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Reefs

Reefs. Kinds of buildups Geographic distribution Reef requirements Community: diversity, environmental mediators, species of great affect The Sensitive Reef Reefs and Geologic Time. Reef requirements: 1. Coral reefs are rigid structures above the sea floor.

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Reefs

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  1. Reefs Kinds of buildups Geographic distribution Reef requirements Community: diversity, environmental mediators, species of great affect The Sensitive Reef Reefs and Geologic Time

  2. Reef requirements: 1. Coral reefs are rigid structures above the sea floor. Keep up with sea level or drown 2. Biologically mediated 3. Structure and environemtn

  3. Reef requirements: 1. 3-D topography 2. Biological Origins and Mediation Created by organisms Organisms baffle, bind, accrete  modify environment 3. Structure and Environment

  4. Reef requirements: 1. 3-D topography 2. Biologically mediated 3. A complex ecological and physical structure that exerts control on the environmet

  5. Types of Reefs: Fringe Edge of landmass Continents, islands High energy from waves Small lagoon, if any

  6. Types of Reefs: Barrier “Mature” fringe reef without landmass Kept up with sea level rise  appears far away from shore Large, ecologically rich lagoon between reef and land

  7. Types of Reefs: Atoll Also formed from fringe reefs Ring structure from sunken island (subsidence or sea level rise) Reef with internal lagoon, no land mass

  8. Types of Reefs: Patch Often in lagoon behind barrier, atoll Low energy environment Differentiated from surrounding biota by: 3-D topography Biological mediation Structure and environment

  9. Types of Reefs: Manmade Accidental… (industry, pollutants, wrecks) …Or intentional

  10. Tropical Reefs around the World

  11. Biodiversity in Tropical Reefs

  12. Tropical reef requirements High light intensity: very low turbidity zooxanthellae in symbiosis with corals Warm T: between 20-30C Constant salinity Nutrients: upwelling, other input BUT: nutrient poor waters in reef Very tightly recycled Constant currents

  13. Communities 1 Very diverse, highest diversity community in the world Climax community High degree of niche specialization Resources very finely partitioned

  14. Guilds that Mediate Environment Bafflers: corals, sponges

  15. Guilds that Mediate Environment Bafflers: corals, sponges Binders: microbes, coralline algae, bryozoans

  16. Guilds that Mediate Environment Bafflers: corals, sponges Binders: microbes, coralline algae, bryozoans Builders: corals

  17. Guilds that Mediate Environment Bafflers: corals, sponges Binders: microbes, coralline algae, bryozoans Builders: corals Eroders: parrot fish, echinoids

  18. Communities 2 Recruitment between reefs and within a reef Indo-Pacific reefs: highest diversity “Oldest” reef? Leftover from Tethys?

  19. The Fragile Reef Reefs in very fragile balance Algae overgrowth and echinoids, other grazers Specialists: higher extinction possibility Interactions fairly tight Species of great effect, keystone species Physical factors: Sea-level rise T and global warming Nutrient input and algal blooms Saharan dust and fungus

  20. Geologic History of Reefs Earliest buildups: Precambrian stromatolites Early Cambrian: Archaeocyathid reefs: 500MY Devonian: Tabulate, rugosa coral reefs Permian: Capitan sponge reef in TX Cretaceous: Various Cenozoic: coral reefs

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