Coral Reefs Flashcards
What are coral reefs?
Coral reefs are large deposits of calcium carbonate built entirely of living organisms called coral polyps.
What are coral polyps?
Coral polyps are tiny living soft bodied animals which grow upward towards sunlight.
What are the four factors that affect the distribution of coral reefs?
Temperature
Light
Water depth
Salinity
What is salinity?
Salinity is the amount of salt dissolved in a body of water.
What are the temperature rules for coral
Cannot tolerate water temperatures below 18 degrees Celsius.
They best grow at 23-29 degrees.
Some can stand 40 degrees for short periods of time.
What are the temperature rules for coral
Cannot tolerate water temperatures below 18 degrees Celsius.
They best grow at 23-29 degrees.
Some can stand 40 degrees for short periods of time.
Why do corals need light?
Corals need light in order to photosynthesise due to the algae that live in their tissue.
What is the maximum water depth for the growth of coral and why?
25 metres because sunlight has to be able to penetrate the water in order for the coral to photosynthesise.
Why must the water a coral grows in be clean?
To allow for optimum photosynthesis.
What salinity do corals require?
Between 32-42% saltwater because they are marine animals meaning they need salty water to survive.
