Coral Reef Features
What are the main features of Coral Reef’s?
Adaptations
Animals in Coral Reefs are more likely going to be colored in a variety of ways because they need to camouflage in with the area.
| Challenge to The Animals | Adaptations Animals have Evolved to Meet These Challenges |
|---|---|
| UV Radiation - Sunburn | Pigments - Protection Nocturnal - Hide during the day. They are only out at night which makes it harder for them to be hunted. |
| High Sunlight / Visibility | ^^Camouflage into the environment.^^ ==Becoming colorful== %%with the environment.%% They are also extremely fast little guys. Poisonous / Warning Coloration |
| Stratification | - Large amounts of biodiversity - Elongated mouths, enhanced suction- Laterally Flat, Thin Bodies, Small. |
| Great amounts of Biodiversity | @@Relationship with plants - Symbiosis.@@ Territorial Animals that will defend their spot. @@Different Feeding Styles.@@ |
What is Coral?
A polyp-shaped animal in the Phylum Cnidaria. Hard corals can secrete a skeleton, Soft corals cannot.
Where are they found?
Coral reefs are found in 3 epipelagic zones of 3 oceans- Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian.
- All coral reefs live in clear and warm equatorial waters.
How do Coral Reefs Form?
Corals can reproduce sexually and asexually.
- Controlled by the moon.
Once Larva is sessile, the polyp can remove minerals from the water and combine them to make limestone.
- They secrete this limestone skeleton around them.
How do coral get the energy to make reefs?
- Coral feeds using tentacles.
- They have zooxanthellae algae in their cells.