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Benthic Communities

Benthic Communities. living along the bottom of the ocean. Benthic Communities. Coral Reefs. Coral Reefs. Corals Are animals (Cnidarians) Small (ant-sized) polyps live in large colonies Hermatypic corals secret a calcium carbonate skeleton…the reef. Coral Reefs. Zooxanthellae

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Benthic Communities

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  1. Benthic Communities living along the bottom of the ocean

  2. Benthic Communities • Coral Reefs

  3. Coral Reefs • Corals • Are animals (Cnidarians) • Small (ant-sized) polyps live in large colonies • Hermatypic corals secret a calcium carbonate skeleton…the reef

  4. Coral Reefs • Zooxanthellae • Dinoflagellate that lives within the coral polyp • A mutualism • Algae provide food, speeds up calcium carbonate deposition & get nutrients in return

  5. Coral Reefs • Hermatypic Coral’s ideal habitat is 5-10 m (16-33 ft) depth & temperatures warmer than 18-21oC (64-70oF)

  6. Fig. 14-12, p. 294

  7. Coral Reefs • Reefs support a large diversity of other organisms • Home to 25% of the world’s marine species

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