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Environmental Science #1 > Selected Habitat: Tropical Coral Reefs > Flashcards

Selected Habitat: Tropical Coral Reefs Flashcards

1
Q

What group do corals belong to?

A

Phylum Cnidaria

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2
Q

How many species are in the group phylum cnidaria?

A

10,000

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3
Q

What are cilia?

A

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

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4
Q

What is nematocyst?

A

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

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5
Q

What is the name of the Symbiotic algae on coral

A

Zooxanthellae – Photosynthetic algae

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6
Q

How do zooxanthellae help coral?

A

Absorbs sunlight invite food energy for themselves and the coral polyps

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7
Q

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

A

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

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8
Q

What percentage of the corals food energy comes from the algae

A

95% of the energy from the symbiotic relationship

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9
Q

What do the algae get in return from the coral

A

Protected habitat and supply of nutrients

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10
Q

What is the carbon from the coral used for?

A

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

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11
Q

What are reef building corals?

A

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

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12
Q

Why are tropical coral reefs vulnerable to climate change?

A

As they have very specific abiotic conditions

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13
Q

What are the light needs of coral?

A

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

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14
Q

What temperature range is needed for coral survival

A

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

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15
Q

What is immersion

A

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

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16
Q

Why Can’t tropical coral reefs live in deep water

A

Because there’s not a light for photosynthesis

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17
Q

What must the turbidity be for coral survival

A

The seawater must have a very low turbidity

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18
Q

Why is low turbidity important

A

Turbid water reduces like penetration so photosynthesis would be reduced

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19
Q

What is the problem with having suspended solids in the water

A

It could settle on the reef blocking the coral stomach entrance

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20
Q

Why must the salinity be constant

A

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

21
Q

Why are corals important fisheries

A

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

22
Q

Why are corals important for medical discoveries

A

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

23
Q

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

A

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

24
Q

How do corals control climate

A

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

25
Q

How to Coral reefs act as erosion protection

A

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

26
Q

How do corals dissipate wave energy

A

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

27
Q

How do coral reefs allow for tourism

A

Ecotourism activities such as scuba diving and snorkelling

28
Q

How does physical damage affect corals

A

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

29
Q

What sort of things can cause physical damage to Coral

A

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

30
Q

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

A

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

31
Q

How many coral species trade is restricted by CITES?

A

2000 species is restricted by CITES appendix 2

32
Q

What is sedimentation

A

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

33
Q

What sort of pollution affects corals

A

Oil spills and sewage effluent

34
Q

What is sewage effluent damaging to corals

A

Causes eutrophication

35
Q

How is ocean acidification caused

A

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

36
Q

What is coral bleaching

A

Occurs when the symbiotic algae within the coral polyps are expelled

37
Q

What can cause coral bleaching

A

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

38
Q

What happens to bleached coral polyps overtime

A

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

39
Q

How can non-indigenous species be introduced? Tropical corals

A

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

40
Q

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

A

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

41
Q

How can fishing be damaging to tropical Coral reefs

A

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

42
Q

How can coastal developments damage corals (tropical)

A

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

43
Q

How can a loss of associated habitats affect tropical coral reefs

A

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

44
Q

Name two of the Management practices used in marine protected areas

A

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

45
Q

How can fishing be controlled in tropical coral reefs

A

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

46
Q

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

A

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

47
Q

What is sustainable exploitation

A

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

48
Q

What is reef creation

A

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

Environmental Science #1 (90 decks)

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