Coral Reefs

Question 1

Bioherm

Answer 1

Massive structures produced by biological activity

Question 2

What is a coral?

Answer 2

2500 species
Solitary or colonial
Reef builders and not
No medusa stage 
Subdivided GVC

Question 3

Coral phylogeny

Answer 3

Phy Cnidaria
Subphy Anthozoa
SubCl Hexacorallia
Or Scleractina

Question 4

Coral anatomy

Answer 4

Tentacles, oral disk, mouth, septa = mesenteries

Question 5

Coral anatomy: corallum

Answer 5

The whole structure of coral

Question 6

Coral anatomy: Coralite

Answer 6

Places for individual polyps to be

Question 7

Coral anatomy: Theca

Answer 7

Cup for polyp to sit in

Question 8

Basal plate

Answer 8

Where is set and secrete calcium carbonate

Question 9

Columella

Answer 9

Supports on the side

Question 10

Dr. Coal: calcium carbonate

Answer 10

Calcium carbonate closely mirrors what is seen and bones. Can be chemically treated to become hydroxyapatite. Can be used in eye transplants to allow movement from blood vessel attachment.

Question 11

Oasis in the desert

Answer 11

Reefs typically found in tropics. Open ocean has low amounts of carbon

Question 12

Zooxanthellae

Answer 12

Single – celled photosynthetic organisms with symbiotic relationship with coral. Live in the tissue and are critical for reef building.

Question 13

Zooxanthellae relationships

Answer 13

Symbiodinium

Mutualism

Question 14

Benefits to Zooxanthellae

Answer 14

Predator avoidance. Excreted nutrients. CO2 production. Access to light.

Question 15

Benefits to coral

Answer 15

Removal of dissolved excretory products. Provide oxygen.
Provide carbohydrates.
Aid in lipid synthesis.
Enhance coral calcification

Question 16

Calcium equation

Answer 16

Zooxanthellae enable corals to form calcium carbonate skeletons by rapid removal of CO2

Question 17

Coral Types

Answer 17

Massive
Branching
Flat, Table

Question 18

Reef Profile

Answer 18

The shallower parts of the reef offer different habitats according to the amount of wave energy and light they receive. Reefs of flat areas to capture light and food. Barriers block waves to keep see any beaches.

Question 19

Fore Reef Structures: Spurs and Grooves

Answer 19

Protect land on back side of groove.

Corals broken up to allow for water diversion so not to break coral.

Question 20

Spurs

Answer 20

Living coral

Question 21

Grooves

Answer 21

Mostly sand

Question 22

Location of reefs

Answer 22

Found in warm tropical areas

Question 23

Factors limiting distribution of reefs

Answer 23

Temperature: hotter than 20 C
Depth: optimal 25 for light 
Salinity: optimal 32-35 ppt
Sedimentation: limited
Wave action: moderate
Submergence: limited

Question 24

Compare Atlantic and Pacific Reefs

Answer 24

Pacific reefs much more diverse and populated than Atlantic

Question 25

Classification of Reefs

Answer 25

Fringing reefs Barrier Reefs Atolls

Question 26

Fringing reefs

Answer 26

Occupy continental or island margins without deep lagoon or channel between mainland and reef crest; most reefs

Question 27

Barrier Reefs

Answer 27

Occupy continental margins but are separated from a land by broad deep channel or lagoon; further off shore

Question 28

Atolls

Answer 28

Are oceanic, non-continental with a circular reef crest enclosing a central shallow lagoon; island made of limestone

Question 29

Biological factor: coral competition

Answer 29

Exploitative and interference. Pavona (massive) vs. Pocillopora (branching) Pocillopora wins

Question 30

Biological factor: Coral versus Algal competition

Answer 30

Damaged coral, limited space, Algal wants to occupy space; don't allow coral to recover

Question 31

Biological factor: predation

Answer 31

Corallivores Eat corals Small hurricanes can help thermally distressed; big hurricanes can destroy Parrot fish and sturgeon fish poop sand to cement corals together

Question 32

Physiological factor: coral bleaching

Answer 32

Corals eliminating zooxanthellae when they get stressed from warmer temperatures and lower pHs

Question 33

Physiological factor: acidification

Answer 33

Oceans are carbon sinks which lead to acidification. Why get rid zooxanthellae? Get rid of some hoping those that can live through hotter temps and lower pH will repopulate to evolve