Taylor Pasquale and Morgyn McCalligan Biology April 15, 2012

1. Taylor Pasquale and MorgynMcCalligan BiologyApril 15, 2012 Coral Reef Biome http://www.seafriends.org.nz/enviro/habitat/intro.htmDr J Floor Anthoni (1997), Owner and Director, Seafriends Marine Conservation & Education Centre and Café: 7 Goat Island Rd, New Zealand http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/yos/lesson/Grades%205-8/zone.pdf

2. Location Corals live in shallow water and are usually found to a depth of 60 meters (197 feet) but ahermatypic corals go far deeper.  http://www.eoearth.org/article/Abyssal_zone http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageseas/multimedia/deepsimulator.html

3. Latitude and Longitude The coral reef zone is distributed many different latitudes and longitudes, most lying between 30˚ N and 30˚ S. The right-hand map shows shallow areas in lighter colors; this is why coral reefs are found near coastlines. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/2489/abyssal-zone http://www.planetaryvisions.com/Texture_map.php?pid=4127 http://www.google.com/imgres?q=coral+reef+map+world&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1024&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=SkqYjmfg5DFQFM:&imgrefurl=http://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/corals/4a.html&docid=nsJSWRv_QmCUBM&imgurl=http://serc.carleton.edu/images/eslabs/corals/coral_reef_distribution.jpg&w=480&h=240&ei=JXaRT-6CArGd6AH-5tjBBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=82&vpy=331&dur=1194&hovh=159&hovw=318&tx=190&ty=109&sig=117908023342734381535&page=1&tbnh=103&tbnw=206&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:76

4. Most of the coral reef zone is found in water deemed “Coastal waters.” Most of the warm coastal nations include coral reefs. International_waters.svg‎

5. light intensity is required Warm water temperatures and high for a Coral Reef Biome to exist. Corals are animals that filter photosynthetic algae out of the water. In the deeper locations of water where there is less light and where its cooler, not enough photosynthetic algae can grow. Temperatures http://www.uky.edu/KGS/fossils/corals.htm http://bioexpedition.com/coral-reef-biome/

6. Abiotic Factors Light-Light is incredibly important for coral reefs.  The reason corals are able to survive in such non-nutritious  water is because photosynthetic algae and sea weeds produces food for the coral as well as itself.  In order to photosynthesize to produce food however, the algae needs light.  Without light, this ecosystem cannot exist Climate-Salt water and aquatic (rainfall is not applicable)Water salinity Corals tend to live in  salty water, surviving in a range of 27-40 parts per thousand (ppt) but preferring 36 ppt (about 3.5g/100ml )Nutrients - Corals survive only in clear  water, without much sediment, where light can breach the surface of the water.  Since there isn't much debris floating around, the water  is usually low in nutrients http://spressivo.com/isa/coralreef/abiotic.htm

7. Temperature- Corals are adapted to warm, but not hot temperatures. If sea water is too hot, the corals die. Note how few animals are present in the ecosystem where corals have died. osdpd.noaa.gov

8. Biological Communities in Coral Reef zoneMany of the animals use bioluminescence to attract prey or mate. The coral reef is a good place for animals to feed because you will find not may fish feed there http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/deep-sea-bestiary.html

9. Coral Reef zone food web Top order Carnivores Blacktip Reef Shark First order Carnivores Primary Consumers Primary Producer http://thecoralreefss.com/

10. Adaptations for capturing prey or finding food.Blacktip sharks are small and flexible so the can weave through the coral fast to catch their prey. Blacktip sharks Carcharhinusmelanopterusleap and spin out of the water, which is likely a feeding behavior. Blacktips attack schools from below at high speed while snapping their jaws to capture prey. http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=494 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2081647/Worlds-hybrid-shark-Australia--interbreeding-make-stronger.html

11. Adaptations for escaping predators During their evolution, Clown Fish also known as Anemonefish developed some peculiar adaptations. They have adapted their fins, that are now rounded, and help them to escape quickly from several kinds of predators. Rounded caudal fins allows them to have quick darting movements. They also can camouflage at night, bleaching themselves in color and hide within the tentacles of anemone. Then skin mucus makes possible for clown fish to live in perfect symbiosis with anemone. http://clownfishfacts.blogspot.com/p/clown-fish-adaptations.html http://www.teachwithmovies.org/samples/finding-nemo.html http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/budding-scientist/2011/09/22/a-biology-teachers-ode-to-sir-david-attenborough/

12. Adaptations for finding mates Once the female blacktip shark has signaled that it is ready to mate by releasing its chemicals, the male blacktip sharks who are interested begin to circle the female. The male shark's anatomy includes a clasper on each side of it's body. This clasper allows the male to inject it's sperm into the female shark and impregnate it. After the process is over, the male will leave, allowing the female to carry and give birth to shark without help or interference from the male. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4568075_sharks-attract-mates.html http://evolutionunderwater.blogspot.com/

13. Nitrogen cycling in the coral reef Nitrogen from the air goes into the bacteria that makes NH3 ammonia from N2 then into bacteria that makes nitrates. After, the producers, PediastrumBoryanum, and ThalassiaTestudinum make proteins and nucleotides. The nitrogen moves to the consumers that eat plants, which are CheloniaMydas and Hippocampus Alatus. The producers and consumers either die, or make wastes then that bacteria reforms back into Nitrogen. http://www.deepoceanexpeditions.com/black_smokers.html

14. water cycling in the coral reef biomeNot applicable—they’re aquatic http://www.deepoceanexpeditions.com/black_smokers.html

15. Carbon cycling in the coral reef ecosystem • The Atmospheric Carbon transfers through the process of photosynthesis to the Golden Algae and the Turtle Grass. After, it transfers into the consumers, which are the Flat back Sea Turtle and the Winged Sea Horse, and they eat the plants or other consumers. After the consumers, the nutrients goes into the decomposers, like bacteria. Carbon Dioxide then dissolves into the ocean and returns to the atmosphere through cell respiration. • The Water Cycle does not apply to our animals. http://www.deepoceanexpeditions.com/black_smokers.html

16. Community interactions definitions • Predator prey- Predator- A predator is an organism that eats another organism. • IntraspecificCompetition- A particular form of competition in which members of the same species vie for the same resource in an ecosystem. • Interspecificcompetition- Is a form of competition in which individuals of different species compete for the same resource in an ecosystem. • Parasitism- Is a type of non mutual relationship between organisms of different species where one organism benefits at the expense of the other. • Commensalism- Aclass of relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits but the other is neutral. • Mutualism- is the way two organisms of different species biologically interact in a relationship in which each individual derives a fitness benefit.

17. Predator Prey • Blacktip Sharks eating Clownfish

18. Intraspecific Competition • Blacktip sharks fighting over a school of fish http://www.google.com/imgres?q=blacktip+shark+fighting+for+fish&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=Lji_3IkDlAON5M:&imgrefurl=http://www.divephotoguide.com/user/lillh/gallery/sharks-8/photo/7726/&docid=TpUrNqxIGwvT4M&imgurl=http://www.divephotoguide.com/images/photos/b/9121_1266248291.jpg&w=500&h=332&ei=F9CeT4rzMcrl0QGj-ZysDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=103&vpy=2&dur=966&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=119&ty=121&sig=110695176073767828941&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=205&start=0&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0,i:89

19. Interspecific competition • Shark and dolphin fighting over the same fish http://www.google.com/imgres?q=shark+and+dolphin+fight&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&biw=1024&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=5vvJkSTSUsVYfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4565479_dolphins-fight-sharks.html&docid=TL7gETyghu4X4M&imgurl=http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ehow/images/a04/ba/f7/dolphins-fight-sharks-800x800.jpg&w=400&h=300&ei=CdGeT9a3CcLw0gGNuYSEDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=128&vpy=156&dur=6847&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=77&ty=109&sig=110695176073767828941&page=1&tbnh=155&tbnw=239&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:67

20. Parasitism • copepods Pandarus sinuatusand Pandarus smithii are parasites of the black tipped shark • This photo of gills shows how copepods can attach to gills and damage them. • If damaged they can’t remove oxygen from the water. • Copepod uses the sharks blood as food but the shark is harmed. arkansasstripers.com

21. Commensalism • The remora, a sucker-fish, lives in close association with sharks or other larger fish. The dorsal fin of the sucker-fish is modified to form a sucker; it uses this to attach itself to the shark; The sucker-fish is small and does not injure (or benefit) the shark, but envoys the shark's protection and lives on the scraps formed as the shark devours its prey. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081021180011AAYFwNE

22. Mutualism • Clownfish attracts predators into the sea anemone, then the anemone paralyzes them and eats them. • In return the sea anemone gives the clownfish protection. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/clownfish-and-sea-anemone.html

23. Niche • the position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals. • If any niche requirement can not be met, then a species becomes extinct in its ecosystem • Clownfish- no sea anemone, no food (the leftovers from the anemone), no clear water, no warm temperature, not in a coral reef, not shallow water, no oxygen, http://www.flickr.com/photos/cybersam/1004710143/

24. Human Interaction w coral reef biome • Global warming causes the reefs to die, which leads to the decrease of animal life in the coral reef. Indirectly, we have destroyed their environment. As you read earlier, coral reefs can live only in very clear water. The large population centers near coasts has led to silting of reefs, pollution by nutrients that lead to algal growth that smothers the coral, and overfishing that has led to increase in number of predators that eat corals. The direct way in which humans destroy coral reefs is by physically killing them.

25. What do humans do that could cause global warming? • The Green house effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions. • Evidence that the earth is warmed is the melting of the glaciers. • Evidence that humans caused global warming is the use of fossil fuels. Burning of the fossil fuels release a large amount of carbon dioxide into the air. When there is a significant rise in the percentage of carbon dioxide in the air, the amount of heat captured by the carbon dioxide gas also increases. This in turn leads to overall rise in the surface temperature of the earth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect http://www.buzzle.com/articles/fossil-fuels-and-global-warming.html

26. Why does global warming harm the corals? (evidence) • Due to the rise in global temperature and sea levels, corals have been dying. The worst even coral bleaching was recorded in 1998 when, in some areas, up to 70% of coral reefs died. Among the worst die-offs have been observed in the Caribbean.Evidence that higher temperatures caused the death The Effects of Coral Bleaching on Marine Life | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/info_7828032_effects-coral-bleaching-marine-life.html#ixzz1uO4h8Hbf

27. How global warming changes carbon cycle Wood or fossil fuels http://www.c3headlines.com/are-coral-reefs-dying/

28. What is the evidence that burning fossil fuels for energy has altered the carbon cycle and the world’s temperature? http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/historical-trends-in-carbon-dioxide-concentrations-and-temperature-on-a-geological-and-recent-time-scale_a210

29. Why does nitrogen pollution cause algal blooms? • Algal blooms hurt coral reefs because they block sunlight from reaching the coral. The coral needs sunlight for it to grow http://www.sjrwmd.com/algae/

30. How algal blooms reflect changes in the nitrogen cycle. http://landscapeforlife.org/give_back/3c.php

31. How can humans change their activities to reduce effects on coral bleaching and algal blooms? • Humans can help the corals by reducing your energy consumption (turn off lights, walk instead of drive) therefore reducing the amount of fossil fuels (which release CO2) that are burnt for you.