Introduction to Coral Reefs

Question 1

coral reef

Answer 1

shallow water tropical bioherm community

Question 2

bioherm

Answer 2

living structure, living and unliving together

Question 3

hermatypic corals

Answer 3

reef building corals/anthozoans

Question 4

seagrass beds

Answer 4

shallow water vascular plant community

Question 5

mangroves

Answer 5

shallow water tropical woody plants

Question 6

best reefs built around __*C

Answer 6

20-30*C

Question 7

band around equator where reefs grow

Answer 7

30* N to 30*S

Question 8

oxygen minimum zone

Answer 8

zone at 500m depth

Question 9

the ocean is slightly alkaline/acidic

Answer 9

ocean is alkaline at pH 7.5-8.4

Question 10

ideal reef depth

Answer 10

between 25-10 m deep, 100m max

Question 11

light intensity for optimal coral growth

Answer 11

light must be >1% surface intensity

Question 12

turbidity

Answer 12

the measure of suspended particles

Question 13

typical salinity in the tropics

Answer 13

33ppt

Question 14

tidal cycles are dependent on

Answer 14

the earth moon and sun

Question 15

spring tide

Answer 15

higher tides, sun, earth, and moon in a straight line

Question 16

neap tide

Answer 16

more uniform tides, sun and moon at a right angle to the earth

Question 17

semidiurnal

Answer 17

2 tides of the same measure

Question 18

mixed diurnal

Answer 18

2 tides of a different measure

Question 19

diurnal

Answer 19

1 tide

Question 20

of genera found in Caribbean

Answer 20

25 genera

Question 21

of genera found in the Sounth-Central Pacific

Answer 21

20-40 general

Question 22

length of great barrier reef

Answer 22

2000km

Question 23

of genera in Hawai’i

Answer 23

10-12 genera

Question 24

reason for coral bleaching

Answer 24

low tides, higher temp, and higher exposure to UV stresses the coral and they force the zooanthellae out

Question 25

low oxygen affects coral how?

Answer 25

suboptimal growth because coral is an animal

Question 26

high turbidity affects coral reefs how?

Answer 26

too much sedimentation blocks sunlight, clogs filter feeders,

Question 27

high or low salinity affects coral how?

Answer 27

causes osmotic problems and cell damage

Question 28

exposure during low tides affects coral how?

Answer 28

dessication and an increase in heat and UV

Question 29

how do waves/storms, tsunamis affect the corals?

Answer 29

cause damage, increase turbidity, changes in salinity and temperature put stress on corals