Period+6+Coral+Reefs+Stevens

CORAL REEFS!!

Known as the rain forest of the ocean. They occupy 600k sq ft or .02% of the ocean. They are the most diverse marine biome. They thrive in nutrient poor habitats because they have such an intense food chain cycle that recycles essential nutrients. Most reefs are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn

Precipitation & Temperature

Coral Reefs require water temps between 68-82 degrees F. The amount of precipitation varies based on the location of the reef. Acidic rain may occur.

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This video describes diving into the Great Barrier Reef during both day and night.

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The 'Blue Planet - Deep Trouble' team explains the problems shallow waters are facing due to high demands for rare species of fish. Coral reefs are in danger of being fished out and deserted.

media type="youtube" key="1aX61LzmeYA" height="315" width="560" Coral need to withstand strong currents but those strong currents bring food.

Threats! Global Warming is raising the ocean temperature. Coral is very sensitive to temperature change and is bleaching from the warming waters. If conditions do not return to normal quickly, the coral dies off in mass quantities because the bleached effects destroys their energy source. Excessive amounts of Carbon Dioxide is dissolving into the ocean and weakening the coral skeletons. The skeletons protect the coral from waves, tourists, and destructive fishers. Water Pollution is a leading cause of reef damage. Oil, gas, and pesticides are poisoning coral and marine life. Increased levels of nitrogen cause algae to over grow which blocks the sunlight from reaching the coral. Marine life mistake trash for food and end up starving to death because the trash blocks their digestive tracks. Lost or discarded nets aka "ghost nets" get caught on coral and strangle the marine life. Coastal Development is destroying coral reefs because humans are building right on top of them. Destructive fishing practices, such as cyanide fishing, overfishing, and blast fishing are causing the marine life of coral reefs to become endangered. Coral mining is harming the coral reefs. Humans mine for cement, road fill, jewelry, and souvenirs. <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Tourist resorts that dump their waste directly over reefs are destroying them. Poorly maintained septic tanks eventually leak into the ocean. Careless boating, diving, snorkeling, and fishing can damage reefs. People walking on, grabbing, kicking, or stirring up sediments coral reef destruction occurs. Dropping anchors also causes problems for coral. <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">Increased levels of UV rays are breaking down the natural sunscreen coral has.

<span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">Organisms of the coral reef include: <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Sponges <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Corals & Anemones <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Sea Worms <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Echinoderms (Starfish, Sea Cucumbers, Urchins, Feather Stars) <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Crustaceans <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Mollusks <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Reef Fishes <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Unusual Fishes (Seahorses) <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Sharks & Rays <span style="color: #de00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Marine Reptiles <span style="color: #dd00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Marine Mammals (Otters, Whales, Dolphins, Sea Lions, Manatees)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">Credit: http://globalcoral.org/coral_reefs.htm http://www.seasky.org/reeflife/sea2.html http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/coral/habdiscr.html http://www.google.com/images http://www.youtube.com

http://www.reefresilience.org/Toolkit_Coral/C9c_Related.html

** Related Links **

http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/index.html **This link talks about the current reef conditions.** http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/outlook-for-the-reef/climate-change **This link talks about how climate change is effecting the Great Barrier Reef**

http://www.reefcheck.org/

http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/
 * This link talks about getting people involved with protecting and saving the oceans and reefs. **
 * This link talks about the coral reef in Hawaii. **

This map shows the location of biomes around the world.

this This map shows rare and less rare species in specific coral reefs around the world. This map shows the rare and less rare species locations in different coral reefs around the world.

rss url="http://www.coral.org/news/headlines/feed" link="true" description="true" number="4" enclosure="true"

media type="custom" key="21527888" width="110" height="110" align="left" <span style="color: #0eb40e; display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: center;">My Slideshow shows 14 pictures of different Coral Reefs around the world.