Coral Classification and Characteristics

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Questions and Answers

What is the subclass of Anthozoa that includes Tubipora musica (Red organ-pipe coral)?

Alcoynacea

Gorgonacea

Octocorallia (correct)

Anthozoa

What type of pigments are deposited in the skeleton of corals?

Carotenoid pigments (correct)

Fluorescent pigments

Chlorophyll pigments

Melanin pigments

What is the ideal water temperature for coral reefs?

Below 10°C

Between 10°C and 20°C

Above 10°C

Above 18°C (correct)

What percentage of the world's coral reefs are found in Southeast Asia?

34% Signup and view all the answers

How many species of fish are associated with coral reefs?

1300 Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of coral reefs in Southeast Asia are found in East Malaysia, Sabah?

75% Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate area of coral reefs in Peninsular Malaysia?

4,000 km² Signup and view all the answers

How many billion people in Asia rely on coral reefs as a source of food?

1 Signup and view all the answers

What is the Order of jellyfish-like organisms that produce hard limestone skeletons?

Scleractinia Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the single-celled algae living within cells of coral polyps?

Zooxanthellae Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the ocean do coral reefs occupy, yet supply 25% of the fishery catch in developing countries?

0.2% Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of tentacles with stinging cells in coral polyps?

To capture food Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the book published in 1842 by Charles Darwin that noticed coral reefs occur in nutrient-poor waters?

Coral Reefs Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for corals that do not have zooxanthellae?

Ahermatypic Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of organic carbon products that leak out to coral from zooxanthellae?

94-98% Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the 'oases in a watery desert' in the ocean?

Coral reefs Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the tentacles in corals?

To capture food using stinging cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the coral species Heliopora coerulea?

It has a non-white skeleton due to iron deposition Signup and view all the answers

What is the taxonomic classification of corals?

Class: Anthozoa, Subclass: Octocorallia Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of coral reefs?

They are the largest structures built by living organisms other than humans, visible from space Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of zooxanthellae in corals?

To give the coral its color Signup and view all the answers

What is the growth form of Turbinaria corals?

Foliose Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Taxonomic Hierarchy of Corals

Class Anthozoa
Subclass Octocorallia
Order Alcoynacea: Tubipora musica (Red organ-pipe coral)
Order Gorgonacea: Corallium rubrum (Mediterranean red coral)

Coral Characteristics

Corals have carotenoid pigments deposited in their skeleton
They have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, which provide them with nutrients

Coral Fluorescence

Living corals appear differently under normal light, electronic flash, and ultra-violet light
Coral fluorescence is a result of this symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae

Coral Reefs: Distribution and Environmental Limitations

Coral reefs are found between latitudes 30o North and 30o South of the Equator
They are limited to water depths of less than 50 meters and salinity between 30-36 ppt
They require water temperatures above 18oC and good sunlight
They also require a pre-existing hard substrate, clear waters, and circulation
Pollution-free waters are essential for their survival

Coral Reefs in Southeast Asia

They cover 34% of the world's total reef area (91,700 km2)
The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) covers 62,800 km2
The Southwest Pacific Islands have 27,060 km2 of coral reefs
There are 600 hard coral species and 1,300 reef-associated fish species in Southeast Asia

Peninsular Malaysia

Marine area: 614,000 km2
Coastline: 7,275 km
Reef area: 4,000 km2 (4% of total in SEA, 1.27% of total in the world)
More than 75% of reefs are in East Malaysia, Sabah

Why Reefs Matter?

Diversity: Coral reefs are often called the "Rainforests of the Sea"
They provide food for one billion people in Asia alone
They are a vital protein source for many humans

Coral Reefs

They are the biggest and most spectacular structures made by living organisms
They are composed of worms, shells, corals, algae, and many other organisms
They are unparalleled in beauty, grandeur, high productivity, complexity, and mystery

The 'Coral Reef Paradox'

Coral reefs are biologically rich areas that occur in nutrient-poor waters
They are like oases in a watery desert

What are Corals?

They are jellyfish-like organisms in the Order Scleractinia (true stony corals)
They produce hard limestone (CaCO3) skeletons
They have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae
They use tentacles with stinging cells to catch food

Zooxanthellae

They are dinoflagellate, single-celled algae living within cells of polyps
They are 8-12 µm in diameter and occur in large numbers (1-5 x 106 cells per cm2)
They provide 94-98% of organic carbon products to the coral
They may be expelled as a result of environmental stress or disease

Other Reef Builders

Red coralline algae
Calcareous green algae
Millepora sp. (Fire-coral)
Shell (e.g., giant clam)

Coral Eden

Corals continuously contribute to alter the architecture of the planet
They are chief architects of reefs
A colony consists of thousands of polyps
Symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae gives the coral its color
The largest structure built by living organisms other than man is visible from space

Growth Form of Hermatypic Corals

Branching
Foliose
Massive
Laminar / tabulate
Columnar
Encrusting
Free-living

Heliopora coerulea (Blue Coral)

It has a non-white skeleton due to the extraction of iron from the surrounding water
It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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Description

This quiz covers the classification of corals, including the class Anthozoa and subclass Octocorallia, as well as their characteristics, such as coral fluorescence and distribution.