Selected Habitat: Tropical Coral Reefs

Question 1

What group do corals belong to?

Answer 1

Phylum Cnidaria

Question 2

How many species are in the group phylum cnidaria?

Answer 2

10,000

Question 3

What are cilia?

Answer 3

Finger like projections on a coral polyp which trap plantonic items floating past and pass it to the stomach

Question 4

What is nematocyst?

Answer 4

These are stinging cells that harpoon Plantonic organisms floating past a polyp

Question 5

What is the name of the Symbiotic algae on coral

Answer 5

Zooxanthellae – Photosynthetic algae

Question 6

How do zooxanthellae help coral?

Answer 6

Absorbs sunlight invite food energy for themselves and the coral polyps

Question 7

Why is it a symbiotic relationship between the polyps and the algae

Answer 7

Waste products produced by the polyps is directly absorbed by the algae for photosynthesis and growth
Algae produce oxygen and glucose which the coral polyps need

Question 8

What percentage of the corals food energy comes from the algae

Answer 8

95% of the energy from the symbiotic relationship

Question 9

What do the algae get in return from the coral

Answer 9

Protected habitat and supply of nutrients

Question 10

What is the carbon from the coral used for?

Answer 10

Either used by the algae or used to make calcium carbonate which is the corals protective shell

Question 11

What are reef building corals?

Answer 11

Many species of corals secrete a limestone base which is continually added to, building up into a reef

Question 12

Why are tropical coral reefs vulnerable to climate change?

Answer 12

As they have very specific abiotic conditions

Question 13

What are the light needs of coral?

Answer 13

The symbiotic algae require bright sunlight, in the tropics there is bright sunlight in shallow water for about 12 hours every day

Question 14

What temperature range is needed for coral survival

Answer 14

Warm and constant in the range of 25–29°C

Question 15

What is immersion

Answer 15

Polyps must be covered in water almost all the time to prevent them from drying out

Question 16

Why Can’t tropical coral reefs live in deep water

Answer 16

Because there’s not a light for photosynthesis

Question 17

What must the turbidity be for coral survival

Answer 17

The seawater must have a very low turbidity

Question 18

Why is low turbidity important

Answer 18

Turbid water reduces like penetration so photosynthesis would be reduced

Question 19

What is the problem with having suspended solids in the water

Answer 19

It could settle on the reef blocking the coral stomach entrance

Question 20

Why must the salinity be constant

Answer 20

Coral polyps do not have the ability to regulate water concentrations salinity is outside the narrow range of tolerance the corals will be killed by osmosis

Question 21

Why are corals important fisheries

Answer 21

Call reef support many species that are exploited for food, including fish, crustaceans such as lobsters and molluscs

Question 22

Why are corals important for medical discoveries

Answer 22

Many species that live in corals do not have spines, teeth or a hard shell to Protect themselves they may produce toxic chemicals which can be used as medicine

Question 23

What drug is produced from chemicals in sponges from a coral reef in the Caribbean Sea?

Answer 23

The anti-viral drug AZT used to treat HIV/AIDS

Question 24

How do corals control climate

Answer 24

Corals have a calcium carbonate shell each carbonate molecule Requires the absorption of a molecule of carbon dioxide so are growing coral reefs are an important carbon sink

Question 25

How to Coral reefs act as erosion protection

Answer 25

Coral reefs absorb the energy of waves that would otherwise have eroded or washed away islands 

Question 26

How do corals dissipate wave energy

Answer 26

To a regular and complex structure of corals dissipate the energy of waves efficiently

Question 27

How do coral reefs allow for tourism

Answer 27

Ecotourism activities such as scuba diving and snorkelling

Question 28

How does physical damage affect corals

Answer 28

Hard objects kill polyps as they are pushed against the hard limestone beneath the living cells

Question 29

What sort of things can cause physical damage to Coral

Answer 29

Floating bottles, lost fishing gear, boat anchors and careless divers

Question 30

Why is the collection of ornaments in souvenirs a threat to corals

Answer 30

Many species from coal reefs are collected to be sold as ornaments

Question 31

How many coral species trade is restricted by CITES?

Answer 31

2000 species is restricted by CITES appendix 2

Question 32

What is sedimentation

Answer 32

Turbid water carried by rivers or sediments disturbed by coastal development can cover and kill corals

Question 33

What sort of pollution affects corals

Answer 33

Oil spills and sewage effluent

Question 34

What is sewage effluent damaging to corals

Answer 34

Causes eutrophication

Question 35

How is ocean acidification caused

Answer 35

An increase carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere means more carbon dioxide dissolves into the ocean producing carbonic acid

Question 36

What is coral bleaching

Answer 36

Occurs when the symbiotic algae within the coral polyps are expelled

Question 37

What can cause coral bleaching

Answer 37

Increased water temperatures caused by global climate change; low oxygen levels due to high zooplankton activity caused by overfishing of the fish predators; Pollution, including sewage, pesticides, cyanide and sunscreen products

Question 38

What happens to bleached coral polyps overtime

Answer 38

As they are not dead they may regain algae in the future but Will grow slowly and can’t recover from damages easily

Question 39

How can non-indigenous species be introduced? Tropical corals

Answer 39

From ballast water discharge from ships Escaped fish and crustaceans from fish farms Accidental or intentional releases from aquaria

Question 40

What is an example of an nonindigenous species introduced to tropical coral reefs

Answer 40

The red lion fish was accidentally introduced to the Caribbean in the 1990s they are the now the general predator and have reduced the populations of many indigenous fish species

Question 41

How can fishing be damaging to tropical Coral reefs

Answer 41

Overfishing produce fish populations and affect other interdependent species nets dragging on sea bed destroy seagrass and coral

Question 42

How can coastal developments damage corals (tropical)

Answer 42

Expansion of coastal towns, the construction tourist resort, Ports and Marinas can destroy coral reefs directly and increased ability causing damage to coral reefs near the development

Question 43

How can a loss of associated habitats affect tropical coral reefs

Answer 43

Mangroves and seagrass beds help to trap spend sediments and reduce water turbidity if mangroves in seagrass beds are damaged then the coral reefs nearby become damaged to

Question 44

Name two of the Management practices used in marine protected areas

Answer 44

Fixed mooring buoys instead of anchors Divers can be taught not to touch coral Fishing can be controlled or banned Sustainable development of eco-tourism Protecting associated habitats

Question 45

How can fishing be controlled in tropical coral reefs

Answer 45

Length of fishing season restricted Placing minimum catchable size Imposing a maximum catchable size Restrictions placed on damaging fishing methods No take zones where fishing is banned

Question 46

What may be done to protect tropical coral reefs from tourism?

Answer 46

Turtle nesting beaches may be protected to reduce disturbance Spearfishing may be banned Permanent mooring buoys may be installed Collection of souvenirs may be banned

Question 47

What is sustainable exploitation

Answer 47

Exploitation may be permitted but it may be restricted to ensure it is sustainable

Question 48

What is reef creation

Answer 48

Artificial reefs have been created from concrete structures such as reef balls of a sinking structures that are made for other purposes such as old ships and oil rigs