Coral Reefs and their Marine Families Reef IQ
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Transcript of Coral Reefs and their Marine Families Reef IQ
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Coral Reefs and their Coral Reefs and their Marine FamiliesMarine Families
Reef IQ
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New VocabularyNew vocabulary will be highlighted in green. Please
write down each new word for review at the end of the class.
polyps algae
ecosystemhabitat
zooxanthellae tentacles
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Introduction to Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are amazing, natural wonders that live in the warm waters of the tropics, providing habitat for thousands of marine creatures.
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Corals- ANIMAL or PLANT?
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Coral is an ANIMAL!
• Coral is actually an animal. • They live attached to the sea
floor.• They are the builders of the reef!• A single coral animal is called a
coral polyp. • The coral polyps live together in
colonies.
The coral polyps live inside here
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Polyps Outside!
Polyps Inside
Tiny, little animals!
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What do they eat?
• To get energy to build the coral reef the corals need to eat.
• The polyps use their tentacles to catch tiny animals that float in the water called zooplankton.
• But corals get MOST of their food from marine plants that actually live inside the coral!
A coral polyp
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What do they eat?
• A microscopic type of algae called zooxanthellae actually live inside corals, just under their skin.
• Corals are solar-powered just like trees on land. The algae that live inside the coral soak up the sun all day - just like sunbathers on the beach.
A coral polyp
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Zooxanthellae
Coral polyp
Coral colony
Corals
Coral Reef
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• The Great Barrier Reef is the largest system in the world and can be seen from outer space.•Corals produce a hard skeleton that forms the actual structure of the reef.•Coral reefs have the second highest biodiversity after rainforests.
Interesting Coral Reef Facts
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Why are coral reefs important?• Habitat: They are home to 33% of all known fish species.
•Nursery: And a nursery ground for over 25% of all marine species.
Photo by J. RandallPhoto by Dee Wescott
Photo by MacGillivray Freeman Films
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Why are coral reefs important?•Income: they provide millions of dollars of income annually for people living by coral reefs.
•Medical Research: coral reefs have the potential to be used as medical cures to treat cancer, heart disease, HIV and arthritis among others.
• Protection: they protect 20% of the world’s coast from wave erosion.
• Food: they are a food source for millions of people.
• Tourism: coral reefs attract tourists from all over the world.
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What is a healthy environment for coral reefs?• Sunlight
• A certain salinity• Low nutrient, clear water• Water temperature 18-29 ºC • Water circulation
Photo by MacGillivray Freeman Films
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What are the man-made threats to coral reefs?
• Global warming leading to coral bleaching.
• Runoff of chemicals and nutrients from land
• Sedimentation.• Rubbish including
marine debris• Overfishing • Physical damage from
tourists and fishermen• Pollution from
untreated sewage and oil.
An example of coral bleaching.
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What plants live on coral reefs?
Algae - lots of different types!
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•
What animals live on the reef?
Turtles!
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Crayfish
What animals live on coral reefs?
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Hard coral
What animals live on coral reefs?
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What animals live on coral reefs?
Giant clams
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Parrotfish
What animals live on coral reefs?
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What animals live on coral reefs?
Butterflyfish
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Surgeonfish
What animals live on coral reefs?
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Damselfish
What animals live on coral reefs?
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Damselfish includingClownfish, like Nemo!
What animals live on coral reefs?
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Cleaner shrimp
What animals live on coral reefs?
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Sponges
What animals live on coral reefs?
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Coral Trout
What animals live on coral reefs?
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Sharks
What animals live on coral reefs?
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THE END!
Perhaps you can join them one day!