Coral Reefs

Question 1

How are coral reefs distributed? What sort of latitudes?

Answer 1

Globally, in tropical latitudes

Question 2

Where are coral reefs often found?

Answer 2

In low nutrient, shallow environments

Question 3

What is often the limiting resource in coral reefs?

Answer 3

Space. Benthic competition is high

Question 4

What is the meso predator release hypothesis?

Answer 4

Loss of a top predator ‘releases’ mid level predators. Loss of top down control. Results in increased predation by mid level predators

Question 5

What is the meso predatory hypothesis an example of

Answer 5

Tropic cascade

Question 6

What is bottom-up control?

Answer 6

Mechanism that limits carrying capacity (how many of a species an ecosystem can support) of large predators. Availability of resources at the base of the food web controls structure and function of ecosystem.

Question 7

What are 5 stressors that have caused the decline of Caribbean reefs?

Answer 7

1. Loss of mega-vertebrates, like the Caribbean monk seal and sea turtles
2. Diadema die-off
3. Disease
4. Overfishing
5. Sedimentation/runoff

Question 8

What is a phase shift?

Answer 8

A change in the ecosystem state in response to persistent change in external environmental conditions.

Question 9

What is happening with the coral reef environment and the phase shift occurring?

Answer 9

Bleaching, macroalgae dominance, reduced biodiversity, loss of ecosystem services, decreased resistance to stressors like storms.

Question 10

Intermediate disturbance hypothesis

Answer 10

There will be the most species diversity in ecosystems with medium levels of disturbance. Too little disturbance, and species outcompete others, and too much, the least resistant die