryde’s Whale Family:  Balaenopteridae Genus:   Balaenoptera Species:   B. edeni     Lesson, 1828 Taxonomic Note:  Some researchers recognize a similar animal for which they have given a separate species identification as Omura’s whale (B alaenoptera omura ). Confirmation of this is speculative and if globally recognized, a separate species page will be added. Bryde’s whales (often pronounced “brudas”) inhabit the tropical and subtropical oceans of the world and are naturally not as numerous as other rorqual species because food is less abundant in tropical waters. They are often confused with sei whales, but can be distinguished by the three prominent ridges present on their head. If close-up inspection is possible, the coarse gray baleen and ventral throat pleats extending to or beyond the navel are additional characteristics that identify Bryde’s whales. These whales are rather solitary in their habits, usually keepin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sea Turtle Monitoring & Conservation

 Sea Turtle Monitoring & Conservation  Marine turtles are significant bio-indicators of the world ocean environment. Saving these magnificent animal we can infact protect our ocean life. They are reptilian, ancient and distinctive part of the marine biodiversity evolved more the 150 million years before. Roaming around the worlds ocean marine turtles have existed since their giant land turtle ancestors returned to the sea sometime during the age of dinosaurs. Scientists recognize 7 living species of sea turtles under 6 genera like Olive ridley ( Lepidochelys olivacea ), Green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ), Loggerhead ( Caretta caretta ), Leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea ), Hawksbill ( Eretmochelys imbricata ), Kemp's ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii ), Flatback ( Natator depressa ). Each marine turtle has deferent characteristic. The distinctive race of the eastern pacific green turtle is refereed to as the Black turtle should be green turtle subspecies (Chelonia mydas ...
Post a Comment
Read more