Coral and Coral reef

What and Where are the Coral Reefs?

Hermatypic corals & Ahermatypic corals

• There are two groups of corals: hermatypes, or

hard corals that build reefs; and ahermatypes, or
corals (both soft and a few hard) that do not.
• The major difference between hard corals and
soft corals is that hard corals contain
zooxanthellae (microscopic algae) within their
tissue and the soft corals do not .
Coral Reef
 LOCATION and DISTRIBUTION OF CORAL REEFS

• Most corals thrive in shallow, clear, sunlit saltwater with a

temperature between 79°F and 81°F (26°C and 27°C) .

DISTRIBUTION
• Most coral reefs are located between 20°N (tropic of Cancer,
23°27') and 20°S (tropic of Capricorn, 23°27') of the equator. They
are divided into three
primary regions: the Indo-Pacific, the Western Atlantic, and the
Red Sea
• Based upon geographic distribution, 60% of the
world’s reefs are in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea,
25% are in the Pacific Ocean, and 15% in the Caribbean
 Specific features
300N and S of the equator
• Temperature: 26-27C • Coral likes areas with lots of
– Depth: Less than 80 ft to waves:
230 feet – They are strong enough to
withstand the pressure
– Salinity: Normal salt levels – New water means more food
(35ppt) – Waves remove silt
– Light: Zooxanthellae need – New water brings more oxygen
light to survive
– Sedimentation: Being
covered with silt interferes
with photosynthesis
– Desiccation: being exposed
to air. The corals will die if
exposed too long
Environmental Conditions Necessary for a Healthy
Coral Reef
• Corals are very sensitive organisms and environmental conditions need to be just right.
Corals need:
• Abundant Sunlight: Reef-building corals cannot survive without sunlight, since
zooxanthellae, their symbiotic algae, require sunlight for photosynthesis. The majority of
zooxanthellae reef-building corals do not grow below 45m (150ft).
Warm Temperatures: Corals can only live within a narrow temperature range from around
16°C - 29°C (62°F - 85°F).
• Low Nutrient Levels : Corals are adapted to live in ocean water, which contains very low
levels of nutrients.
• Clear Sediment-Free Water Corals prefer clear water with low levels of sediments (small
particles of earth, rock and sand). Corals tend to live in areas with some wave action as this
helps supply them with food and oxygen as well as keeping corals free of sediment.
• Salty Water :Corals are marine animals adapted to live in seawater with a salinity of around
35 parts per thousand
• Hard Substrate Corals need a hard substrate or surface to attach to and cannot successfully
colonize loose substrates such as rubble or sand. If the substrate is unstable,
young coral colonies will be crushed and killed by wave action and storms.
Symbiosis: Living Together(Mechanism of Coral
reef formation)
• Nearly all the shallow-water corals and related Cnidarians have a microscopic symbiotic
algae living in the tissues. The alga, called zooxanthellae, is an important partner in the
success of tropical coral reefs. Zooxanthellae provide the means for corals to sustain high
growth and reproduction rates in waters that are low in nutrients . Metabolic wastes
generated by animal tissues are used by the alga; the corals use the fats, oils, and sugars
synthesized by the alga during photosynthesis.
• For the process to function optimally, three things are necessary: sufficient light, clear
water, and temperatures that range from 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F). The process of
photosynthesis is conceptualized as follows.
• Carbon Dioxide + Waterlight energy → Sugar + Water + Oxygen + Energy
• The energy provided by photosynthesis enhances coral growth. Corals grow by taking in
calcium ions from the sea and combining them with bicarbonate ions. The result, calcium
carbonate, bonds as a single crystal onto other crystals, creating the limestone skeleton.
Energy generated from photosynthesis expedites the calcium carbonate movement from
the tissues to the skeleton. The steps follow.
• Calcium bicarbonate formation: Ca2+ + 2HCO3− → Ca(HCO3)2
• Calcium carbonate and carbonic acid formation: Ca(HCO3)2 → CaCO3 + H2CO3
• Carbonic acid ionization: H2CO3 → H+ + HCO3−
Figure: The uptake of bicarbonate ions from seawater by the ectoderm of a coral polyp

Figure: The deposition of calcium carbonate by the outer skin layer or ectoderm at the basal
plate of a coral polyp.
 Types of coral reefs
Scientists generally divide coral reefs into four classes: fringing reefs,
barrier reefs, atolls, and patch reefs
Fringing reefs grow near the coastline around islands and continents. They are
separated from the shore by narrow, shallow lagoons. Fringing reefs are the most
common type of reef that we see. Eg: Greater Caribbean region
Barrier reefs also parallel the coastline but are separated by deeper, wider lagoons. At
their shallowest point, they can reach the water’s surface forming a “barrier” to
navigation. Teg. he Great Barrier Reef in Australia
Atolls are rings of coral that create protected lagoons and are usually located in the
middle of the sea. Atolls usually form when islands surrounded by fringing reefs
sink into the sea or the sea level rises around them. Eg: The Pacific Ocean
Patch reefs are small, isolated reefs that grow up from the open bottom of the island
platform or continental shelf. They usually occur between fringing reefs and barrier
reefs. They vary greatly in size, and they rarely reach the surface of the water.
 Ecological Threats to Coral Reefs

• Direct destruction (dynamite fishing, mining of

coral)
• Land use practices (sedimentation, nutrient
pollution)
• Diseases
• Overfishing
• Global warming – coral bleaching
events