14 Questions
What is the primary reason why most coral reefs are restricted to tropical regions?
Tropical regions have the ideal warm, marine, and sunny conditions for reef growth
What percentage of the world's ocean surface do coral reefs occupy?
Less than 0.1%
What are hermatypic corals known for?
Contributing to coral reef structure
What is the biological activity responsible for the formation of coral reefs?
Growth of hermatypic corals and other calcifying marine organisms
What is the Phylum of corals, which includes anemones, corals, jellyfish, and hydrozoans?
Cnidaria
What contributes to the wave-resistance of coral reefs?
*geochemically precipitated magnesium & calcium carbonates
What is the main opening to the gut (gastrovascular) cavity in Cnidarians?
Mouth
Which body plan of Cnidarians is associated with the benthic environment?
Polyp
Which class of Cnidarians includes anemones and corals?
Anthozoa
What is a characteristic feature of the order Scleractinia (= Madreporaria)?
Polyps secrete heavy, calcareous external skeleton
Which type of corals are reef-building species?
Hermatypic corals
What does Halimeda refer to in the context of coral benefits?
Calcareous green algae
What happens to coral when it does not receive proper light and temperature?
It dies (bleaches)
What causes reefs to grow according to the text?
"Calcium containing sediments"
Study Notes
Coral Reefs
- Coral reefs are primarily restricted to tropical regions because of their requirement for warm, shallow, and sunlit waters.
Coral Reef Distribution
- Coral reefs occupy only about 0.1% of the world's ocean surface.
Hermatypic Corals
- Hermatypic corals are known for their symbiotic relationship with algae, which provides them with nutrients.
Coral Reef Formation
- The biological activity responsible for the formation of coral reefs is the symbiotic relationship between corals and algae.
Phylum of Corals
- Corals, along with anemones, jellyfish, and hydrozoans, belong to the Phylum Cnidaria.
Wave-Resistance of Coral Reefs
- The complex structure of coral skeletons contributes to the wave-resistance of coral reefs.
Cnidarian Anatomy
- The main opening to the gut (gastrovascular) cavity in Cnidarians is called the mouth.
Cnidarian Body Plans
- The polyp body plan of Cnidarians is associated with the benthic environment.
Classes of Cnidarians
- The class Anthozoa includes anemones and corals.
Order Scleractinia
- A characteristic feature of the order Scleractinia (also known as Madreporaria) is the presence of stony skeletons.
Reef-Building Corals
- Scleractinian corals, also known as stony corals, are the primary reef-building species.
Halimeda
- Halimeda refers to a type of green algae that produces limestone, contributing to the growth of coral reefs.
Coral Stress
- When coral does not receive proper light and temperature, it becomes stressed and may expel its algal symbionts.
Reef Growth
- Reefs grow as a result of the accumulation of coral skeletons and other calcium carbonate deposits.
Test your knowledge about coral reefs with this quiz based on the lecture topics like the formation of coral reefs, their restriction to tropical regions, primary productivity, species diversity, and threats to coral reefs.
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