Coral Reefs

Keywords
ACTIVITY: Match the keyword to the correct definition using the letters.

KEYWORD Definition WHICH

LETTER
?
A Coral A stretch of salt water separated from the sea by
a low sandbank or coral reef.
F
B Polyps A white solid occurring naturally as chalk,
c
limestone, marble, and calcite, and forming
mollusc shells and stony corals.
C Calcium Offering monetary value through buying and
H
Carbonate selling.
D Symbiotic A hard, stony substance secreted by certain
marine coelenterates as an external skeleton,
A
typically forming large reefs in warm seas.
E Salinity The variety of plant and animal life in the world
or in a particular habitat.
L
F Lagoon Naturally occurring material that has been
O
broken down by erosion and weathering. It often
settles on riverbeds and sea floors.
G Tsunami Coral turns white if sea temperature increases
J
too rapidly.
H Commercial Clear the bed of (a harbour, river, or other area
of water) by scooping out mud, weeds, and
N
rubbish.
I Cyanide Tiny, soft-bodied organisms related to sea
anemones and jellyfish. 
B
J Coral Bleaching An extremely toxic poison.
I
K Aboriginal Divide into or assign to zones.
M
L Biodiversity A close and long-term biological interaction
D
between two different biological organisms. A
mutually beneficial relationship.
M Zoning A long, high sea wave caused by an earthquake.
G
N dredging Having lived or existed in a place since the
earliest known time.
K
O Sediment The concentration of dissolved salts in water.
E

What are coral reefs?

1. CORAL REEF COMMUNITY 2. POLYPS

 SKELETON

1. Coral reefs are communities of living organisms.

2. Corals are made of tiny marine animals called polyps that multiply into colonies of millions.
3. The coral polyps secrete hard calcium carbonate skeletons from the underside of their skin. Over
time, the skeletons build up to form a hard, rocky mass. Therefore, the vast majority of reefs are made
of dead skeletons. Only the outer layer are living polyps.
4. The process of growing skeletons consumes energy. This is provided by algae that lives on the
coral in a symbiotic relationship.
The algae use waste products from the polyps to make food and oxygen that polyps then feed on.
Sunlight is essential for algae growth.

The Global Distribution of Coral Reefs

ACTIVITY: Complete the activities below to describe the global distribution of coral reef
ecosystems.

Lines of latitude (circle the correct answer)

1. The vast majority of coral reefs are found between…..
- 10° N and 10° S of the equator - 20° N and 20° S of the equator
- 30° N and 30° S of the equator - 40° N and 40° S of the equator
Name the Region
2. With the highest percent of coral reefs (32%)

Southeast Asia

3. The largest single reef system (2900 individual reefs over 2300km)

The Great Barrier Reef

4. Four regions make up Indo-Pacific coral reef system which accounts for 92% of coral reefs. They
are:

The Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Ocean

Extension question
Suggest reasons why there are few coral reefs along the west coast of Africa and the west coast of
South America
The Peru and Benguela ocean currents redistribute cold water from the Antarctic to
equator through these coastlines. Coral reefs allows warm water over 18°c.

The formation of Coral Reef Ecosystems

ACTIVITY: Answer the following question to identify the conditions needed for coral formation.

TEMPERATURE
1. What is the ideal temperature for coral growth?
22° c-25° c
2. What is the temperature range for coral growth?
18° c-32° c

DEPTH
3. What is the ideal depth for coral growth?
Around and below 10m.
4. At what depth do corals stop growing?
Around 30m.

SALINITY
5. Do coral prefer water with a high or low salt content? Use evidence in your answer.
High, They prefer a salt content of approximately 30-40 parts per 1000

EXTENSION
How do rivers influence the growth of coral?
Polyps need clear, clean water. They can not survive if water is clear with river sediment. The sediment disturb
the sunlight which is important for plankton on which polyps feed are on . When freshwater from the river
interacts with salt water from the sea it reduces the salt from \the water. Rivers brings pollution.

The different types of coral reef: FRINGING REEFS, BARRIER REEFS, ATOLLS
ACTIVITY: Study the diagrams above. Match the correct number to the correct statement below.
 1. FRINGING REEF

DESCRIPTION WHICH
NUMBER
?
The reef expands and grows out to sea over time. 3
The reefs often end when there is a sudden drop in the sea floor. 5
The reef is attached to the mainland. They often follow coastlines for many kilometers. 1
The reef expands and grows out to sea over time. 2
The reefs are usually less than 100m wide. 4

2. BARRIER REEF
DESCRIPTION WHICH
NUMBER
?
The coral reef grows in a shallower area away from the mainland. 1
The deep, wide lagoon between mainland and barrier reef can be many kilometers wide. 2
A wide and deep lagoon forms between the reef and mainland. It is too deep here for coral to 3
form.

3. ATOLL

DESCRIPTION WHICH
NUMBER
?
Over time, the island can erode away or sink beneath the sea. 2
Alternatively, sometimes the sea level rises due to climate change. 3
 Coral debris from erosion builds up in layers in the inner lagoon. 6
Fringe reefs grow in a circle around an island, often volcanic. 1
A deep inner lagoon develops in-between the atoll reefs. 5
Coral continues to grow up at the height of the rising sea level to reach the sunlight. 4

Why are coral reefs important?

ACTIVITY: Read the information in the boxes below. Use colours to identify economic, social, and
environmental factors. Also identify keywords and statistics.

SOCIAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL

Draw a box around key statistics.

Underline keywords.

 Coral reefs act like barriers that break up tsunamis and tropical storms wave energy
by up to 97%. This prevents loss of life, property damage, and coastal erosion.
 Tourists coming to dive need not only dive boats and guides, but also restaurants,
hotels, and commercial and entertainment facilities. In many cases, tourism associated
with reefs has expanded to transform the entire economy of a region.
 Some 250 million people – many in small island states and developing countries -
depend directly on coral reefs for food and income.
 Many individual corals and sponges consume particles found in the ocean. This
enhances the clarity and quality of the water. Clear and clean water promote healthy
coastal environments for tourism.
 25% of marine life live on coral reefs.
 Many of the compounds now being used in human medicines, including some that
treat cancer, are found on coral reefs.
 The annual value of the ecosystem goods and services provided by coral reefs to
millions of people is estimated to be over $30 billion.
 They are the source of nitrogen and other essential nutrients for marine food chains.
 If effectively managed, reefs can yield around 15 tonnes of fish and other seafood per
square kilometre each year.
 Reefs are nurseries for young fish before they make their way to deeper seas, and
fishermen's nets.
Why are coral reefs under threat?
ACTIVITY: Match the sentence starters to the correct endings to give reasons why coral reefs are
under threat.

Coral cannot handle sudden changes ...by removing young fish before
in temperature... they can replenish the population of
the ecosystem.
Fishermen use destructive
techniques such as… … industrial waste, sewage, runoff
from farming, oil pollution, and
micro-plastics.
Overfishing can have serious
impacts on marine ecosystems…
…in the ocean. This extra material
smothers coral and deprives them of
Tourists, due to carelessness or a
the light they need.
lack of education, often impact on
reefs by…
...associated with global warming.
The coral bleaches by turning white
Toxins enter the ocean directly or after expelling algae.
are carried into the sea from rivers.
Sources include…
… for bricks, road fill, or cement for
new buildings.
The removal of vegetation, including
mangrove ecosystems, is resulting in … standing on coral and removing
more sediment… pieces for souvenirs. The anchors of
boats also cause damage.
Coral mining involves the removal
of live coral and skeletal reefs… ...poisonous cyanide, explosive
dynamite, and bottom-trawling
(dragging a net along the sea floor)

EXTENSION: Coral Reef Case Study: The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is situated in the north-east of the country

of Australia. It runs along the east coastline of the state of
Queensland The reef starts at the tip of Cape York Peninsular in
the north and extends down to the town of Bundaberg in the
south.
The largest city along the coastline is Cairns, where many
tourists fly into the international airport on their way to visit the
reef.
The scale shows that the reef is approximately _____km long. It
covers an area of 344, 400km2.
ACTIVITY: Read the statements about the Great Barrier Reef below. Decide if they are showing
WHY THE REEF IS IMPORTANT, WHY IT IS UNDER THREAT, HOW IT IS BEING
MANAGED, or OTHER FACTS

FACTOR IMPORTANCE?
THREAT?
MANAGEMEN
T? OTHER
FACT?
The Great Barrier Reef generates more than $1.5 billion every year for the Australian IMPORTANCE
economy from fishing and tourism.
Visible from outer space, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest living OTHER FACT
organism.
Huge sections of a 800-kilometre stretch in the northern part of the reef have died THREAT
since 2016 due to high water temperatures associated with global warming.
Approximately one-third of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is protected from MANAGEME
species removal of any kind, including fishing, without written permission. NT

Tourism is an important economic activity for the region, generating IMPORTANCE

over $2.15 billion per year
Along this coastline there are over 2,900 coral reefs, built from 360 species of hard OTHER FACT
corals.
More than 1,500 fish species live on the reef along with humpback whales and 6 IMPORTANCE
species of turtle.
The crown-of-thornes starfish preys on coral polyps. Large outbreaks of these starfish THREAT
can devastate reefs. In 2000, an outbreak contributed to a loss of 66% of live coral
cover.
The rivers of north eastern Australia pollute the Reef during tropical flood events. THREAT
Over 90% of this pollution comes from farm runoff from sugar cane plantations and
beef cattle grazing.
There have been over 1,600 known shipwrecks in the Great Barrier Reef region THREAT
leading to oil leaks and pollution. A Chinese ship spilt 950 tonnes of oil after running
aground in 2010.
The Great Barrier Reef has long been known to and used by the Aboriginal peoples IMPORTANCE
and is an important part of local groups' cultures and spirituality.
Fishing generates over $720 million annually. IMPORTANCE
The ‘Reef 2050’ Plan has been developed by the Queensland government. MANAGEMEN
T
In 1999, the Australian Parliament passed the Environment Protection and MANAGEMEN
Biodiversity Conservation Act. By 2009, 41 out of 65 actions had been achieved T
including working with landowners to reduce runoff from pollution.
64,000 people are employed in tourism along this coastline IMPORTANCE
 A combination of zoning, management plans, permits, education and incentives are MANAGEMEN
employed in the effort to conserve the reef. T
The reef is thought to be around 20,000,000 years old. OTHER FACT
Tourists pay a daily fee to visit the reef. This is used for research. Tourists boats need MANAGEMEN
a permit to visit the reef, this limits the number of ships. T

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

- The Great Barrier Marine Park was created in 1975
- It protects large parts of the reef from damaging activities
 - It aims to sustainably manage the demands placed on the reef from tourism, fishing, ports
and shipping, recreation, scientific research and indigenous traditional use.
- Fishing is regulated and shipping traffic must stick to specific and defined routes.

- The park operates a complex zoning system

- Zoning breaks the reef down into sections. Each section has its own set of rules. Some
activities are banned in certain zones, where others require a permit.
- This system was introduced in 2004 and resulted in an increase in areas protected from
fishing from 4.6% to 33%.

Reef 2050 Plan

Reef 2050 Plan was released by the Australian and Queensland governments in 2015 and is the
overarching framework for protecting and managing the Reef until 2050.

It will include substantial investment into better land management and improving water quality
entering the Reef from the surrounding catchment.

RESULTS
• Reduced in the past 24 months, five major industrial ports proposing to dump dredged material in
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, to zero.
• Halted and reversed the decline in water quality entering the Reef from agriculture — pesticide load
has been reduced by 28 per cent, sediment load by 11 per cent, total nitrogen load by 10 per cent, and
dissolved inorganic nitrogen by 16 per cent compared to a 2009 baseline.
• Provided extra protection to turtles through tough new laws against poaching.
• Funding a National Environmental Science Programme, at a cost of nearly $A32 million including a
new Tropical Water Quality hub, to research coastal water quality