2016 - Coral Reefs Flashcards
Most coral reefs are located between the tropics of…
Cancer and Capricorn in the Pacific Ocean.
Coral reefs will only develop in waters warmer then 18 degrees and grow fastest in ____ degrees.
26 degrees.
Coral reefs can grow a depth of 100m but are commonly found around 25-50m deep because of….
The sunlight intake needed for growth of coral.
Coral areas require water free of sediment which means water free of…
Pollution.
What water does coral reef need to grow.
Salt water.
They are found on the _____ of the equator.
Side.
What percent of the worlds location is made up of coral reef?
Less than one percent.
Coral reefs are important because…
Provide habitat, protect coast from erosion, food source, contains cures for diseases, provides income through tourism.
About how many percent of marine fish species live in coral reefs?
25%
What sort of things influence the global locations of coral reefs?
Building along coastline, polluted runoff from farming, deforestation, fishing, ocean pollution, tourism developments.
Why don’t coral reefs grow above the mean ride levels?
Because coral cannot survive long periods out of water.
Why are reefs not found where rivers enter the ocean?
Because rivers release fresh water into the ocean.
Coral reefs are called this because of their rich biodiversity.
Rainforests of the sea.
What percent of coral reefs are under direct threat of human activity?
58%
Biomes and their locations are strongly influenced by what 4 things?
Rainfall.
Temperature.
Latitude (how far it is from equator)
Typography (the shape and surface of land)
What are coral polyps?
Tiny animals [upside down jellyfish.]
They live in colonies.
They cannot build the coral reef alone.
What is zooxanthellae?
Zooxanthellae are tiny microscopic plants that transport sunlight into food and energy [photosynthesis] and help build minerals in the water into limestone structures.
Coral polyps and zooxanthellae work together to form coral. This is know as a….
Symbiotic relationship. Need each other to live or complete a job. In this case creating a coral reef.
Coral reefs are made up of ____________ structures.
Limestone.
The skeleton of coral polyps is called…
Calcium carbonate. Which provides a hard structure that they can live on.
Algae uses _______ products from the polyps such as carbon dioxide.
Waste products.
There are 4 types of reef formations. What are they.
Fringing reefs.
Barrier reefs.
Atoll reefs.
Patch reefs.
________ reefs grow near the coastline around islands and continents.
Fringing reefs.
_________ reefs are located parallel to coastline and are usually found along the edge of the continental shelf.
Barrier reefs.
