Coral Reefs Flashcards
Name the only animal phyla that can’t be found in marine environments.
Onychorphora
How many species of marine plants and animals are there?
Nearly 250,000
What percentage of marine biodiversity is hosted by coral reefs?
25%
Which geological period saw the greatest proliferation of corals?
Cretaceous
What is a biogenic reef?
A reef formed by the accumulation of biological organisms, mainly corals, algae, and other calcareous organisms, rather than by abiotic processes
What is a fringing reef?
A reef that grows directly from the shoreline of an island or continent with no significant lagoon between land and reef
What is a barrier reef?
A reef that is separated from land by a wide, deep lagoon
What is a lagoon?
A shallow body of water separated from the open ocean by a reef or barrier island, often found behind barrier or atoll reefs
What is an atoll?
A ring-shaped reef formed around a sunken volcanic island, enclosing a central lagoon
What is a table reef?
An isolated, flat-topped reef with steep sides, typically found in open ocean—may resemble a submerged table
What is a patch reef?
A small, isolated reef often found within lagoons or between larger reef structures
What are bioeroders?
Organisms that break down reef structures by boring, scraping, or grazing, such as parrotfish, sea urchins, and boring sponges
