Coral Reefs Introduction

Question 1

Coral Reef Ecosystem Services (4)

Answer 1

Coral reefs provide 375 billion in ecosystem services

Direct extraction (coral reef fishes)
Tourism (may exceed direct extraction value)
Direct Removal of coral rock
Coastal flood protection (836 million)

Question 2

Coral Reef Environmental Requirements

Answer 2

Warm water: 25-31 degrees
High Salinity: 34-37 PPT
High Light level/shallow water: top 30m of water
Oligotrophic: low nutrients, highly stratified water (outcompete algae in low nutrients)

Question 3

Coral Reef Distribution

Answer 3

The function of both latitude and currents
Can exist on one side of the continent and not the other
Less diversity in Caribbean and more in Indo-Pacific

Question 4

Three Main Types of Reefs

Answer 4

Fringing reefs, Barrier reefs and Atolls

Question 5

Fringing Reef

Answer 5

Grow up adjacent to mainland
Close to mainland, easy access
Steep dropoff

Question 6

Barrer Reefs

Answer 6

Grow up as mainland subsides
Characterized by large lagoon between shore and reef
Limited by the offshore depth and historical location

Question 7

Atoll

Answer 7

Volcanic left overs
Grow up around a subsiding volcano
Characterized by horseshoe or circular shape