Coral Reef Essay - 1191 Words

Coral reefs are found in shallow tropical waters and are most commonly present along island and continental shores. Economically, these reefs present a major source of income and resources for their local communities. Without them, crucial elements of tourism, fishing, coastal protection, and even pharmaceutical discovery would be missing. According to the US Department of State, tourism is the fastest growing coral reef-associated sector of the economy as approximately 100 million tourists visit the Caribbean alone generating an estimated $1 billion in a mere seven-year span of time (Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). These numbers are only expected to grow. Similarly, fisheries associated with coral reefs employ millions of fishers and produce†¦show more content†¦The relationship between corals and their symbiotic dinoflagellates is the main factor in the evolutionary success of reef-building corals. The endosymbiotic algae are the source of numerous benefits for the corals and are t he main contributor to the long-term survival of coral reefs over time (Muller-Parker et al. 2015). This symbiotic relationship occurs because the algae live within the tissues of the coral and, through photosynthesis, provide a reliable source of nutrients to their hosts. These activities provide the coral with a fixed source of carbon compounds for energy, enhance the calcification process, and help maintain healthy nutrient homeostasis. In return, the host coral provides a protective environment for the algae to live within and a reliable supply of carbon dioxide that can be used in its photosynthetic processes. This mutualistic relationship allows the normally slow growing corals to compete with the other faster growing species because of the efficient trading of resources between the symbiotic organisms. It drastically improves productivity as it allows the corals to feed by day through photosynthesis but still rely on predation to feed at night when photosynthetic processes ar e no longer available (Buchheim, 2013). Compared to other benthic species, corals have an immense competitive edge as they can thrive in seawater whereShow MoreRelatedCoral Reefs Essay722 Words   |  3 PagesCoral reefs are very diverse ecosystems. They are â€Å"the rainforest of the sea†. Coral reefs can be very big or very small. The Great Barrier Reef (Australia) is 1,600 miles long and 40 miles wide. They are very important for our ocean, they provide food and home for many of the fish in the ocean. For some fish, coral reefs are the only viable food source or shelter they have. Coral reefs are very important. Coral reefs are made by individual coral that join together to form a coral colony. EachRead More Coral Reefs Essay1309 Words   |  6 PagesCoral Reefs Coral reefs are arguably the world’s most beautiful habitats. Coral reefs have been called the rainforests of the oceans, because of the rich diversity of life they support. Scientists have not yet finished counting the thousands of different species of plants and animals that use or live in the coral reef. There are three types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs are located close to shore, separated from land by only shallow water. Barrier reefsRead MoreEssay on Palau Coral Reef1613 Words   |  7 PagesPalau Coral Reef Coral reefs are one of the most complex and colorful tropical ecosystems, rivaling rain forests in their richness of life. Coral reef organisms build massive intricate physical structures that are home to some of the most fascinating plants and animals in the world. Their extraordinary beauty captivates visitors and their productivity provides a wealth of resources for local communities and the world. What is a coral reef? Coral reefs are massiveRead More The Coral Reefs Essay1559 Words   |  7 PagesThe Coral Reefs Can we save â€Å"Tropical Rain Forests of the Ocean†? Anyone who’s ever scuba dived at a coral reef and seen the perfect handprint of dead coral can appreciate how fragile and delicate this ecosystem is. Coral reefs are not just rock, like some people believe, but are an animal. Corals are a type of animal called a polyp, the simplest of predators that eat meat in the form of drifting zooplankton†¦all corals have boarders, zillions of microscopicRead More coral reef Essay2541 Words   |  11 Pages CORAL REEFS Almost every one of us have heard and most of you have seen the Coral reefs but did you know what actually these are: As a mariner its important to know about the marine life, that was one reason I have chosen this topic for my today’s short presentation. GM, my scheme of presentation will be as flashed: DEFINATION OF CORAL REEF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CORAL AND CORAL POLYP WHERE WE CAN FIND CORAL CONSTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH OF CORAL REEFS TYPES OF CORAL REEFSRead MoreEssay about Coral Reefs1212 Words   |  5 PagesCoral reefs have been undergoing global degradation due to increasing natural and anthropogenic impacts for at least the last half-century. The intensity and frequency of stressors, including global climate change, have rapidly increased in number over recent years (Hughes Connell 1999; Hoegh-Guldberg et al. 2007; Pandolfi et al. 2011). Frequent disturbances such as hurricanes/cyclones, predation outbreaks, diseases and mass bleaching events eat-away at the percent of living coral cover and withoutRead More Coral Reefs Essay examples3747 Words   |  15 PagesCoral Reefs   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Coral reefs are one of the oldest types of living systems on earth, and certainly one of the most spectacular (Goreau, 1987). They are massive underwater structures formed by the limestone skeletons of tiny invertebrate animals. Reefs house a greater diversity of body forms, chemistry, and animal phyla (thirty-two compared to the eight that inhabit the most biodiversity ecosystems on land). Phyla comprise the second largest category of living things, after kingdoms.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  CoralRead MoreEssay on â€Å"The Sad Fate of Coral Reefs†1077 Words   |  5 Pageslies with the â€Å"Rainforests of the Sea†, the coral reefs. Coral reefs are the most diverse and biologically richest of all marine ecosystems. As with almost every ecosystem and its members, coral reefs provide several ecosystem services. For instance, coral reefs serve as natural barriers against hurricanes and catastrophic storm surges, their chemicals may treat diseases, and they are a nitrogen fixation. On of the most important functions of coral reefs are that they are a major source of food forRead MoreEssay about Coral Reefs: At Risk1830 Words   |  8 PagesCoral reefs are diverse ecosystems that emanate great beauty while providing a home to many marine inhabitants. Coral reefs, being a marine ecosystem, are extremely important for the overall health of the surrounding environment. They provide food and shelter to a large bio-diverse population. Coral reefs are among the world’s oldest, most diverse, and most productive ecosystems (Miller and Hackett 129). Coral reefs are found in shallow coastal regions of warm tropical and subtropical oceans. CoralRead More Coral Reefs And Bleaching Phenomenon Essay1452 Words   |  6 Pageswill find an equally dynamic environment in the depths of our world’s coral reefs. As a Zoology major, I quickly decided to explore this biological component of the ocean environment. In the following paper, I will provide a general overview of coral reefs and examine the alarming depletion of coral and their ecological symbionts in a process known as coral bleaching. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As mentioned earlier, coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive of all communities on Earth