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Marine Ecosystems > Coral Reefs > Flashcards

Coral Reefs Flashcards

1
Q

What kind of waters do coral reefs grow in

A

Oligotrophic waters

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2
Q

What is the Order name for hard corals

A

Hexacorallia

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3
Q

What is the Order name for soft corals

A

Octocorallia

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4
Q

What percentage do coral reefs cover of the global ocean surface and roughly what proportion of known fish species do they host

A

<0.1% and a quarter of all known fish species

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5
Q

What are hermatypic corals

A

Reef building corals

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6
Q

What are ahermatypic corals

A

Non-reef building corals

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7
Q

What phylum do corals belong to?

A

Cnidaria

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8
Q

What three classes do coral belong too

A

Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Anthozoa

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9
Q

Where are coral reefs distributed?

A

Tropical and equatorial between tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, i warm oceanic waters

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10
Q

What is optimum coral water temperature

A

23-25C

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11
Q

Why are corals not found on western continental coasts

A

Coriolis gyre brings cold water into coastal region - East Africa has a fringing reef, West Africa does not

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12
Q

Why are they not found on major river outflows?

A

High turbidity, smothering, cold water and low salinity

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13
Q

What is an endosymbiotic relationship

A

An endosymbiont is any organism that lives within the body or cells of another organism. Usually the relationship is mutualistic and one tends to benefit or need the other.

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14
Q

How does is endosymbioisis relevant to corals

A

Corals are comprised of two partner organisms; an animal (cnidarian) and a unicellular alga (dinoflagellate in the genus Symbiodinium). The outer membane of the Symbiodinium spp. leaks and benefits the coral polyp. The alga is non motile and fragile so depends on the polyp for structural support.

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15
Q

Name 12 features of a coral polyp

A

Basal plate; Coenosarc; Theca; Gastrodermis; Gastrovascular Cavity; Septum; Digestive Filament; Mesoglea; Mouth; Tentacle; Nematocyst; Epidermis

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16
Q

What is a nematocyst

A

A small capsule containing an ejectable thread that causes a sting

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17
Q

What is the epidermis

A

Outermost layers of skin

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18
Q

What is the Coenosarc

A

Common body of the polyp colony

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19
Q

What is the Mesoglea

A

Translucent jelly like substance containing muscle fibers and nerves

20
Q

What is the theca

A

The walls surrounding the calyx, (calcium carbonate cup that coral sits in)

21
Q

`Explain the calcification process

A
  1. Calcium from sea water in coelenteron moves into Calicoblastis gastrodermis. 2. Active calcium transport into Calicoblastis epidermis. 3. This turns into Ca^2+ and then Calcium Carbonate in the organic membrane. 4. CO2 from metablism in Calicoblastis epidermis moves into Zooanthellae but also turns to bicarbonate and then Calcium carbonate in organic membrane. 5. CACO3 into Carbonic acid and calcium carbonate, then Bicarbonate converted into CO2 and move to Zooanthellae.
22
Q

How do corals reproduce asexually

A

Fragmentation folloing an event such as a storm; Colony fission; Budding

23
Q

What is colony fission

A

Colony splits into two or more during early developmental stages.

24
Q

What is Budding

A

Asexual reproduction - young polyp grows out of an adult - can divide longitudonally - polyp broadens and divides; or Transversely - one forms from mouth region another from base region

25
Q

Explain sexual reproduction of corals

A

Corals release eggs and sperm and fertilized eggs develop into ciliated larva, which drift and settle.

26
Q

What is the problem with spawning reproduction?

A

Vulnerable to catastrophic event and can smother corals

27
Q

What are brooders

A

Eggs fertilized internally and the ciliated larva develops inside the polyp.

28
Q

What are broadcasters

A

Release eggs and sperm into the water column for fertilization

29
Q

What factors affect the timing of spawing (possible 8)

A
  1. Sea temperature, .2. Lunar cycle. 3. Day length. 4. Irradience. 5. Wind and currents .6. Rainfall. 7. Chemical stimuli. 8. Latitude
30
Q

What is the effect of latitude on breeding

A

Higher latitudes have shorter breeding seasons

31
Q

What is monopodal growth

A

Trunk formed by younger polyp growing on top of an older polyp

32
Q

What is sympodal growth

A

Young polyp grows at the edges of older polyp

33
Q

What is dychotomic growth

A

Symmetric division of polyps

34
Q

What are the typical zones of reef zonation from the Lagoon to the Deep water

A

Back reef; Reef flat; Reef crest; Branching coral zone; Mixed Coral zone and Massive coral zone, (within the forereef); Deep forereed and Platycoral zone

35
Q

Put into order these types of coral based on resistance to wave energy from low wave energy to high: Massive, Mushroom, Branching, Pillar, Encrusting, Tabular

A

Branching- Pillar - Tabular - Massive - Encrusting - Mushroom

36
Q

What is the substratum of the lagoon like

A

Sandy

37
Q

What sort of flora and fauna can be found in reef lagoons

A

Seagrasses, eg, Syrungodium spp. Nursery for reef fish. Benthic organisms like echinoderms, holothuroidae (sea cucumbers). Juvinile sharks and rays

38
Q

What is the physical characteristics of the reef back

A

Limited water movement, turbid water and lower diversity

39
Q

What sort of organisms found at the reef back

A

Massive corals, eg. Porites spp., Giant Clam, Tridacna spp. And soft corals, (Octocorallaria

40
Q

What is the physical characteristics of the reef flat

A

Low tide shallow water, possible exposure

41
Q

What is the dominating coral type at the reef flat

A

Branching coral, eg Acropora spp

42
Q

What organsims other than coral would you expect to find at the reef flat

A

Fish - Damsel fish, butterfly fish, Surgeon Fish, Parrot Fish.
Invertebrates- Bivalves, gastropods, crustaceans, porifera.

43
Q

What are the physical characteristics of the reef crest and reef front

A

reef crest shallow with high wave action - often no corals as often exposed

44
Q

What is coral distribution like from reef crest to reef front

A

Reef crest exposed frequently - often no corals. Moving down reef front characterized by faster growing corals and massive and encrusting corals.

45
Q

What corals are adapted to lower light levels

A

Slow growing flat tabular corals

46
Q

Give a natural threat to coral reef systems

A

Grazing pressure from urchins and Crown of thorns starfish - Acanthaster planci

47
Q

Give an anthropogenically induces threat to coral reef ecosystems

A

Coral bleaching - through loss of zooxanthellae - linked to higher water temperature and light damage

Marine Ecosystems (10 decks)

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