Coral reef Flashcards
what’s a coast
productive ecosystem/habitat
main coast settings
estuaries, coral reef, lagoons, salt marshes, mangroves
what are coral reefs made of
carbonate secreting organisms, from loose to cemented shells
where’s the living part
thin layer at surface
can it resist waves
yes
what group to corals belong to
phylium cnidaria
what’s the animal in the coral
polyp
where is it found
exoskeleton
what’s exoskeleton called
corallite
what’s the exoskeleton made of
polyp
what producers are corals
primary producers
what relationship do corals have with algae
mutualistic relationship
what is it for
photosynthesis
what’s the algae called
zooxanthellae
what does coral/algae provide
coral provides protection/nutrients, algae provides oxyegn/sugar
solitary/colonial coral
solitary (one polyp), colonial (multiple)
where do corals thrive
warmer waters than 20C, nutrient poor
where don’t they thrive
brackish/fresh water, high turbidity currents
where are corals found geographically
either side of equator
types of coral
brain/encrusting/branching
algal ridge
windward size, lots of waves, no corals
buttress zone
reef slope down from algal ridge
reef face
down from buttress zone, less colonial corals
reef terrace
lots of corals, landward from algal ridge
coral growth
up towards light
3 reef stages occur due to
rising/falling sea levels
fringing reef
first stage, limestone shorelines
barrier reef
sea levels rise and corals grow up, lagoon grows and cuts off fringing free from shore
atoll
last stage, land falls and rings form around lagoon
