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Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs. What is Coral?. GIANT STRUCTURES built by tiny creatures Some reef systems are so huge that they can be seen from outer space. What is Coral?. All coral is made up of tiny individuals called POLYPS A polyp is a TINY ANIMAL that looks like an upside down jelly fish!!

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Coral Reefs

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  1. Coral Reefs

  2. What is Coral? • GIANT STRUCTURES built by tiny creatures • Some reef systems are so huge that they can be seen from outer space

  3. What is Coral? • All coral is made up of tiny individuals called POLYPS • A polyp is a TINY ANIMAL that looks like an upside down jelly fish!! • They eat PLANKTON

  4. A Polyp Tentacle Mouth Stomach Skeleton

  5. A plant lives in the Coral? • Each polyp has within its body a PLANT • This plant is a special algae called ZOOXANTHELLAE • These plants PHOTOSYTHESISE and provide more food for the polyp

  6. Such a mutually beneficial relationship is called SYMBIOSIS? • What does the Polyp get? • Food!! • What does the Algae get? • Somewhere to live!!

  7. Other reef creatures live on and eat the Coral…. • Fish, crabs, snails, worms and other reef creatures depend on the health and growth of the coral reef for their existence

  8. Threats • Natural Threats to the Reef in Statia • Strong waves • Hurricanes • Coral Predators (Parrot Fish, Hawksbill Turtles) • Coral Disease (white band/black band disease killing the elk horn coral) • Competition (from algae) • Bleaching

  9. Threats • Human Threats to the Reef in Statia • Pollution (oil, oil spills, sewage, garbage) • Anchors from Oil Tankers • Fish Traps • Reef Tourism (dive tourism)

  10. How can we help the coral reefs? • Marine Reserves • Diver awareness (supervised diving) • Education • Research and Monitoring

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