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CORAL REEFS

CORAL REEFS. By: Anthony Hand Environmental Science Period 5. Location of Coral Reefs. Coral reefs develop in shallow, warm water, usually near land Coral prefer the temperatures between 70˚ and 85˚ F

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CORAL REEFS

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  1. CORAL REEFS By: Anthony Hand Environmental Science Period 5

  2. Location of Coral Reefs • Coral reefs develop in shallow, warm water, usually near land • Coral prefer the temperatures between 70˚ and 85˚ F • They are located in Africa, off the southern coast of India, in the Red Sea, and off the coasts of NE and NW Australia

  3. Organisms Living in Coral Reefs Sponges Corals & Anemones Sea Worms Echinoderms Crustaceans Mollusks Coral Reef Fishes Unusual Reef Fishes Sharks & Rays Marine Reptiles Marine Mammals

  4. Types of Reefs and Types of Corals ~ Fringing reefsreefs that form along coastlines ~ Barrier reefs grow parallel to shorelines, but further out; they form barriers ~ Coral Atolls rings of coral that grow on top of old, sunken volcanoes in the ocean ~ Hard Coral have hard limestone skeletons ~Soft Coral do not build reefs

  5. The Importance of Coral Reefs • Coral reefs provide thousands of marine species find food and shelter • Coral reefs also form a breakwater for adjacent coasts, providing protection from storm surges • Coral reefs are very important in controlling how much carbon dioxide is in the ocean waters • Coral reefs protect coasts from strong currents and waves by slowing down the water before it gets to the shore

  6. The Global Warming Effect • Higher sea temperatures from global warming have caused major coral bleaching • Sea level rise caused by melting sea ice and thermal expansion could cause problems for some reefs by making them too deep to receive adequate sunlight

  7. Conservation Methods • Reducing global warming pollution is essential to minimize ocean temperature • Managers will need to improve their water quality by reducing water pollution from ocean sources • Other management options could include local restrictions on ocean dredging and large boat traffic • Coal monitoring must be expanded to include ocean acidification, calcification rates, water temperatures, and coral bleaching rates

  8. What we can do • Never anchor on a reef • Volunteer with organizations working to clean up local waterways • Slow global warming by conserving energy

  9. Resources for Information • http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Coral-Reefs.aspx • http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/coralreef/coralreef.shtml • http://www.seasky.org/reeflife/sea2.html • http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/coral4.htm

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