Reef Formation & Succession Flashcards
(22 cards)
What causes disturbances to coral reefs?
Volcanic Eruptions, but they create a new substrate
What is Primary Succession?
When bare substrate is disturbed, especially with a lack of organisms
What is Secondary Succession?
When there is a disturbance of an existing ecosystem
hurricane, fire, etc
What are the stages of Succession?
Pioneer Stage
Intermediate Seral Stage
Later Seral Stage
Climax Stage
What are the stages of Coral Reef Succession?
Colonizing Stage: Empty Substrate
Successionist Stage: Thriving Coral Reef
Climax Stage: No known example
What is Reef Growth?
When construction is greater than or equal to erosion
What are the three reef construction processes?
Framework Building
Sediment Production
Cementation
What are three types of Framework Builders?
Scleractinian Coral (stony coral)
Non-Scleractinian Coral (soft coral)
Coralline Algae
What are four types of Reef Sediments?
Foraminifera: planktonic animals with chalky shells
Halimeda Sand: Algae Containing CaCo3
Sponge Spicules
Remains of Shelled Creatures
What are two types of Reef Cementers?
Coralline Algae: Algae that contains CaCO3 deposits
Encrusting Coral
What are different types of mechanical erosion?
Wave Action
Sea Level Change
Gravity
How does coral grow in shallow areas? How do they survive?
Coral grows only as tall as the lowest tide
The coral dies on the surface, but continues to grow outward. The coral secretes mucus that can keep it hydrated for about an hour or two.
What are six causes of direct bioerosion?
Sea Sponges Sea Urchins Bivalved Molluscs Sea Stars Corallivorous Fish Hawaiian nudibranchs
What are two causes of indirect bioerosion?
Parrotfish (Eating Algae on Coral) Sea Turtles (Accidental)
Under what temperature are no coral reefs found?
18 Degrees C
What is the optimal temperature for coral?
23-25 Degrees C
What is the highest temperatures coral can handle?
36-40 Degrees C
How deep can reefs go? Where do they usually reside?
50-70 meters deep, <25 meters due to light needs
What kind of water irregularities prevent coral from thriving?
Cold water currents and upwellings
How does sediment runoff kill coral?
Sediment either blocks out the light or covers and suffocates the coral itself.
What happens to coral now that temperatures are higher than ever? What does this do?
Coral bleaching. The Zooxanthellae either die due to too much sun or poison the coral due to overproduction of O2 (oxygen poisoning)
Is high salinity harmful to coral?
No, inconsistencies are though. Places where salinity is high, the coral are endemic and adapted to those conditions.
