Mangroves Flashcards
What is the Caroni swamp and what lives there?
TheCaroni Swampis the second largestmangrovewetlandinTrinidad and Tobago.It is located on the west coast ofTrinidad and habitat to the scarlet ibis.
Name 2 mangrove swamps in Trinidad
Caroni Swamp, Nariva Swamp
What is the dominant system organism in the reef system, and what is it related to?
The hard coral, an animal that is related to the sea anemone
What is a singular coral known as and describe what it does
A polyp- secretes a cup-like skeleton of calcium carbonate into which it can withdraw.
What happens as polyps grow?
Their skeletons give rise to the massive rock-like structures that are the basis of a reef community
What is the single coral polyp made up of?
It is mad up of a mouth, surrounded by tentacles that contain stinging cells.
What are stinging cells used to do?
These are used to paralyze its prey, microscopic marine animals (zooplankton), which are then drawn into the cavity of the polyp, and digested, therefore polyps are carnivores
What lives in polyp tissues?
Microscopic algae are known as zooxanthellae. These pratists have a symbiotic relationship with the coral polyp. They help with the nutrition of the coral and its ability to form its calcium carbonate skeleton, and in return are provided with a habitat.
How does the zooxanthellae use mutualism??
The zooxanthellae also use the waste products of the coral polys as raw materials for photosynthesis. This is an example of mutualism
Corals reproduce….
both asexually and sexually
How does asexual reproduction occur
When environmental factors are suitable and new individual bits form from each parent polyp, resulting in the increased size of the colony.
What is sexual reproduction
When sperm are released into the water and are drawn into the cavity and result in the formation of free-swimming planula larvae, which are released into the water. The planulae move through the water for a short time before settling on an appropriate hard substrate
What does sexual reproduction result in?
The dispersion of various coral species and the colonisation of new areas
What is the water temp. required for reef building?
between 23-25 for optimal growth and do not tolerate long exposure to the air.
Reefs will not grow when
at depths below 50-70m as their symbiotic algae require sunlight for photosynthesis.
What does sediment do to coral reefs
interferes with their feeding mechanisms, and coral reefs do not develop in areas of high sedimentation, such as river mouths or near dredging activity.
What does high wave action do?
Assists coral reefs as it oxygenates the water, brings in fresh food supplies and helps to remove any settled sediment
What forms the basic reef structure?
Hard corals
What are other organisms associated with reefs?
SOft corals- sea fans, sea whips and other sedentary organisms such as sea anemones grow attached to the hard reef skeleton.
ECHINODERMS LIKE THE SEA URCHIN AND THE STARFISH ARE ABUNDANT, AS ARE CRUSTACEANS such as the spiny lobster and crabs. (sorry i just realized its caps)
What does the variety of reef fish do?
Seek shelter among the crevices of the reed and their brilliant colours serve as species identification
dogaaa read the paper for the diagram and importances
yes man
Why are coral reefs important
- generate income (tourism/fishing)
- Generate food( reef fish, groupers snappers and grunts) and reef creatures( lobster and conch) turtles, sea anemones, clownfish, starfish
why are they important (2)
- contribute greatly to the white sand and typical Caribbean beaches
- home to abt 1 mil diff animal species
source of pharmaceutical products eg. chemicals HIV and cancer treatments
What are corals described as?
oases in the watery desert. Tropical marine waters tend to be poor in nutrients and so the rate of photosynthesis is limited.
What do coral reefs act as
Nutrient recycling centres and reservoirs, thus increasing the production level of the algal material that forms the basis of most marine food chains
Destruction of coral reefs (1)
The invasion of the reef by man however can damage the corals and in result on the death of a number of species
How does coral reefs get destroyed (2)
by breaking off pieces, making jewellery
Reefs can be severely affected by tropical storms, hurricanes whose powerful forces can destroy even the solid reef structure. Explosions of populations of coral reef predators such as the crown of thorne starfish
How does coral reefs get destroyed(3)
Boat anchors pull away from the structure of the reef. Divers cut off sections of coral to sell as decorative pieces to tourists.
Dredging activities cause huge clouds of sediment that settle on the reef and block their delicate filtering and feeding structures and bleach fishing destroys entire communities
How long does a damaged reef take to heal
They grow slowly (less than 1cm per year in height) and a damaged reef can take over 50yrs to recover
How does coral reefs get destroyed(4)
trawling/dragging nets Coral bleaching(global warming causes water to heat up, and they expel algae and die
You have reached the end!!
Great job, I shall ward you a cookie you beautiful soldier 🍪
