29 Questions
What are some threats faced by coral reefs mentioned in the text?
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation and pollution
How do tourists sometimes negatively impact coral reefs?
By touching corals and disturbing other animals
What is a consequence of overharvesting fish in coral reefs?
Break up of reef sections and destruction of corals
How do fishers sometimes catch reef animals, causing harm to the reefs?
Using dragnets and explosives
What efforts are mentioned in the text to protect coral reefs?
Government programs and conservation groups working together
What binds and cements shelly and calcareous organisms together on coral reefs?
Algae and protozoans
What type of coral reef is formed when the reef is separated from the land by a shallow lagoon?
Barrier reef
Which feature distinguishes a fringing reef from other types of coral reefs?
Directly attached to the land
In what ocean can the largest island of coral formation, Kiritimati Atoll, be found?
Pacific Ocean
What type of marine plants help trap and stabilize sediment on coral reefs?
Sea grasses and mangroves
What characteristic do all types of coral islands share?
Low land above sea level
What are corals?
Small marine animals
How do corals build the main structural framework of a growing reef?
By secreting calcium carbonate to form their skeletons
Why are coral reefs compared to rainforests?
Because they provide habitats for diverse species
What role do coral reefs play in the economy of a region?
They provide food for millions of people
Why are coral reefs important for marine organisms?
To create underwater habitats
What do certain species of fish use coral reefs for?
As a refuge from predators
What is the main function of coral reefs mentioned in the text?
Acting as barriers against storm and wave erosion
Where are the largest coral reefs primarily found?
Pacific and Indian Oceans
Why do reef-building corals need to live in relatively shallow ocean waters?
To allow light penetration for photosynthesis
What is the role of zooxanthellae in coral reefs?
Converting carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis
At what depth do reef-building corals grow best?
66 feet (20 meters)
Why do certain corals in colder climates not form reefs?
Because they are solitary forms that do not require reefs
What is the distinguishing feature of fringing reefs compared to barrier reefs and atolls?
They extend up to the beach at some points
Which organism is known to decimate coral reefs by feeding on their soft tissues?
Crown-of-thorns starfish
What environmental event can cause corals to eject the zooxanthellae algae and turn white?
Global warming
What is the major issue associated with coral-rock borers mentioned in the text?
They cause extensive damage by penetrating the rock
Which type of reef has no visible relationship to any land?
Atoll
What is one possible consequence if the zooxanthellae algae do not return to the corals after bleaching?
The corals will die
Learn about the composition and distribution of coral reefs, including the species of corals and their locations in different oceans. Discover how coral reefs act as barriers protecting coastlines from erosion and storms.
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