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CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM

LOCATION: Coral reefs are found in clear, tropical oceans. Coral reefs
form in shallow water because they need sunlight. The largest reef in the
world is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is is longer than 1600 miles.
That is longer than the distance from Grand Rapids, MI to Orlando, FL!
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World Map: The red dots show where the coral reefs are

Most coral reefs form in water that is 0 - 150 feet deep

HABITAT: Coral reefs need warm water that is between 68 - 82F. Reefs
develop in areas that have a lot of waves because the waves bring in food
and oxygen to the reef. Waves help stop tiny rocks, called sediment, from
falling on the reef. Sediment can stop sunlight from reaching the coral.

PRODUCERS

PLANTS: The sun gives energy to the coral reef system. Algae,
seagrasses, and tiny ocean plants, called phytoplankton, live there.
These plants convert light energy into chemical energy. This is called
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photosynthesis. As animals eat the plants and other animals, energy is

passed through the food web.

Seagrass Algae growing on top of coral

The algae and seagrasses give food and oxygen to the animals that live
on the reef. Seagrasses are especially important because they provide
shelter for reef animals, like lobsters.

See the brown algae? Zooxanthellae (zo-zan-THEL-lee) live inside coral polyps

Corals work together with tiny algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their
tissue. The zooxanthellae give oxygen and food to the coral through
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photosynthesis. The coral polyps give a home and carbon dioxide to the
zooxanthellae through respiration.

CONSUMERS
ANIMALS: Corals are the most plentiful animal on the reef. Coral polyps
are tiny creatures. They attach themselves to the hard reef and live in one
spot forever. What we think of as coral is made of hundreds or even
thousands of polyps!

Coral polyp: Its mouth is at the center of its tentacles

Corals are closely related to jellyfish and sea anemones. They use their
tentacles for defense and to capture their prey. The algae that lives inside
coral is what makes coral so colorful!
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Did you know that there are more types of fish in two acres of a coral reef
than there are types of birds on North America? Shocking, isnt it? Coral
reefs only make up about 1% of the ocean floor. But, they house nearly
25% of life in the ocean. Some animals use coral reefs as a stopping point,
as they travel across the ocean. Other animals live in the reef.

Parrotfish Sea turtle

Animals come to the reef because it gives them food. Animals, like the sea
turtle and the parrotfish, eat algae off the coral. The parrotfishs beak is so
strong, it can even eat coral!
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Fish take shelter under table coral

The coral reef also gives animals shelter from bigger animals that want to
eat them! Bigger fish and animals come to the reef to eat smaller animals
and plants. Sharks even come to the reef. One animal that they eat is the
sea turtle!

Other animals that live on the coral reef include sea urchins, sponges,
worms, snails, shrimp, sea horses, manta rays, octopus, whales and
many more! Many of these animals work together as a team, like the coral
polyps and zooxanthellae. This teamwork is called symbiosis.

One example of symbiosis on the reef is the clownfish and sea anemone.
The sea anemones tentacles provide shelter for the fish and their eggs.
The clownfish protect the anemone from predators, such as butterflyfish.
Sometimes clownfish even remove parasites from their home anemone.
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Clownfish and sea anemones

PEOPLE AND CORAL REEFS: Coral reef ecosystems are important for
humans too! Reefs give humans food, like lobster and fish. Reefs help
prevent global warming because they recycle carbon dioxide. Reefs
protect land from strong waves and storms.

Fishing boat with big commercial net

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References

Article (Adapted):

Coral Reef. National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis: Kids Do Ecology. 2004.
http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/coralreef.html

Images

Great Barrier Reef. Green Peace. http://www.greenpeace.org.au/blog/why-the-great-barrier-reef-is-dying/

Coral Reef Map. Ducksters. http://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/coral_reef_biome.php

Coral Reef Zones. Ducksters. http://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/coral_reef_biome.php

Seagrass. Marine Biology in Belize.

http://ksuweb.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/MarBioBelize/Lectures/IntroMarEcol/IntroMarEcol.html

Algae. The Nanite Solution. September 23, 2015.

https://thenanitesolution.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/ocean-ecosystems-coral-reef-case-study/

Zooxanthellae. Smithsonian. http://ocean.si.edu/slideshow/zooxanthellae-and-coral-bleaching

Coral Polyp. Darwins Reef Exploration Team. http://darwinsreef.pbworks.com/w/page/66265215/Coral

%20Polyp

Caribbean Reef. The Nanite Solution. September 23, 2015.

https://thenanitesolution.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/ocean-ecosystems-coral-reef-case-study/

Parrotfish. Sunil Fish Aquarium. http://sunilfishaquarium.weebly.com/parrot-fish.html

Sea Turtle. The Nanite Solution. September 23, 2015.

https://thenanitesolution.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/ocean-ecosystems-coral-reef-case-study/

Fish Take Shelter Under Table Coral. ABC. July 1, 2015.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2015/07/01/4265181.htm

Clownfish and Sea Anemones. Instructables.

https://cdn.instructables.com/FM3/9WFN/HSGFXHI4/FM39WFNHSGFXHI4.MEDIUM.jpg
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Commercial Fishing Boat. Hydrogen Generators USA. http://www.hydrogen-generators-

usa.com/images/commercial-fishing-boat.jpg