Reef Distributions

What species of coral reef used to dominate the Caribbean region?

Acropora

What happened to Acropora species in the Caribbean in the 1980s?

white band disease killed the majority of acroporas

What percentage of acroporas disappeared from the Caribbean?

98%

How do Acropora species reproduce?

asexual reproduction

What does asexual reproduction of corals mean for the likelihood of recovering from disturbances if no colonies nearby?

lowers the likelihood for recovery

What are coral species Acropora cervicornis and Acropora palmata listed as in US waters?

Endangered

Reefs are built according to the balance of what?

accretion and erosion

What factors control reef distribution?

light, temperature, salinity, sedimentation, nutrients, antecedent topography, tectonics, sea level, and anthropogenic impacts

Where are coral reefs locates?

in the tropics between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south, close to continents and areas on continental shelf

Why aren't there coral reefs in the tropical zone of continents like Africa, South America and North American on the western side of these continents?

no coral reefs due to cold coastal currents and upwelling

Where are the two distinct regions of coral reef distribution and diversity?

Wider Caribbean (Atlantic Ocean) and Indo-Pacific (East Africa, Red Sea to Central Pacific)

Where is peak diversity for coral reefs?

Coral Triangle

How many coral species are in the coral triangle?

550

What are local knowledge, depth sounding, and grab samples/dredging examples of?

Old school methods of mapping reefs

What are aerial observations and groundtruthing and optical and sonar remote sensing tools examples of?

Newer methods of mapping reefs

What is the rough estimate of global reef area?

0.5-1 million square kilometers