Coral Reefs Essay -- Ecology Environment Environmental Essays

Coral ReefsCoral reefs atomic number 18 one of the oldest types of living(a) systems on earth, and certainly one of the most owing(p) (Goreau, 1987). They are massive underwater structures do worked by the limestone skeletons of tiny invertebrate carnals. Reefs house a greater diversity of body forms, chemistry, and animal phyla (thirty-two compared to the eighter that inhabit the most biodiversity ecosystems on land). Phyla comprise the second largest category of living things, after kingdoms. Coral animals begin life as free-floating larvae, barely pin down on the sea floor in sedentary colonies. The term precious coral applies both to these animals and to their skeletons, particularly the skeletons of stone-like corals ( take up 1997). Many different organisms, including mollusks, sponges, and worms, help shape reefs, but hard corals and various algae are the major architects. In effect, the corals make limestone, because their skeletons are made of Calcium Carbonate. T he skeletons deposited by these corals and different organisms accumulate, along with keystone and other debris, to form the backbone of the reef. Over tens of thousands of years, chemical and mechanical changes gaming the reef into true rock (Alstyne and Paul, 1988). The body of a coral animal consists of a polyp, which is the living portion of the coral. A polyp is a hollow, cylindric structure attached at one end to a surface, the other end is a mouth surrounded by tentacles, which gather victuals and can sting prey to paralyze it. Polyps live in colonies, which recruit from 1 to 7 inches, depending on the species. Coral polyps are classified as animals. Microscopic algae live inside the animal tissues in a symbiotic relationship. The algae turn sunlight into carbon and sugars, which are thus available to the polyp. In turn the polyp filters particles out of the water and excretes take (nitrogen and phosphorus) that becomes available to the symbiotic algae. Its this very tight nutrient recycling within the coral itself that allows these corals to live in very low nutrient waters. there are three kinds of reefs atolls, barrier reefs, and fringing reefs. Atolls are formed out in the middle of the ocean by volcanic subsidence, while fringing and barrier reefs form near continents. Florida contains both of these kinds of reefs, not as far offshore as Australias Great Barrier Reef, b... ...al life. Another way that corral growth is controlled is by the weather. All of these are natural occurrences. This should not be confused with forgiving use and disruption which does major harm.The fourth and final principle of sustainability is that biodiversity essential be maintained. This is where we are playing a devastating role to the option to the reefs. Through human waste and consumption time will only when tell if they will survive. I hope that by reading this news report someday we can make a difference.Works CitedCoral Color. November 1997. Discov er Magazine-Current Clips. P10Cousteau, J. Y. 1985. The Ocean World. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, NY, pp. 174-175. Goreau, Thomas. August 1987. Coral and Coral Parks. scientific American. V11334-36Luoma, Jon R. Nov. 1996. Reef Madness Audubon. V98 n6. P24(3).Richmond, R. H. 1993. Coral Reefs Present problems and Future Concerns Resulting form anthropogenetic Disturbance. American Zoologist. V33 P524-536.Van Alstyne, K. L. and V. J. Paul. 1988. The Role of Secondary Metabolites in Marine ecologic Interactions. Proceedings of the 6th International Coral Reef Symposium, Australia, Vol. 1.