Coral Reefs Here We Come!

By Anonymous -

CORAL REEFS

What Are They? What Classifies A "Coral Reef?"

Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine ecosystem with hundreds of organisms living symbiotically for each other. Often called “rainforests of the sea,” coral reefs provide shelter and food for many organisms. Scientists believe that modern coral reefs have been forming and evolving for the last 25 million years. Coral reefs are very delicate ecosystems, and grow at a very slow rate, therefore, it is important that humans (especially divers) care for them.
www.science20.com


What Are They Made Of? Who Can You Find There?



Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems made of calcium carbonate structures or limestone deposited by organisms. There are thousands of different species of coral in the coral reef communities. “Out of those thousands only a fraction produce the limestone reef” (McGraw Hill).  They are built by colonies of many polyps all connected by tissue. The colony rises when a planula settles o a hard surface. The planula undergoes metamorphoses, into a single establishing polyp, that if it survives it then divides over and over to form the colony. They receive their nourishment from the zooxanthellae that perform photosynthesis and feed the coral from the inside, but they also eat when they get the chance. Corals eat zooplankton that is caught out of currents by the coral’s tentacles, but they also have other ways to feed themselves.

Coral 1.png
Coral 2.png               






There are millions of species that depend on corals for survival. You may find different species of fish, corals, lobsters, clams, sponges, and sea turtles in or around the corals. The coral provides shelter for many organisms in its complex habitat. You may find organisms like; “Blacktip Reef Sharks, groupers, clown fish, eels, parrotfish, snapper, and scorpion fish, jellyfish, anemones, sea stars (including the destructive Crown of Thorns), crustaceans; like crabs, shrimp, and lobsters, turtles, sea snakes, snails, and mollusks; like octopuses, nautilus, and clams”(biomes).

What Problems Do They Face?


Coral reefs all around the world face the same types of problems on a daily basis. Only recently, within the last century, has the importance of coral reefs become known to the world. Truthfully, it might be too late to fix the damage that has been done to them. Some of the biggest problems they face can be summed up with just one word: Disease.
Diseases: Just like every other type of being on this planet, corals can get diseases. They can be caused by natural disturbances, nutrient run-offs, sewage, overfishing, overgrowth of algae, outbreaks of coral predators, increased UV radiation, genetic sedimentation, etc. Some common names of diseases are:

“White Band"
 http://www.reefresilience.org/images/Management_Rapid-disease.jpg

“Black Band”
         http://www.clarku.edu/departments/biology/biol201/2008/ermiller/images/blackbanddisease.jpg

“Yellow Band”
https://www.uta.edu/ucomm/internalcommunications/mavwire/2010/_images/nov18yellow-band-coral.jpg

“Red Band”
http://biophysics.sbg.ac.at/aqaba/scan/rbdcnat.jpg

“Dark Spot Disease”
http://www.clarku.edu/departments/biology/biol201/2008/JaMitchell/Bermuda/Pictures/bermuda/diseases/darkspot.jpg

“Ciliate Disease”
http://gcdd.tinypla.net/system/images/82/medium/SEB_goniastrea_2.JPG?1294663238

“Coral Bleaching”
http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/bleached-coral-photo-0001.jpg

Some other common coral predators are known as Parrotfishes, which we will definitely see in Cozumel. These fishes tend to take bites out of corals if they cannot find other food. The coral will die and never be able to regrow where the Parrotfish bites from.
Example: Stoplight Parrotfish eating Lobed Star Coral
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjbq4Hjoq_LAhUOymMKHXCeDRMQjBwIBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.infobonaire.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F09%2F20150921-Bleaching3.jpg&bvm=bv.116274245,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNGimfd5Lgs-aZktHTK3-fcKz8Vz6g&ust=1457464032445444

These are just a few of the many diseases and/or predators that coral reefs face when trying to grow big and strong. Other problems such as light, nutrient, and water quality degradation are all things that somehow, someway, point back at human fault. Therefore, when we go down to see them, we must take preventative measures and be sure not to touch them, wear ocean-friendly sunscreen, and try to remove any trash/debris we see within the area. We must also be knowledgeable in the subject of corals and what they need most in order to survive. The most important factors that are necessary are: sunlight, clear water, warm water, clean water, and saltwater!



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