Coral Reef Biome Norman Public Schools珊瑚礁生物群落诺尔曼公立学校.pptVIP

The Coral Reef Biome A Look at a Marine Biome ? Terri Street, 2002 What Is a Coral Reef? A structure formed by coral polyps, tiny animals that live in colonies. Coral polyps form a hard, stony, branching structure made of limestone. New polyps attach to old coral and gradually build the reef. Types of Coral Reefs Fringing reefs Submerged platforms of living coral extending from the shore into the sea Barrier reefs Follow the shore but are separated from it by water Great Barrier Reef is world’s largest Types of Coral Reefs Atolls Ring-shaped islands of coral in open sea Form on submerged mud banks or volcano craters Surround a seawater lagoon Channels connect lagoon to the sea A World of Coral Reefs Coral Reef Climate Usually found near land in shallow, warm salt water Lots of light Tropical temperatures, averaging 70°-85° F Most coral cannot survive below 65° F Coral Reef Plants Phytoplankton Microscopic Basis for all ocean food chains Coral Reef Plants Algae Green Red  Brown algaetakes many forms Coral Reef Plants Seaweed and Sea grasses Brown seaweed Sea grass Shoal grass Turtle grass Fascinating Fact: The Great Barrier Reef World’s largest coral reef Over 1257 mileslong Off the northeast coast of Australia Only grows about one inch per year The Great Barrier Reef: Home to… 1500 species of fish 400 different types of coral 4,000 mollusks 500 species of seaweed 215 species of birds 16 species of sea snake 6 species of sea turtle Whales visit during winter Coral Reef Creatures Coral polyps Tentacles Digestivesac Connectingfilaments Skeletal body Coral Reef Creatures Symbiotic relationships Coral with algae Clown fish with sea anemones Coral Reef Creatures Tropical fish Angel fish John Dory Butterfly fish Fascinating Fact:The Sea Horse Very weak swimmers Female lays eggs, male carries them in pouch till birth Only animal in which the father gives birth Body covered with armored plates Sample Food Chain Endangered Coral Reefs Major threat