Coral+Reefs

Coral Reefs

=Table of Contents= flat =Introduction= Some of the animals that live in Coral Reefs are sharks, turtles and a variety of tropical fish like clownfish, sea horses, or butterfly fish.

Map of Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs are found in between the latitudes of 30degrees north and 30degrees south. = = =Abiotic and Biotic Factors=

Abiotic factors such as wave forces and sunlight affect Coral Reefs majorly. The waves will put pressure on the rocks which might cause them to break. The sunlight is needed for the algae to grow. Other examples are the rocks and the minerals in the water.

There is a vast amount of biotic factors in coral reefs. There are turtles, crabs and different types of fish like gobies, red snappers, and goatfish.

=Habitats and Niches=


 * [[image:http://www.richard-seaman.com/Underwater/Belize/StillLifes/TubeSpongesThreeOrange.jpg width="192" height="151" caption="http://www.richard-seaman.com/Underwater/Belize/StillLifes/TubeSpongesThreeOrange.jpg"]] || Sponges are lived in by fishes, crabs, shrimps, and other small animals.

Clownfish and other anemone fish live in anemones. The anemones tentacles protect the fish from predators like butterfly fish.

Tapeworms and polychaetes live in the crevices of the coral reefs.

Sea stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins live on the actual reef.

Octopuses, squids, and clams live on or near the reef. || ||
 * [[image:http://www.matrifocus.com/SAM07/images/seaweed.gif width="184" height="132" caption="http://www.matrifocus.com/SAM07/images/seaweed.gif"]] || The herbivorous fishes have jobs to trim the tops of excessive growing seaweed.

When the whale or shark drops bits of food down the water, the fish get the bits.

If the smaller fish were to die off, the big fish like sharks and whales wouldn't survive. || ||


 * ~ = Human Impacts on Coral Reefs =

||
 * [[image:http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/6/algae-growth_2478.jpg width="186" height="173" caption="http://www.dreamstime.com/anchor-underwater-thumb13726422.jpg" link="http://www.dreamstime.com/anchor-underwater-thumb13726422.jpg"]] || Coral Reefs are extremely colour full and they have plenty of biotic and abiotic features. But these things are slowly starting to die off.

Waste that is washed into the ocean covers the reefs in mud, unwanted and unhealthy products.

Fertilizers run into the oceans creating excessive algae growth, while herbicides kill the plants throughtout the coral reefs.

Other ways this ecosystem is damaged is by boat propellers and anchors. Climate change can really play a big part in the disaster of the coral reefs. The warmer the climate the more bleached the reefs get. People who over fish in these areas affect the food chain.

This ecosystem has already began to be damaged by all of these causes. || ||

=Food Chain= Sun(energy) → Algae(producer)(autotroph) → Shrimp(herbivore)(consumer) → Lobster(carnivore)(consumer) → Shark(carnivore)(consumer) → Pelican(scavenger)(consumer) → Worms(decomposer)(detrivore)

=Video=

media type="youtube" key="lBgh_YmY4lU" height="349" width="425"=

Sources: [], Science Work From Class, [|http://3.bp.blogspot.com/],, [|http://www.dreamstime.com], [], [|http://www.ehow.com], [|http://biomessecond08.wikispaces.com/], [|http://www.agrra.org/], [|http://www.ehow.com], [|http://www.seaworld.org/]