coral reefs. what is coral? giant structures built by tiny creatures giant structures built by tiny...

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Coral Reefs Coral Reefs

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Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

What is Coral?What is Coral?

GIANT GIANT STRUCTURESSTRUCTURES built by tiny built by tiny creaturescreatures

Some reef systems Some reef systems are so huge that are so huge that they can be seen they can be seen from outer spacefrom outer space

What is Coral?What is Coral?

All coral is made up of tiny All coral is made up of tiny individuals called individuals called POLYPSPOLYPS

A polyp is a A polyp is a TINY ANIMALTINY ANIMAL that that looks like an upside down jelly looks like an upside down jelly fish!!fish!!

They eat They eat PLANKTONPLANKTON

A PolypA Polyp

Mouth

Tentacle

Stomach

Skeleton

A plant lives in the Coral?A plant lives in the Coral?

Each polyp has within its body a Each polyp has within its body a PLANTPLANT

This plant is a special algae called This plant is a special algae called ZOOXANTHELLAEZOOXANTHELLAE

These plants These plants PHOTOSYTHESISEPHOTOSYTHESISE and provide more food for the polypand provide more food for the polyp

Such a mutually beneficial Such a mutually beneficial relationship is called relationship is called SYMBIOSISSYMBIOSIS??

What does the Polyp get?What does the Polyp get? Food!!Food!!

What does the Algae get?What does the Algae get? Somewhere to live!!Somewhere to live!!

Fish, crabs, Fish, crabs, snails, worms snails, worms and other reef and other reef creatures creatures depend on the depend on the health and health and growth of the growth of the coral reef for coral reef for their existencetheir existence

Other reef creatures live Other reef creatures live on and eat the Coral….on and eat the Coral….

ThreatsThreats Natural Threats to the Reef Natural Threats to the Reef

in Statiain Statia

Strong wavesStrong waves HurricanesHurricanes Coral Predators (Parrot Fish, Coral Predators (Parrot Fish,

Hawksbill Turtles)Hawksbill Turtles) Coral Disease (white Coral Disease (white

band/black band disease band/black band disease killing the elk horn coral)killing the elk horn coral)

Competition (from algae)Competition (from algae) BleachingBleaching

ThreatsThreats Human Threats to the Human Threats to the

Reef in StatiaReef in Statia

Pollution (oil, oil spills, Pollution (oil, oil spills, sewage, garbage)sewage, garbage)

Anchors from Oil Anchors from Oil TankersTankers

Fish TrapsFish Traps Reef Tourism (dive Reef Tourism (dive

tourism)tourism)

How can we help the coral How can we help the coral reefs?reefs?

Marine ReservesMarine Reserves Diver awareness Diver awareness

(supervised diving)(supervised diving) EducationEducation Research and Research and

MonitoringMonitoring